X-class solar flare EXPLODES, sparks blackouts in Asia! Solar storm shadow looms over Earth
A terrifying X-class solar flare has erupted on the Sun in the early hours today, March 29. The solar flare eruption occurred on the Earth-facing sunspot AR3256 and has caused strong shortwave radio blackouts in large regions of Australia, southeast Asia and New Zealand. This came after it was reported yesterday that as many as 9 sunspot groups have appeared on the Earth-facing side of the Sun. Forecasters had claimed that the sunspots seemed to be stable, but one of them unexpectedly exploded.
The incident was reported by SpaceWeather.com which noted on its website, “The sun just produced another X-class solar flare, the 7th of 2023. The X1.2-category explosion came from sunspot AR3256 near the sun's southwestern limb. Radiation from the flare ionized the top of Earth's atmosphere, causing a strong shortwave radio blackout over southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand”. The solar flare erupted roughly at around 7 AM IST.
It was also stated that ham radio operators, drone pilots and aviators noticed loss of signal below 30 MHz for an hour after the solar flare erupted.
As the Sun's Solar Cycle 25 nears, solar activity is getting more intense. Whereas in a normal year, astronomers detect a couple of X-class solar flares, we have already seen seven of them strike the Earth by the end of March. Previous solar flares have also badly affected Australia, South America and Africa. In fact, oil grids had to temporarily shut down due to a solar storm attack last month.
Next, the Earth must prepare for a glancing blow from incoming CME, which can cause solar storm events. While early predictions state that the flare eruption was brief and as such the risk for CME release is not high, it should not be counted out. In the worst case
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