A massive solar flare has hit Earth in the last 24 hours. It was the strongest eruption recorded in the entire year 2025, so far. This meteorological phenomenon even allowed the aurora borealis to be seen in more southern areas of the hemisphere, not usually covered by this phenomenon, such as Portugal.
The peak occurred this Tuesday, according to the specialized online publication Space. Furthermore, a warning of severe solar storms was issued.
The forecast of National Ocean and Atmospheric Administrationfrom the USA, was that these bursts of energy would reach the Earth during the night of Tuesday and in the early hours of this Wednesday. And they didn’t fail. As an effect of the solar storm, strong and colorful aurora borealis appeared in the skies.
Also in Spain or in Switzerlandfor example, the auroras were very visible.
Auroras are formed when charged particles of solar radiation interact with the Earth’s atmosphere.
How to see the Northern Lights?
The sun is at its maximum peak of activity in an 11-year cycle, which makes the aurora borealis more common and takes them to places that are usually not expected, further from the poles.
However, if you haven’t managed to see the auroras yet, don’t be discouraged. The peak of solar activity is expected to continue at least until the end of the year, so you may have more chances of seeing them in the near future.
For what you can get, it is recommended that you look for high, dark areas, away from city lights. There are specialized applications and websites that help you find the best places. And you must bear in mind that, on very cloudy nights, the spectacle may be hidden by clouds.
Radio communications failures
The storm had, despite everything, other, less positive effects. According to Space caused severe radio communication failures in Africa and Europedisrupting high-frequency radio communications on the sunlit side of Earth.
The collision of high-speed particles with the Earth’s magnetic field has the ability to affect radio and GPS communications and temporarily disrupt the electrical grid, radio traffic control and orbiting satellites.
Solar flares are classified into five categories, depending on their strength – class X, like the one that happened this Tuesday, are the strongest. Send one X-ray wave and ultraviolet radiation towards Earth, which ionize the atmosphere and causes degradation of radio signals.