A major solar storm began hitting Earth on Monday and could cause disruptions to power and satellite networks, US weather officials have warned – as well as producing aurora borealis (northern lights), in various areas including Portugal.
The news comes via a video uploaded by Agence France-Presse (AFP) in conversation with meteorologist Shawn Dahl of the US Space Weather Prediction Centre (SWPC).
Dahl described a geomagnetic storm of level 4 on a scale of 5, expected to continue today but begin weakening.
Solar explosions, called coronal mass ejections, which can take several days to reach Earth, cause these events, the expert explained – creating the northern and southern lights when they come into contact with Earth’s magnetic field.
The current storm is producing northern lights, including in regions where they are not normally seen.
The Facebook page ‘Meteo Trás os Montes – Portugal’ has been posting reports of northern lights in various locations in Portugal since last night, such as Vila Pouca de Aguiar (Vila Real), Bragança, Macedo de Cavaleiros (Bragança), São Pedro do Sul (Viseu) and Grândola (Setúbal).
There are also reports of northern lights in several European countries posted on social media.
Although the world experienced a level 5 geomagnetic storm, the highest level, in 2024 for the first time in 20 years, the current solar storm is the most powerful observed “since 2003,” said Dahl.
In October 2003, a “Halloween” solar storm plunged large parts of Sweden into darkness and damaged energy infrastructure in South Africa.
This current storm was triggered reportedly by “a strong solar flare that occurred on Sunday.
Source: LUSA
