A solar flare is expected to come close to Earth’s magnetic field on Sunday (5 June) or Monday (6 June), causing a geomagnetic solar storm.
Space experts have confirmed an eruption on the sun occurred on Thursday (2 June), hurling a solar flare known as a coronal mass ejection (CME) into space.
CMEs are enormous expulsions of plasma from the sun’s outer layer – or corona – and can cause power grid fluctuations.
According to The Sun, weather experts explained: “Yesterday, a magnetic filament on the sun erupted, hurling a faint CME into space.
“forecasters say it could hit Earth’s magnetic field on June 5th or 6th.
“Even weak CME strikes can cause geomagnetic storms, so there is a chance of minor G1-class storms when the CME arrives.”
Us humans are normally protected from CMEs by earth’s magnetic field, however the more severe consequences of solar flares can’t always be stopped.
Thankfully, if this solar flare did hit Earth, we’re only likely to see small power grid fluctuations and perhaps minor satellite communication impairment as this is only a ‘G1-class’ storm.
Posting possible effects of a G1 storm, the site notes: “Migratory animals are affected at this and higher levels; aurora is commonly visible at high latitudes.”
