Solar storm headed for Earth just got upgraded to most severe category
The most severe geomagnetic storm in decades is getting more intense, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Friday evening. The storm will not injure people, but electronic and electrical systems could be affected.
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center has upgraded the storm to a category G5 — its most extreme, the agency said in a 6 p.m. Friday announcement. It expects severe (G4) conditions to continue through the weekend.
“A geomagnetic storm of this strength can cause multiple and widespread issues with various power and communications systems,” NOAA said.
Some power grids could experience component failures, leading to electrical blackouts.
Cell phone GPS systems might not work for those on earth. In space, satellite navigation could be degraded for days. Radio frequencies could be interrupted.
One good piece of news: The aurora borealis could be visible across Washington state.
