Major Solar Flare Disrupts Communications — More Effects Expected This Week

On May 14, the Sun released its strongest solar flare of 2025 so far — a class X2.7 eruption from sunspot region AR4087. The flare disrupted radio signals across regions of Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Scientists caution that this may be only the beginning. On May 13, an earlier X-class flare was recorded, followed by additional moderate flares (M5.3 and M7.7). These events sent waves of charged particles toward Earth, increasing the risk of interference with communication and navigation systems.

The main wave of solar plasma is expected to hit Earth by Friday, possibly causing further radio outages, GPS signal errors, and even temporary power grid instability.

Experts also report a sharp rise in high-energy particles in near-Earth space, indicating a likely coronal mass ejection (CME), which may enhance geomagnetic storm conditions.