Solar storm heading toward Earth threatens power grid

NOAA warns a severe solar storm is heading toward Earth, potentially disrupting energy grids and radio signals.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has reported that a severe solar storm is heading toward Earth, potentially impacting energy grids more than the recent storms caused by Hurricane Helene two weeks ago.

NOAA space weather forecaster Shawn Dahl expressed concern about the potential effects on power grids in areas affected by the hurricane.

This warning about the intense geomagnetic storm was issued following observations of energy emitted from the sun earlier this week. Such a storm could temporarily disrupt energy and radio signals.

NOAA has cautioned power plants and operators of spacecraft in Earth’s orbit to take precautionary measures. The agency has also alerted the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) about possible disruptions in energy supply.

According to scientist Rob Steenburgh of NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, Florida is far enough south to avoid power disruptions from the solar surge unless the storm becomes significantly larger.

Experts suggest that this solar storm will not be more severe than the storm that struck Earth in May, which was the most powerful in over two decades.

However, they will not know the storm's intensity until it reaches a distance of one million miles from the measuring spacecraft.