BOULDER, Colo. (AP) -- Scientists detected a major solar flare Friday that could create a spectacular light show in the night sky but was not expected to disrupt communications or knock out electrical power.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's forecast of moderate solar storm activity was in effect through midday Saturday EDT.
While geomagnetic eruptions on the sun can interfere with communications and knock out power, no immediate disruptions were reported. Forecasters said the intense part of the storm had passed by midday Friday, but there was a chance of another outbreak on Sunday.
The sun is approaching the height of its 11-year storm cycle, known as the Solar Max, although the peak had been relatively quiet until now.
The storm was rated at a moderate G-2 level on the federal government's new space weather scale of 1 to 5. Initially, the storm spiked to G-4, or severe.
Scientists said the storm originated Tuesday morning when a cluster of sunspots emerged, then faded, on the sun. A cloud of electrically charged particles hurled from the sun rode the solar wind and reached Earth's magnetic field midday Thursday.
Eric Ort, a space weather forecaster, said he received reports from Ireland that the display of the aurora borealis, or northern lights, was spectacular as a result of the solar storm. Weather permitting, the display might be visible at lower latitudes after midnight for the next night or two, he said.
The Space Weather Operations Center is jointly operated by NOAA and the Air Force.
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