Powerful solar storms strike Earth.

A solar storm yesterday slammed into Earth with significant geomagnetic effects, potentially impacting power grids and GPS systems.

Solar storms can affect power grids on Earth. (Image source: abc.net.au)

According to AP, the storm was a Category 4 hurricane, considered dangerous on the 5-level scale of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for geomagnetic impact. This was the strongest storm to hit Earth since 2013.

Thomas Berger, director of the Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado, USA, said this phenomenon occurred after two plasma bursts on the surface of the Sun on March 15. They combined and headed towards Earth 15 hours earlier than predicted.

"It's much stronger than expected," Berger said. Previously, experts had only predicted it to be a level 1 power.

The storm appears likely to weaken slightly, but there is a risk of temporary disruptions to power grids. It could also impact GPS systems, resulting in less accurate map tracking and navigation. Damage figures are not yet available.

These types of storms sometimes involve radiation bursts and affect satellite operations, but this was not the case. Thanks to the solar storm, observers in the southern region were able to witness the aurora borealis, which is typically seen in the northern hemisphere.

According to VnExpress