Powerful X-class Solar Flare Hits Earth, Causing Radio Blackout

The flare, accompanied by a coronal mass ejection, raised concerns of a geomagnetic storm, though it is now expected to miss Earth.

A powerful X-class solar flare, peaking at 4:56 p.m. ET on March 28, 2024, ionized Earth's atmosphere, causing a significant radio blackout over the Pacific Ocean.
The flare was observed erupting from the sun's surface by satellites from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and was classified as an X1.1 flare.
Accompanying the solar flare was a coronal mass ejection (CME), initially raising concerns of a potential geomagnetic storm that could impact satellites and communications, though it is now expected to miss Earth.
This event follows a 'double' X-class flare that occurred on March 25, 2024, triggering the most powerful geomagnetic storm on our planet in six years.
Scientists suggest the sun may have entered its explosive era of peak activity, known as solar maximum, a year earlier than previously forecasted.