(NEXSTAR) — The sun, going through an active bout of Solar Cycle 25 , spit out another intense flare over the weekend, bringing parts of the U.S. yet another chance at seeing the northern lights.
On Saturday, NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center reported an X4.5 solar flare had been detected. The agency shared video of the flare , showing the moment the sun appears to spit out some solar material.
X-class flares are the strongest measured by space weather experts , with the largest ever recorded being an X45 flare detected in 2003. On Dec. 21, 2023, the SWPC recorded an X5 flare , which was the strongest since an X8.2 flare in 2017.
Northern lights could be ramping up, and so could these strange occurrences
Following Saturday’s flare — which was described as “generally not common, although not necessarily unusual” — the SWPC said strong, G3-level geomagnetic storms are likely Sunday into Monday.
The agency warned some users of high-frequency communication bands ( like emergency managers ) may notice “strong degradation or signal loss.” The agency also acknowledged there may be impacts to power systems, spacecraft, and navigation and GPS systems — all areas that experts say are prepared for such events . The storming may also make the northern lights shine.