Khaberni - The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center has issued an urgent warning of an approaching severe G3-level "geomagnetic" storm, following an M7.4 class solar flare that occurred last Wednesday from active sunspot AR4274. It is expected to hit Earth's magnetic field within the next 24 to 48 hours.
The American center reported that the wave of charged solar particles will reach Earth between this Thursday evening and tomorrow morning, where it will interact with Earth's magnetic field, causing temporary disturbances in wireless communications, navigation systems, and satellites, as well as possible minor fluctuations in high-voltage power grids, according to "Space" website.
Forecasts indicate the possibility of seeing the aurora borealis in wider areas than usual this time, extending to mid-latitudes, in an exceptional celestial display, although the intense moonlight may reduce its visibility.
In this context, the Jeddah Astronomical Society explained that this storm is caused by a coronal mass ejection, which are huge clouds of plasma and magnetic fields expelled from the sun's outer atmosphere. When they collide with Earth, they interact with Earth's magnetic field to generate electrical currents and disturbances in the upper layers of the atmosphere.
Experts cautioned that such storms, although not posing a direct threat to daily life, can affect satellites, air navigation, and long-range communications.
The impending storm is categorized as strong and is the strongest in months, prompting several countries' aviation and electricity authorities to raise a precautionary alert for their teams.
The American Space Weather Prediction Center has repeatedly emphasized in recent times the importance of monitoring solar storms, noting that the peak of the current solar activity is expected on Friday morning, Mecca time.
