NASA's analysis, in conjunction with NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Centre, points to a 60 percent likelihood that the current solar storm, intensified by increased solar radiation, might lead to disruptions in the power grid. This ongoing event highlights the dynamic and impactful nature of solar phenomena on Earth's technological systems.




On Monday, a solar storm triggered a radio blackout over the Pacific Ocean, as reported by earth.com. The disturbance, occurring around 4.20pm EST (2.50am IST), was primarily noticed off the coasts of western US and South America. This solar storm-induced blackout was brief, lasting mere seconds. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) acknowledged this solar event on its website, rating it as an R2 (moderate) level. Such solar flares, significant eruptions of electromagnetic radiation from the Sun, vary in duration from minutes to hours. The rapid release of electromagnetic energy, traveling at the speed of light, affects Earth's atmosphere almost instantly upon observation.




The poles also experienced the impact of this potent stream of energized particles, with disruptions extending for about seven hours, as further detailed by earth.com. This incident is part of a series of solar storms, tracked by NASA for solar radiation activities, that have been emanating from the Sun since the start of the new year. NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Centre has projected a 60 percent probability that the current solar storm might interfere with the power grid.

Anticipation is building for another solar storm, expected to arrive by Wednesday. This forthcoming event may influence radio communications, aviation, and deteriorate satellite functions. These solar activities are likely to generate breathtaking auroras visible in northern regions of Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine.

Physicist Tamitha Skov, known for her regular updates on solar storms on various platforms including X, has alerted about the approaching storm. "We have one, if not two solar storms headed for Earth today! The first launched near (Sun's) Region 3555. It's expected to hit early to midday January 22. The second is a side-swiping storm launched near 3559. It may give us a glancing blow January 23. Also, an unstable filament is in the Earth-strike zone now. If it launches, it will be a third storm headed towards Earth!" she stated on X.