Biggest Solar Storm in 20 Years Has Hit The Earth. But It's Not Over Yet

804,886 views May 16, 2024

The Sun had a busy week. The most powerful solar storm in the last two decades recently hit Earth, creating stunning displays of auroras, often known as the Northern and Southern Lights. This event was caused by a group of sunspots (AR 3664), about 16 times the size of Earth. They released several X-class solar flares and coronal mass ejections directly toward our planet. These solar emissions led to severe geomagnetic storms, ranked at the highest intensity level of G5, marking the most intense storms since the 2003 Halloween storms. So, what really happened on the surface of the Sun that caused the geomagnetic storm? How did it create such a stunning display of light 150 million km away? Finally, and most importantly, what will happen when the sunspot group faces our planet again after two weeks?

Explosion auf der Sonne

 

Explosion auf der Sonne

Auf unserer Sonne kracht und knallt es! Die US-Weltraumbehörde Nasa hat am Dienstag um 18.51 Uhr (MESZ) die stärkste Sonneneruption (Stärke X8.7) seit 2005 gemessen. Der Ausbruch war auf der erdabgewandten Seite. Dem Solar Dynamics Observatory gelang ein Foto, auf dem der helle Blitz (rechts) zu sehen ist.

Explosion on the sun

Our sun is cracking and banging! The US space agency NASA measured the strongest solar flare (magnitude X8.7) since 2005 on Tuesday at 6:51 p.m. (CEST). The eruption was on the side away from Earth. The Solar Dynamics Observatory managed to capture a photo showing the bright flash (right).

Shear line and easterlies to bring cloudy skies with rains over PH

 

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration says that loudy skies with rains will prevail over the country on Sunday due to shear line and easterlies. (Photo courtesy of Pagasa)

By: Luisa Cabato - Reporter / @luisacabatoINQ

INQUIRER.net / 09:30 AM May 19, 2024

MANILA, Philippines — Cloudy skies with rains will prevail over the country on Sunday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.

In an early morning forecast, Pagasa weather specialist Grace Castañeda said that overcast skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms will still be experienced in some parts of northern Luzon due to the shear line.

“Patuloy pa ring makararanas ng maulap na kalangitan at mataas na tyansa ng mga pag-ulan, pagkidlat, at pagkulog ang bahagi ng Batanes at Babuyan Islands dulot yan ng shear line,” she said.

(The regions of Batanes and Babuyan Islands will continue to experience cloudy skies and a high chance of rain, lightning, and thunder due to the shear line.)

“Dito naman sa Metro Manila, maging sa nalalabing bahagi pa ng ating bansa, ay mayroon lamang tayong mararanasan na mga isolated o ‘yung mga biglaan at mga panandaliang pag-ulan, pagkidlat, at pagkulog lalong-lalo na sa hapon at gabi dulot ‘yan ng easterlies,” Castañeda added.

(Here in Metro Manila, as well as in the rest of the country, we will only experience isolated or sudden and brief rain showers, lightning, and thunder, especially in the afternoon and evening, due to the easterlies.)

As for temperature ranges in key cities and areas of the country for May 19, Pagasa issued the following:

Metro Manila: 25 to 34 degrees Celsius

Baguio City: 18 to 24 degrees Celsius

Laoag City: 25 to 33 degrees Celsius

Tuguegarao: 23 to 32 degrees Celsius

Legazpi City: 28 to 33 degrees Celsius

Puerto Princesa City: 27 to 34 degrees Celsius

Tagaytay: 24 to 32 degrees Celsius

Kalayaan Islands: 26 to 34 degrees Celsius

Iloilo City: 27 to 33 degrees Celsius

Cebu: 28 to 33 degrees Celsius

Tacloban City: 27 to 32 degrees Celsius

Cagayan de Oro City: 26 to 33 degrees Celsius

Zamboanga City: 25 to 33 degrees Celsius

Davao City: 26 to 34 degrees Celsius