Strongest solar radiation storm in over 20 years sparks dazzling auroras across Europe and US, raises concerns for satellites, flights and astronauts

A "severe" and record-breaking geomagnetic storm rocked Earth's magnetic shield last night, shortly after the Sun unleashed a powerful X-class solar flare. A surge of intense solar activity from the Sun is moving toward Earth and it lit up the night sky with rare auroral displays on Monday evening and into early Tuesday. A solar storm is a sudden explosion of particles, energy, magnetic fields, and material blasted into the solar system by the Sun, according to NASA. A solar radiation storm is a powerful burst of energy from the Sun has reached Earth, triggering the strongest solar radiation storm in nearly 20 years. This storm is ranked at a level four out of five on a severity scale and is being tracked by the National Weather Service’s Space Weather Prediction Center, or SWPC. For the record, the agency said this is the strongest such storm since October 2003 and marks another significant moment in the current solar cycle.

What can a solar radiation storm do?

According to CNN, a solar radiation storm occurs when the Sun releases a burst of fast-moving, highly charged particles toward Earth, potentially disrupting space missions, aviation routes, and satellite operations. Scientists are closely monitoring the situation as it impacts satellites, flights, and space-based technology. Solar radiation storms are rare and usually happen near the peak of the Sun’s 11-year solar cycle. They mainly affect space systems and high-altitude operations.

According to reports, satellites may experience signal interference, temporary communication issues, minor stress on onboard electronics. As a result, satellite operators and space agencies are on alert to prevent disruptions. When solar radiation storms reach Earth, they can cause increased radiation exposure risks for astronauts in low-Earth orbit, like those aboard the International Space Station, as well as passengers on flights that are traveling polar routes.


SWPC notified airlines, NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation and other operators ahead of the storm. “We’ve been making all these phone calls to ensure that we are keeping all the critical technological infrastructure operators in the know of what’s happening,” SWPC forecaster Shawn Dahl told CNN.

ALSO READ: Solar storm, strongest in 20 years, hits Earth: What does it mean, how long will it last and moreAstronauts can limit their exposure during such events by moving to better-shielded sections of the space station, a step taken during past storms, including a major geomagnetic event in May last year. Elevated radiation levels can also affect satellites that support communication, navigation and GPS services.

Along with the radiation storm, a powerful geomagnetic storm hit Earth on Monday afternoon, a phenomenon that can at times disrupt power grids. Such storms are triggered by massive eruptions of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun — called coronal mass ejections — which unsettle Earth’s magnetic field upon impact. Solar storms of that magnitude have caused serious problems in the past. The well-known Halloween storms of 2003 led to power outages in parts of Sweden and damage to power equipment in South Africa, the agency noted.

High-altitude and polar-route flights could face: radio communication disruptions, navigation challenges, slightly increased radiation exposure for crew and passengers and airlines have been advised to take precautionary measures.

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What is the cause of solar radiation storm?

The solar radiation storm was triggered by an X-class solar flare, the most intense category of solar flares. This flare launched a coronal mass ejection (CME) a massive cloud of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun’s outer atmosphere. When Earth-directed, CMEs disturb Earth’s magnetic field and create geomagnetic storms. Scientists noted that this was the first major solar flare of the year, signalling increasing solar activity. The orientation of the CME’s magnetic field influenced how strongly Earth was affected, determining where auroras appeared and how much energy entered the atmosphere.

Solar radiation storm: Impact on technology

The solar radiation storm heightened risks for satellites, aviation, and astronauts.

-Crew members aboard the International Space Station were exposed to elevated radiation levels and followed safety protocols by moving to more shielded sections of the station.

ALSO READ: Quote of the Day by Rumi: 'You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop'-Airlines operating polar routes were placed on alert due to the possibility of increased radiation exposure and disruptions to GPS signals. Satellite operators also implemented precautionary steps to safeguard communication and navigation systems.

-Despite these concerns, experts said major disruptions for the general public were unlikely, as power grids and satellite networks are largely equipped to handle such space weather events.

Auroras across Europe, limited in US

One of the most striking effects of the storm was the appearance of vivid auroras, commonly known as the northern and southern lights. Energetic particles from the coronal mass ejection interacted with gases in Earth’s atmosphere, creating colorful light displays. Although forecasters initially predicted auroras would be visible across much of the northern United States, the storm’s magnetic orientation reduced visibility there. Instead, dazzling auroras were seen across large parts of Europe, including France, Germany, and Austria, captivating skywatchers and photographers.