A rare burst from the sun may briefly knock out communications across parts of Earth.
U.S. scientists are sounding the alarm after a strong solar flare erupted on Wednesday, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warning it could disrupt high-frequency (HF) radio communications.
The flare was rated X4.2 — the most intense class of solar flares — meaning it packs serious energy. While rare, NOAA says such events aren’t unexpected as the sun approaches the peak of its 11-year activity cycle.
According to the agency, the flare could cause immediate signal degradation or complete HF radio blackouts across large areas on the sunlit side of the Earth, lasting from a few minutes to several hours.
Solar flares like this can also affect navigation systems, power grids, spacecraft and astronauts, making close monitoring critical.
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