Solar Storms to Peak This Weak

Over the last few months, scientists have been watching huge solar flares explode off the sun. Government scientists are expecting the solar flares to grow larger over the next few days, and say that the solar energy could interfere with GPS systems.

Joseph Kunches, a space weather scientist at the Space Weather Prediction Center, said:

“The magnetic storm that is soon to develop probably will be in the moderate to strong level.”

The solar activity expected in the next couple of days could extend an Aurora as far south as Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Reuters notes that GPS and satelite disruption from a solar storm is rare, but it has happened in the past. In 1989, a solar flare up took down Quebec’s power grid, leaving millions without power for hours.

The largest solar storm on record was in 1859, which caused an Aurora to extend to the Caribbean.

Kunches said:

“I don’t think this week’s solar storms will be anywhere near that. This will be a two or three out of five on the NOAA Space Weather Scale.”