So far the effects have been limited to shortwave radio blackouts, but CMEs and geomagnetic storms could be in the offing as the underlying sunspot turns toward Earth. Solar flares are on the rise again.
The third X-Flare, of 2025 when an X2 solar flare was detected at 12:48 UTC (Jan 4). This is now the third X-Class Flare produced by the new sunspot group AR 3947 located in the northeast quadrant. So far none of the X-Flares has produced an Earth-directed CME. Any coronal Mass Ejections associated with these events are not aimed at our planet but that will change in the coming days.
Spaceweather.com claims that, as predicted, a CME hit Earth's magnetic field on Jan. 4th (0445 UTC). The impact caused approximately 6 hours of minor G1-class geomagnetic storming. Bright auroras were mainly confined inside the Arctic Circle.
2024 was a very special year for our Sun when it recorded a record number of X-Class Flares—a massive count of 55, which was an incredible 20 more than the previous record in 2002. We are now deep into Solar Maximum, the busiest peak in Solar Cycle 25 with our planet expected to be bombarded with CMEs this year. We are off to an ominous start, 3 X-Class Flares in less than four days of 2025—Exciting to say the least!
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