The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a warning about a severe solar storm heading toward Earth, which could potentially disrupt energy grids, especially in regions recently affected by Hurricane Helene. NOAA space weather forecaster Shawn Dahl has expressed concern over the impact this geomagnetic storm might have on power grids, with the storm having the potential to temporarily disrupt energy supply, radio signals, and spacecraft operations.
The storm was triggered by a burst of energy from the sun observed earlier this week, prompting NOAA to alert power plants, spacecraft operators, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to take precautionary measures. While the storm could affect various regions, scientist Rob Steenburgh from NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center noted that Florida, being farther south, is unlikely to experience significant power outages unless the storm intensifies further.
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Though the current forecast suggests that the storm may not surpass the severity of the solar storm that hit Earth in May—the most powerful in over 20 years—its true intensity will only be determined as it approaches within one million miles of measuring spacecraft.
