Updated
Updated · India Today · Jul 1
NASA, NOAA Track July 2 G2-G3 Solar Storm After Sunspot 4479 Blackout
Updated
Updated · India Today · Jul 1

NASA, NOAA Track July 2 G2-G3 Solar Storm After Sunspot 4479 Blackout

3 articles · Updated · India Today · Jul 1

Summary

  • A full-halo coronal mass ejection from sunspot 4479 is heading toward Earth and could trigger a G2 to G3 geomagnetic storm on July 2, with NASA and NOAA differing on whether it arrives early or late that day.
  • The CME followed a June 30 solar flare that ionized Earth’s upper atmosphere and briefly knocked out HF radio links below 25 MHz across parts of North America and the Pacific.
  • That storm level can disrupt satellites, GPS, radio communications and power transmission, while airlines on polar routes may face temporary communication problems.
  • Solar Cycle 25 is near its peak, driving a rise in sunspots, flares and CMEs that has made space-weather alerts more frequent; agencies plan to monitor the cloud over the next 48 hours.

Insights

Is our power grid ready for tomorrow's solar storm, or could we face another 1989-style blackout?
Is this solar storm a warning shot for a future event that could sever our undersea internet cables?