Earth is hit by a powerful solar storm: what happens?

In the past few hours, our planet has been hit by a powerful solar storm. The geomagnetic storm has been classified as a 4 out of 5 by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This is the first time a storm of this intensity has occurred since 2005. The peak of geomagnetic activity is expected to occur today.

NOAA has begun operations with satellite and grid operators to mitigate any power outages caused by the solar storm. However, individuals are not expected to take extra precautions, Shawn Dahl, service manager for NOAA’s Space Weather Picture Center, said in a press release.

The Aurora Borealis Phenomenon

This solar storm could also create opportunities for observing the aurora borealis , with increased likelihood in the northern United States, Canada, and northern Europe, including Italy. Under severe conditions, naked-eye aurora sightings are possible as far away as southern Alabama and northern California, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center.

“If you are in a dark, cloud-free area with low light pollution, you might be able to see a truly spectacular aurora display,” said Rob Steenburgh, space scientist at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.

However, it should be noted that forecasts of geomagnetic storms and the Northern Lights may be inaccurate due to possible changes in the timing and alignment of the Earth's magnetic fields.

The Possible Repercussions

Powerful geomagnetic storms can affect power grids, GPS communications, and geostationary satellites. The storm is not expected to directly affect mobile devices or credit cards, but possible power outages could have secondary effects.