Powerful solar flare disrupted radio communications on five continents

Solar Flare: Record Flares Paralyze Radio Communications on Five Continents

According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, the most powerful solar flare this year, class X2.7, occurred around 04:30 AM Eastern Time. Its impact was particularly pronounced in the skies over the Middle East, causing a ten-minute collapse of high-frequency radio communications in the region. Disruptions in shortwave radio communications affected five continents at once: North and South America, Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

NASA published an impressive image from the Solar Dynamics Observatory, which captured a bright "fiery tendril" - a powerful energy discharge erupting from the surface of our star.

What is the danger?

Such flares can disrupt GPS, satellites, and even pose a threat to astronauts. Streams of charged particles, upon reaching Earth, can cause magnetic storms and affect power grids.

Scientists warn: The Sun is currently at the peak of activity in its 11-year cycle, which means the probability of new storms in the coming months remains high.

Previously reported:

On May 14, an X1.2 flare was also recorded on the western limb of the Sun.

On May 7, the NOAA GOES-19 spacecraft captured the ejection of a huge solar filament capable of triggering magnetic storms.