Forecasters are warning of a geomagnetic storm in Boulder, Colorado that could disrupt radio signals due to a burst of plasma from a solar flare. The event may also provide an opportunity for spectacular aurora sightings.

The Saturday alert from the Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado states that there is no need for the general public to worry.

Bad weather may cause interference with high-frequency radio communications, including those between airplanes and faraway air traffic control towers. According to Jonathan Lash, a forecaster at the center, many commercial aircraft have the option of using satellite transmissions as a backup.

According to the speaker, satellite operators may experience difficulties in monitoring their vehicles, while power grids may experience some “induced current” in their lines, although it is within their capability to manage.

According to Lash, those with clear night skies and at higher latitudes have an excellent chance to witness the illuminated sky.

The sun’s magnetic field undergoes a reversal every 11 years, resulting in a switch between its north and south poles. This switch also affects solar activity, which is currently at its peak, known as the solar maximum.

According to Lash, Earth can experience geomagnetic storms like the one that occurred on Sunday several times a year. However, during periods of solar minimum, it may be a few years before another storm strikes.

Radio communications were disrupted by the largest solar flare in several years, which occurred in December.

Source: wral.com