Powerful Solar Storm (Number 4) Could Disrupt Technology and Create Stunning Auroras

A powerful solar storm hit Earth on Thursday, causing disruptions to communications, the power grid, and satellite operations. The storm also created colorful auroras in areas like Alabama and Northern California. Scientists are monitoring the sun’s activity as it approaches its solar maximum.

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Powerful Solar Storm (Number 4) Could Disrupt Tech

Colorful auroras may be visible much farther south than usual in areas like Alabama and Northern California on Thursday evening, due to a powerful solar flare and coronal mass ejection from the sun, according to the National Weather Service’s Space Weather Prediction Center. The severe solar storm, originally classified as a level 4 on a 1 to 5 scale, could also cause disruptions to communications, the power grid, and satellite operations, as stated by officials at the center.

The storm hit Earth at 11:17 a.m. ET Thursday and could continue into Friday. While strong G3 storm conditions were observed at 11:49 p.m. ET, the storm reached G4 levels at 12:57 p.m. ET.

Powerful Solar Storm (Number 4) Could Disrupt Tech The storm reached Earth traveling at a speed of 1.5 million miles per hour (about 2.4 million kilometers per hour), and was detected by the Deep Space Climate Observatory and Advanced Composition Explorer satellites, which orbit 1 million miles from Earth, around 15 to 30 minutes earlier. These satellites measure the storm’s speed and magnetic strength, explained Shawn Dahl, service coordinator at the Space Weather Prediction Center, during a Wednesday briefing.

This week saw the release of multiple X-class solar flares, the most powerful type, along with coronal mass ejections (CMEs) on Tuesday. CMEs are massive clouds of ionized gas, or plasma, and magnetic fields that burst from the sun’s outer atmosphere. When directed at Earth, these can trigger geomagnetic storms, which cause significant disturbances to Earth’s magnetic field.

According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, geomagnetic storms can affect infrastructure both in near-Earth orbit and on Earth’s surface. In response, the center has alerted the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the North American power grid, and satellite operators to brace for potential disruptions, especially in light of ongoing preparations for Hurricane Milton, said Dahl.

Shawn Dahl noted that while G4 storms are fairly common during a solar cycle, G5, or extreme geomagnetic storms like the one on May 10, are extremely rare. He added that there is a 25% chance this new storm could escalate to a G5 level.

Powerful Solar Storm (Number 4) Could Disrupt Tech As the sun approaches its solar maximum—the peak of its 11-year cycle, expected this year—it becomes more active, leading to increasingly intense solar flares. This heightened solar activity creates auroras, such as the northern lights (aurora borealis) and southern lights (aurora australis). When particles from coronal mass ejections reach Earth’s magnetic field, they interact with atmospheric gases to produce colorful lights in the sky.

Currently, scientists at the Space Weather Prediction Center expect auroras to be visible in the central Eastern states and the lower Midwest. However, it’s uncertain if this storm will result in a global aurora display, as seen during May’s G5 storm. If the current storm intensifies to a G5 level, auroras could potentially be visible across southern states and other parts of the world.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) encourages people to use the aurora dashboard, which provides real-time updates on aurora visibility. With the earlier onset of darkness this time of year, the chance of witnessing auroras has increased. Over the weekend, sky-watchers in the US saw auroras within an hour or two after nightfall, caused by a G3 storm. Even if the auroras aren’t visible to the naked eye, they may be captured by cameras or phone sensors, according to officials at the center.

NOAA scientists don’t expect this week’s storm to surpass the one from May. The last G5 storm before that occurred in 2003, causing power outages in Sweden and damaging power transformers in South Africa.

During May’s geomagnetic storm, John Deere reported GPS disruptions affecting precision farming for some customers. However, power grid and satellite operators largely managed to keep satellites in proper orbit and controlled the buildup of geomagnetic currents in grid systems. Shawn Dahl described the May storm as the most successfully mitigated space weather event in history.

Scientists are closely monitoring the rise in solar activity, as it provides clues about the sun’s current phase in its cycle. Tuesday’s coronal mass ejection was the fastest recorded in this solar cycle, surprising scientists at the center. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean the solar cycle is at its peak. Dahl explained that some of the strongest storms in previous cycles occurred after the peak.

“We’re currently in the solar maximum, but it’s unclear if we’ve reached the peak yet,” Dahl said. He added that this could be determined later, possibly this year or early next year, and warned that solar cycle activity will likely remain intense through 2025 and into early 2026.