A massive solar storm slammed into Earth on Thursday, threatening to complicate recovery efforts for hurricanes Helene and Milton. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned the storm could disrupt communications, overload power grids, and interfere with GPS systems—critical tools for emergency responders. 🚨
The storm, traveling at a blistering 1.5 million mph, originated from a Tuesday solar eruption called a coronal mass ejection (CME). NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) reported it reached G4 (Severe) levels, triggering geomagnetic storm alerts through Friday.
Meanwhile, skywatchers might catch a silver lining: auroras could light up skies as far south as Alabama and northern California tonight! 🌌 Think of it as nature’s free VIP light show—no tickets required.
Pro tip: CMEs are bursts of solar plasma that smack into Earth’s magnetic field, creating these storms. While stunning, they’re a reminder of how interconnected our tech-driven world truly is. 🔌
