Major solar storm brings more northern lights to Portugal
A major solar storm began hitting Earth on Monday and could cause disruptions to power and satellite networks, US weather officials have warned – as well as producing aurora borealis The post Major solar storm brings more northern lights to Portugal appeared first on Portugal Resident.
Solar storm produces aurora, may disrupt grids and satellites
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.
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.
