Massive Solar Storm Heading Towards Earth, NASA Issues Global Disruption Warning

Washington(The Uttam Hindu): A powerful solar storm is making its way toward Earth, prompting a global warning from NASA about potential disruptions to communications, navigation systems, and power grids. The alert follows the eruption of an intense X2.7-class solar flare from the Sun last week, one of the most severe types of solar activity.

NASA reported that the flare, which lasted several minutes, released a significant burst of electromagnetic radiation and a coronal mass ejection (CME) — a cloud of charged solar particles — directly toward Earth. The flare has already caused radio blackouts in several regions, including Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. There were also reports of power degradation across parts of the eastern United States.

According to space weather experts, X-class flares are the most intense, capable of causing widespread damage and disruption. The X2.7 rating places this flare among the stronger ones recorded in recent years.

NASA warned that the storm could continue to affect radio communications, GPS and navigation signals, and electric power grids. There is also an increased risk to spacecraft electronics and astronauts aboard the International Space Station due to heightened radiation exposure.

Authorities are advising aviation and maritime operators, emergency services, and satellite-based industries to remain vigilant and prepare for intermittent signal loss and system errors. Power grid operators have also been put on alert to safeguard against possible voltage irregularities or transformer failures.

While solar flares are natural and often harmless phenomena, those of this magnitude are rare and can cause significant short-term disruptions. The event is being closely monitored by NASA and NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, which are issuing ongoing updates. Citizens are encouraged to stay informed and minimize reliance on satellite-based technologies during peak impact periods.