The Most Powerful Magnetic Storm For 20 Years Erupted On Earth
For the first time since 2003, a geomagnetic storm reached its maximum level (G5), reports the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Extreme conditions were reached at 6:54 a.m. ET.
The magnetic storm on Earth reached an extreme G5 power level, which promises to be the most serious event of its kind since October 2003. Then this led to power outages in Sweden and damage to transformers in South Africa, Bloomberg explains. Perhaps there will be failures this time too. In the meantime, Elon Musk on the social network X (formerly Twitter) complained that the Starlink Internet communications satellites are under pressure, although they are holding up so far. A magnetic storm can obviously disrupt communication with them and cause failures in orientation systems.
There is also a great danger that the ionosphere, swollen under the influence of magnetic disturbances, will more strongly decelerate satellites in low orbit, which will lead to their deorbiting and falling to Earth. This has happened in the past with Starlink satellites.
According to forecasts at the Solar Astronomy Laboratory, the storm will gradually weaken, but periodic returns to stronger manifestations are possible, and the cosmic storm will stop completely only in the second half of Sunday, Leus added.