A powerful solar flare with a peak intensity of X2.2 struck the US late on Sunday morning, causing disruptions to critical systems. Captured by NOAA’s GOES-East satellite, the event marked one of the strongest flares recorded.
Solar flares are intense bursts of energy released from the Sun’s surface. They can impact radio communications, power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts. The flare is classified as X2.2, indicating a high level of intensity.
Due to flooding in NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory data center, current data on the event is unavailable. However, NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center provides up-to-date forecasts, watches, warnings, and alerts for space weather events. For more information, visit https://spaceweather.gov/.
Source: https://blogs.nasa.gov/solarcycle25/2024/12/09/sun-releases-strong-flare-5