Heavy solar storm meets Austria - the Northern Lights are missing!

Heavy solar storm meets Austria - the Northern Lights are missing!

On Saturday morning, June 1, 2025, the earth was hit by a violent sunstorm that was triggered by a coronal mass outline on the sun. This storm reached the earth around 7:30 a.m. after moving with rapid 1,000 km/s (which corresponds to about 3.6 million km/h). Despite the dramatic speeds, the storm was mainly a light game without greater dangers. Many people hoped to observe the Northern Lights in regions such as the Waldviertel, Upper Austria and Upper Styria. But today reports that the experts from Geosphere Austria assess the magnetic field orientation of the storm as unfavorable and therefore the polar lights in Austria and Central Europe are rather unlikely.

The storm is part of an intense sun cycle that is currently reaching its climax. A few days ago, the hot core of a solar spot of the AR 3664 group, which quickly expanded to 16 times the size of the earth. These solar spots are responsible for mighty solutions and some X-Class sun storms that occurred in the past few weeks reports [Gizmodo] (https://www.gizmodo.de/ein-schwerer sonnensturm-erde-erde- and-welche-risiken-consiken-2000025096). A G4 storm was classified, which means enormous risks for electrical infrastructure and satellite communication. Satellites are particularly susceptible because their electronics are exposed to the high -energy sun particles and are often moved to the safety mode to prevent damage.

consequences and risks of a solar storm

The possible effects of such a solar storm are diverse. From disorders in electricity networks to problems with GPS systems and high-frequency communication, the solar storm can significantly influence modern technology. In addition, there is the possibility of northern lights that could be visible beyond the usual visual limits in unusual latitudes. In particular, in urban regions in Europe and even in parts of the United States, they could appear in the sky, as [https://solar-experten.info/heftiger- Sonnensturm-sturst-erde-folgen-undiken/).

A remarkable example from history is the Carrington event of 1859, an extreme solar storm that caused considerable damage. Experts warn that a similar event could potentially cause economic damage to trillion height nowadays. So the risks should not be underestimated! The NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) has issued a warning of the heavy solar storm and pointed out that engineers and technicians should be on the hat.

It looks like, the storm will probably continue to lose intensity in the coming hours, but it remains to be seen whether there are further surprises from space. It remains exciting whether the hoped -for northern lights are still visible or whether we can only observe the effects of this historical solar activity.