Space weather forecasters are warning that a severe solar storm is headed towards Earth. The event is strong enough that it could cause stress on the planet’s power grids at a time when the US is already dealing with major hurricanes.
The warning about the severe geomagnetic storm came from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which noted that an outburst from the sun was detected earlier this week. The storm is expected to arrive midday on Friday and last until Sunday.
“This is an unusual and potentially historic event,” Clinton Wallace, the director of NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, shared in a statement.
The storm’s size has experts warning that the Earth could experience power and radio signal disruptions.
NOAA shared that it notified power plant operators and orbiting spacecraft to take precautions from the storm.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has also been alerted about possible power disruptions at a time when it’s preparing to deal with the aftermath of another major hurricane.
Forecasters shared that the upcoming solar storm won’t be as strong as the one that hit Earth in May, which was the strongest in more than two decades. However, their predictions won’t be verified until it’s 1 million miles away and Earth’s spacecraft can get an accurate measurement.
Rob Steenburgh, a scientist for NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, noted that Florida, which is currently recovering from Hurricane Helene and being struck by Hurricane Milton, is far enough south that it should avoid any power disruptions from the solar storm.
“That adds a little bit more to the comfort level,” Steenburgh said. “Why we’re here is to let them know so that they can prepare.”
The storm could also trigger northern lights as far south in the US as the lower Midwest and Northern California, but times and locations are still uncertain, NOAA shared.
If you do try and view the lights, astronomers share that using your smartphone to grab photos can help capture auroras the human eyes can’t see.
May’s storm didn’t cause any major disruptions but did put on a light show across the Northern Hemisphere.
The sun is currently near the peak of its 11-year cycle, which is causing the recent solar activity.