Solar Storm on Course to Hit Earth
The storm began in space with a massive solar flare that is growing as it leaves the sun’s presence.
People may be able to feel the effects on Earth as early as 10 p.m. Wednesday night, according to forecasters at the Federal Government’s Space Weather Prediction Center.
Scientists predict that although the storm will not have a huge impact on Earth, the Sun has been relatively quiet for some time and the storm could seem fiercer because Earth has had several years of relatively weak solar activity.
“This is a good-size event, but not the extreme type,” said Bill Murtagh, Program Coordinator for the Space Weather Center.
Solar storms can have several effects on Earth. First, it can affect the quality of global positioning systems. They can also affect the amount of radiation surrounding the north and south poles, which will cause airlines to redirect flights.
For now, scientists are waiting to see the impact the charged particles will have when they hit Earth at four million mph.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
