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Solar storm warning: NASA predicts ‘direct hit’ on Earth in hours: 'Fast and strong!'
A SOLAR STORM is heading straight for Earth in a "direct hit", according to NASA, prompting fears of blackouts from the "fast and strong" impact.
Fast solar winds rocketed out of the Sun on January 29 along with a coronal mass ejection (CME). This means a solar storm has been tipped to reach the Earth by February 2. A CME is a large expulsion of plasma and magnetic field that explodes from the Sun’s corona (its outer layer).
These contain billions of tons of fast-moving solar particles as well as the magnetic field that binds them.
Dr Tamitha Skov, a space weather psychists, posted on Twitter: “Direct Hit! NASA, NOAA & MetOffice predictions agree the #solarstorm launched Jan 29 will hit Earth by early Febuary 2!"
She later added: "The earlier post showed NOAA/SWPC prediction. This one shows the NASA prediction, which indicated the #solarstorm could hit as early as 18:00 GMT on February 1.
"The final post is the Met Office prediction. This model shows the #solarstorm hitting by 05:00 GMT on February 2.
"So we have a range from 18:00 GMT on February 1 to 05:00 GMT Febuary 2. If the #solarstorm hits early, it will be faster and stronger; if hits late, slower & weaker!."
When a solar storm arrives at Earth’s atmosphere, it can cause some problems.
US Space Weather Center (SWPC) ranks solar storms on a scale of "G1 Minor", the least intense, all the way up to "G5 Extreme".
But even the weakest of storms threaten "power-grid fluctuations" and have a "minor impact on satellite operations".
At the stronger end of the scale, this is where it starts to get more dangerous.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1559074/solar-storm-warning-nasa-direct-hit-blackout-met-office-noaa-space-weather