A powerful eruption from the Sun has triggered a radio blackout over parts of North America and the Pacific Ocean, while scientists are now tracking a fast-moving cloud of solar plasma that could spark a moderate to strong geomagnetic storm when it reaches Earth later this week.
The eruption originated from sunspot 4479, which unleashed a powerful solar flare on June 30. Nasa’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) captured the intense burst of extreme ultraviolet radiation as it erupted from the Sun’s surface.
The flare immediately affected Earth.
According to space weather monitors, the burst of X-rays and ultraviolet radiation ionised the upper layers of Earth’s atmosphere, disrupting high-frequency (HF) radio communications across North America and the Pacific Ocean.
The shortwave radio blackout occurred around 2:20 a.m. IST, affecting frequencies below 25 MHz, which are commonly used by mariners, aviators and amateur radio operators.
While the radio blackout lasted only a short time, scientists are paying closer attention to what followed the flare—a massive coronal mass ejection (CME).
A CME is a giant cloud of magnetised plasma blasted into space from the Sun. Coronagraph images show the eruption produced a full-halo CME, indicating that the expanding cloud is travelling almost directly toward Earth.
Forecast models from Nasa and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) suggest the CME could arrive between early and late July 2, although the exact timing remains uncertain. NASA’s model predicts a later arrival, while NOAA expects the solar storm to reach Earth earlier on the same day.
Space weather forecasters say the impact could generate a G2 (Moderate) to G3 (Strong) geomagnetic storm.
Geomagnetic storms occur when charged particles from the Sun interact with Earth’s magnetic field. While Earth’s atmosphere protects people on the ground, strong storms can interfere with satellite operations, GPS navigation, radio communications and power transmission systems. Airlines operating polar routes may also experience temporary communication disruptions.
The storms can also produce spectacular auroras, potentially pushing the Northern Lights much farther south than usual.
The eruption comes as the Sun is passing through the peak of Solar Cycle 25, the roughly 11-year cycle during which solar activity naturally increases.
Scientists have observed a sharp rise in the number of sunspots, solar flares and CMEs over the past year, leading to more frequent space weather events.
Space agencies around the world will closely monitor the incoming CME over the next 48 hours.
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