A massive solar storm is headed toward Earth.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a severe geomagnetic storm warning on October 10-11 after detecting a solar flare earlier this week. The solar storm could temporarily disrupt power and radio signals.

NOAA has notified power plant and spacecraft operators to take precautions. It has also warned the Federal Emergency Management Agency of the possibility of power outages as it deals with the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene and prepares for Hurricane Milton, which is headed toward Florida.

A solar flare on October 3. Photo: NASA

The latest solar storm is not expected to surpass the one that hit Earth in May, the strongest in more than two decades.

Florida is far enough south to avoid any power outages from this storm unless it gets much larger, said Rob Steenburgh, a scientist with NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center.

NOAA space weather forecaster Shawn Dahl said experts are more concerned about potential impacts to power grids in areas devastated by Hurricane Helene two weeks ago.

The storm could also produce aurora borealis as far south as the lower Midwest and northern California, although the exact location and timing are still unknown.

Skygazers can point their smartphones upward to take pictures. These devices can often capture auroras that are invisible to the human eye.

The May solar storm created brilliant auroras across the Northern Hemisphere and didn't cause any major disruption.

The sun is near the peak of its current 11-year cycle, causing all the recent solar activity.

Ngoc Anh (according to AP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/bao-mat-troi-du-doi-dang-huong-den-trai-dat-post316176.html