An M1-class solar flare can cause “weak or minor degradation of HF radio communication on sunlit side, occasional loss of radio contact,” and “low-frequency navigation signals degraded for brief intervals,” according to the NOAA Space Weather Scales.
The solar flare is considered to be a medium-sized space weather event. The event, at four hours in length, was particularly long-lasting, originating from a sunspot called AR2936.
The CME hit the Earth’s magnetic field on Tuesday, but the impact did not cause a significant geomagnetic storm. The CME could still produce a weak, Category G1, geomagnetic storm.
Solar flares are a common solar event. A standard solar cycle is around 11 years, and minor flares occur approximately 2,000 times per cycle. A flare is an intense eruption of electromagnetic radiation into the sun’s atmosphere.
Geomagnetic storms can spark wide-ranging atmospheric auroras, often called northern lights.
The current solar cycle has produced more and stronger solar flares than expected. Solar Cycle 25, as astronomers call it, began in 2020 and was expected to be a more mild cycle. Astronomers believe the cycle should peak around July of 2025, although predicting the activity of a solar cycle is difficult.