A massive solar flare is set to impact Earth later this week following a powerful eruption on the Sun on Tuesday evening, October 3rd. This isn’t the first time in 2024 we’ve faced solar flare activity. Back in May, a solar storm hit after a series of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) resulted from two large sunspots merging. That event lit up the skies with the Northern Lights. Now, we’re preparing for the impact of another solar storm. NASA reports that Sunspot AR3842, a rapidly growing region with intense magnetic fields, has unleashed the second-strongest flare we’ve seen in the last five years. Solar flares are categorized by intensity, with the strongest labeled as X-class. These flares have the potential to cause significant disruptions, including radio blackouts, satellite damage, and even power grid failures. Tuesday’s flare was rated X7.1, only slightly less intense than the X8.9 flare from May. The flare has already caused a brief radio blackout over Hawaii and launched a CME into space. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts this CME will collide with Earth’s magnetic field by Saturday, October 5th. When CMEs hit Earth, they can trigger geomagnetic storms, which not only create stunning auroras like the Northern Lights but can also disrupt satellite communications and potentially cause power grid failures. This latest event is a reminder that the Sun is currently in its “solar maximum” phase, the most active part of its 11-year cycle. Scientists originally predicted this peak of solar activity to occur in July 2025, but solar flares have been increasing at an accelerated rate, leading experts to reconsider their timeline. In 2024 alone, we’ve already experienced 41 X-class solar flares—more than the total number seen in the past nine years combined, according to spaceweather.com. Typically, we only see about 10 X-class flares a year. With solar maximum expected to last at least another year, we’re likely to see more intense solar activity, bringing with it the risk of additional geomagnetic storms and the associated disruptions. So, brace yourselves for what could be a wild ride over the coming days as space weather once again shows its power. The post Brace for Impact: Massive Solar Flare to Hit Earth appeared first on Anomalien.com.