NASA warns of Earth blackouts from major solar flares

NASA regarding the potential for Earth blackouts due to major solar flares underscores the significant impact of solar activity on our technological infrastructure. On May 14, 2025, an X2.7-class solar flare was detected, representing the highest classification of solar flares and indicating a serious threat to global communications . Although harmful radiation from these flares does not reach the Earth's surface, their effects can be felt through disruptions in radio communications, navigation signals, and power grids (Custom). The increasing likelihood of such events is attributed to the Sun's most active region currently facing Earth .

The activity is expected to cause auroras and potential blackouts on Earth, with Nasa’s Solar Dynamics Observatory recently capturing the most powerful eruption of 2025 from a newly emerged sunspot region.

Classed as an X2.7 flare – the highest category possible for a solar flare – the event triggered radio blackouts across parts of the Middle East.

NASA's solar observation satellites shows the moment that filaments of plasma 75 times larger than Earth peeled away from the sun in a pair of sweeping 'wings'.

Most of the material was shot out of the sun's north pole, so it will mostly avoid Earth.

However, astronomers say that Earth will probably receive a glancing blow from the wake of the passing storm.

That means there is an increased chance of being able to spot the Northern Lights and a risk of disruption to electrical equipment.

Since Tuesday, shortwave radio blackouts have been reported in parts of North America, South America, southeast Asia, Africa and the Middle East, according to Spaceweather.com, a website run by astronomer Tony Phillips that closely monitors the sun’s daily activities.

Shawn Dahl, a forecaster at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, said the X2.7 flare occurred as the sun was over the Middle East, which contributed to disruptions of high-frequency radio signals in the region for about 10 minutes during the storm’s peak.

NOAA have reported that this particular flare has already caused high-frequency radio blackouts across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East . As the Sun continues its current solar maximum phase, there remains a substantial risk of additional M-class and X-class eruptions in the coming days . Such phenomena pose threats not only to terrestrial communication systems but also to aviation operations and satellite functionality. Therefore, it is imperative for operators of critical systems to remain vigilant as they navigate this period of heightened solar activity.

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Sarah H

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