A powerful X.12 class solar flare recently struck the Pacific Ocean, causing a radio blackout over Hawaii and other areas. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned that another flare is predicted for Wednesday, with sunspot region 4114 showing no signs of calming down.
The NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center reported that Tuesday’s flare was the strongest released by this specific sunspot thus far. Sunspots are dark, cooler areas on the Sun formed when strong magnetic activity slows down hot gas flow to its surface. During solar maximum, which started in October 2024, more flares and storms occur, posing a threat to Earth.
Earlier this week, the sunspot released multiple M-class solar flares, with the strongest erupting as an M8.46 class and causing a radio blackout over North America. Solar flares are categorized by strength, ranging from B-class to X-class. The flare that occurred on May 10-12, 2024, was classified as X1.1.
The sunspot’s previous flares also triggered coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which can cause geomagnetic disturbances on Earth. However, Tuesday’s flare was an intense flash of electromagnetic energy causing ionization in the upper atmosphere. A new solar flare is predicted for Wednesday, with the sunspot remaining active until it reappears in view again, potentially unleashing more disruptions.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/this-large-and-unstable-sunspot-just-slammed-earth-with-its-strongest-flare-yet-2000617387