‘Extreme’ solar storm G5 hits Earth for first time in more than 20 years, threatening damage to internet, phones and power grid

A RARE solar storm has hit Earth, making it the most powerful of its kind to hit our planet in more than 20 years.

The geomagnetic storm was recorded as G5 strength (geomagnetic 5) by satellites at 8pm ET on Friday – the strongest level available and the first G5-level storm to hit Earth since October 2003.

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The “unusual event”, which was initially expected to occur G4 level strengthwas confirmed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center on Friday night.

“Extreme geomagnetic conditions (G5) have been observed!” the agency wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

And he warned: “Widespread voltage control problems and problems with the protection system may occur.

“Some grid systems may experience complete collapse or blackouts. Transformers may suffer damage.”

Radio transmissions and satellite navigation may also be interrupted in the coming days, with solar activity expected to continue at “high to very high levels” over the weekend.

A White House official said authorities were monitoring the storm.

“NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center has notified infrastructure system operators of potential risks so they can take any necessary mitigation measures,” the official said.

“The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, as well as other industry risk management agencies, are working closely with infrastructure operators to ensure the necessary precautions are taken.”

As the storm touches the sky, it paints it in a “spectacular display” of pink, purple and green.

The colored lights are known as the aurora, a famous example being the aurora borealis.

An aurora happens when charged particles collide with gases in Earth’s atmosphere around the magnetic poles.

In the Northern Hemisphere, most of this activity occurs within a band known as the aurora oval, covering latitudes between 60 and 75 degrees.

When there is strong activity it can cover more area, which is why this event was captured across the UK on Friday night.

People across the UK documented the sky lighting up their homes and towns.

The sky over Edinburgh, Scotland, looked like a watercolor when someone tweeted that the city “feels like a different planet tonight.”

Kathleen Cunnea, in Great Horkesley, Essex, said: “It was absolutely stunning to see.”

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SOLAR ERUPTIONS

The storm occurred after multiple “strong” solar flares, which are large explosions in the Sun’s atmosphere, that began on Wednesday.

Five plasma bursts have been detected and these could be the catapult for geomagnetic storms that hit Earth and affect the magnetic field.

Scientists expected the flares to “merge and reach Earth” late Friday or early Saturday.

Professor Peter Becker of George Mason University explained that there is only a short warning before a solar storm hits Earth after solar flares.

“We can tell when they will actually head toward Earth,” Becker said. Fox Time.

“And that gives us about 18 hours of warning, maybe 24 hours of warning before these particles actually get to Earth and start messing with Earth’s magnetic field.”

The geomagnetic storm is expected to last until the weekend.

There is a chance that the lights could be seen as far south as Alabama and California at night.

However, the most vibrant lights will be in Canada and the northern United States, where the skies are clear.

To see them best, find a patch of clear sky without clouds and city lights.

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