US meteorological authorities report a major solar storm has begun hitting Earth and warn it could cause disruptions to power grids and satellite systems while producing northern lights visible as far south as Portugal. Authorities advise operators of critical infrastructure and satellite services to monitor space‑weather alerts and prepare for possible interference. Those relying on satellite communications, GPS‑sensitive services, or with critical power needs should follow official updates.
Solar storm produces aurora, may disrupt grids and satellites
Tuesday, 20 January 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
A solar storm occurs when the Sun ejects large bursts of charged particles and magnetic fields (for example, coronal mass ejections) that interact with Earth's magnetosphere, causing geomagnetic storms. These storms can disrupt satellites, GPS and radio communications, induce currents in power grids, and produce visible aurora far from the poles (including in Portugal during strong events); agencies such as NOAA use a G1–G5 scale to indicate storm severity and likely impacts.
