Sun Has Broken Loose

The Earth was engulfed by a magnetic storm of exceptional intensity, caused by a maximum X-class solar flare. On the night of January 20, geomagnetic activity reached levels that experts described as beyond normal limits. This event is already being called the most powerful solar storm of the early 21st century. According to scientists, the geomagnetic storm intensified overnight to a G4.7 level, approaching the highest category, G5. At 2:12 AM Moscow time, experts predicted that reaching its maximum level could occur within the next few hours. Such levels are considered extreme and are extremely rare, especially during processes associated with solar activity and flares.

By the morning of January 20, the storm's first impulse phase began to weaken. Solar wind speed stabilized at around 900 kilometers per second, approximately two to three times higher than average. Meanwhile, the magnetic field strength near Earth remained approximately ten times higher than normal.

Researchers have recorded a sharp reversal in the magnetic field's direction, which is considered a worrying sign. If this trend continues, a second powerful surge in geomagnetic activity is possible. The minimum predicted values ​​correspond to the G4 level, but experts do not rule out a second surge to G5. Over the past two decades, the maximum G5 level has only been observed once—in May 2024. Such events are closely linked to the Sun's cycles and how they affect the Earth's magnetic field.

According to the Solar Astronomy Laboratory, the geomagnetic disturbance will last for at least 24 hours. The overall situation will remain at the so-called "red" level. Brief periods of weakening are possible starting on January 21, but complete stabilization of the Earth's magnetic field is expected only in two to three days. During the morning hours, experts also noted signs of the formation of a second storm peak, confirming the complex and multiphase nature of the current solar storm.

A powerful magnetic storm resulted in exceptionally bright auroras. Residents not only in northern regions but also in European countries could observe them. The lower boundary of the auroras' distribution reached approximately the 40th parallel—the latitude of Madrid and Rome—consistent with scenarios previously described for anomalously strong auroras. Scientists believe this spectacular phenomenon could recur on the night of January 21, although it is expected to be less intense.

Concurrent with the geomagnetic storm, an extreme radiation storm was recorded near Earth. The solar proton flux peaked on the evening of January 19 and reached approximately 37,000 pfu. This is the highest level in the entire 21st century. For comparison, the previous record was registered on November 6, 2001, and the absolute maximum in the entire history of observations since 1976 remains the event of March 1991. This was reported by the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Due to high radiation exposure, the crew of the International Space Station was forced to switch to the Safe Haven radiation safety protocol. The cosmonauts temporarily moved to the Russian Zvezda Service Module, which is considered the most radiation-protected module on the ISS. Unlike most magnetic storms in recent years, this event combines several extreme factors: high solar wind speeds, sharp fluctuations in the magnetic field, and record-breaking radiation levels. This makes it one of the most significant solar storms of the early part of the century.

–Pravda.ru