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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Ryan Merrifield

Solar storm heading for direct hit with Earth within 48 hours, says NASA model

Another geomagnetic storm is heading for a "direct hit" with Earth within 48 hours could cause power, GPS and radio blackouts.

NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) models predict a fast solar wind stream will help to push the cyclone before it makes impact with the planet's magnetic field on Thursday.

At that point it is expected to "intensify", according to an expert.

It is the second in a matter of days - and this is could mean chaos for satellites and spark power fluctuations, reports the Daily Express.

Space weather physicist Tamitha Skov took to Twitter today with the warning.

She said: "Direct hit – solar storm prediction models from both NOAA and NASA show the storm hits April 14, just ahead of a fast solar wind stream.

"This should intensify the storm as the stream will give it a push from behind!"

A second solar storm in a matter of days is due to strike Earth (Getty Images/Science Photo Library RF)

She added: "Chances of reaching G2-level conditions are 80 percent at high latitudes and 20% at mid-latitudes.

"Radio blackout risk remains low, but amateur #radio operators and GPS users face disruptions on Earth's nightside."

When solar storms reach Earth's magnetic field blackouts could cause power outages if they directly hit transformers, reports the Daily Express.

NASA says the G2-class storm will arrive due to a coronal mass ejection (CME) - a major plasma release from the sun's outer layer.

Such a storm occurs if enough energy from the solar wind is exchanged in a close proximity to Earth.

The storms are then ranked by US Space Weather Center (SWPC) on a scale of G1 Minor up to G5 Extreme.

It says when CMEs collide with the planet's magnetosphere "all of that extra radiation can damage the satellites we use for communications and navigation, it can disrupt power grids that provide our electricity".

NASA says the G2-class storm will arrive due to a coronal mass ejection (AFP)

The incoming disturbance could cause auroras, similar to the Northern Lights.

The aurora borealis itself could be visible from Sunday until Tuesday if skies are clear enough, says the Met Office.

Ms Skov went on to say: “Aurora field reporters, be sure to charge your camera batteries!”

She continued: "The NASA solar storm prediction model shows the hit occurring a little later on April 14 at 12pm UTC time compared to the NOAA model, which shows the arrival a bit earlier at 7am UTC time!

"Either way, both indicate an excellent chance for aurora!”

It comes after a G3 storm - classed as major - struck the atmosphere on Sunday, and was still being felt on Tuesday.

Experts have warned the Earth would struggle to contend with the effects of a G5 storm should it occur.

According to SpaceWeather.com, the current solar winds are blowing at 516.6 km/sec with a density of 7.5 protons/cm3.

At the end of March, 17 solar flares erupting from a single spot on the sun lead to another solar storm warning.

NASA observatories spotted the flares before announcing at least two of them were on direct collision course with the Earth.

Solar activity has been rising and falling naturally every 11 years, according to scientific observations.

Although the pattern is not quite like clockwork and astronomers believe we are now entering a period of increased solar activity that could peak in 2025.

In 2020, a new family of sunspots was found on the surface of our star.

This produced the biggest solar flare seen by astronomers since 2017.

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