Massive Solar Storm Intensifies, Threatening Radio Blackouts and Power Grid Disruptions
A powerful solar storm that struck Earth over the weekend is intensifying, with the potential to trigger radio blackouts and strain power grids, according to officials. The Daily Mail reports that a Level 3 geomagnetic storm warning was issued on Monday, indicating that solar activity could disrupt GPS signals, radio communications, and electrical systems.
A geomagnetic storm is a temporary disturbance in Earth’s magnetic field caused by a burst of charged particles from the Sun’s outer atmosphere. The Daily Mail notes that power system disruptions are possible in parts of the Midwest and Northeast, including false alarms and system shutdowns, which could trigger blackouts.
The storm is also expected to create stunning northern lights across 13 US states on Monday and Tuesday, with the auroras potentially visible in Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, northeast Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The Daily Mail reports that the best time to catch the colorful display is between 10pm and 2am local time.
The Met Office has also confirmed that the stunning lights will be visible across northern UK and Europe, with aurora activity becoming progressively confined to Northern Ireland and Scotland. To witness the spectacle, it is recommended to wait for clear skies to get dark and then go outside, ideally away from bright city lights. Taking a picture with a smartphone camera may also reveal hints of the aurora that aren’t visible to the naked eye.
According to the Daily Mail, the sun unleashed a massive M8.2 solar flare on Sunday, a very strong burst of energy. A solar flare is like a massive explosion on the sun’s surface, sending out a huge amount of energy in the form of light, X-rays, and charged particles. The Daily Mail quotes a report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which states that solar activity will linger for the next few days, causing a G3 storm.
The Daily Mail reports that a G3 geomagnetic storm can cause minor disruptions to radio and satellite communications, potentially leading to a few hours of lost radio contact, according to NOAA. Infrastructure operators have been notified to mitigate any possible impacts, with some risk for mainly controllable power fluctuations in the power grid and possible, slight risk of various satellite operations’ effects.
Dr Tamitha Skov, an independent space weather physicist, posted on X: "The speed of this storm is fast, but the field strength is moderate thus far. G3 to G4 levels are possible during this early phase. A stronger region of the storm will likely come later, but for now aurora is brightening quickly! GPS users & HF radio operators expect signal disruptions on the nightside of Earth." The Daily Mail notes that scientists have warned that humanity is not prepared for extreme space weather, with a recent solar storm emergency drill simulating what would happen if a major geomagnetic storm hit Earth.
The exercise ran four simulations of geomagnetic storms of different severities, which showed that power grids failed, blackouts were triggered, and communication broke down across the US. One scenario included a "solar superstorm", strong enough to cause an "internet apocalypse", resulting in power grid disruptions across the entire US with the eastern seaboard experiencing blackouts, which lasted for weeks. The Daily Mail reports that scientists are now calling for a whole-of-government planning approach, arguing it will be critical for protecting America from cosmic disaster.
