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Sweden Today

Swedish news in English

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Massive Solar Storm Threatens Communications, Promises Northern Lights

Published: 2024-05-10

A massive geomagnetic storm, categorized as G4 by the NOAA, is expected to hit Earth this weekend, starting Friday afternoon.

This rare event could disrupt various communication systems, including GPS, radio, and satellite operations, potentially causing widespread internet outages.

The storm, resulting from at least five coronal mass ejections from the sun, is the most powerful since 2005 and could lead to significant power outages, as seen during the 2003 "Halloween Storm" in Sweden.

On a brighter note, the intense solar activity is predicted to produce spectacular northern lights, visible across northern Europe, the USA, and Canada, offering a unique viewing opportunity for sky enthusiasts.