Strong solar flare may disrupt communications, warns U.S. oceanic administration
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said a powerful solar flare that erupted on Wednesday could temporarily disrupt high-frequency radio communications.
The solar flare was classified as an X4.2, placing it in the most intense category.
X-class flares are the strongest type, with the numerical rating indicating their relative strength.
NOAA said flares of such magnitude were uncommon but not unusual during the solar maximum and peak phase of the sun’s roughly 11-year activity cycle.
The agency said that such flares could be brief and impulsive, lasting minutes, or persist for several hours.
It warned that the flare could cause immediate and widespread degradation or loss of HF radio signals across much of the sunlit side of Earth.
Users in affected regions may experience disruptions ranging from brief interruptions to outages lasting several hours.
Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy from the sun that can affect radio communications, electric power grids, and navigation systems, and may pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts.
(Xinhua/NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Anti-Corruption
How USCIS officer Owolabi Ganiyu made $1.7 million approving green cards, citizenships for Nigerian immigrants: FBI
“Ganiyu had multiple unattributable cash deposits and directly received funds from numerous individuals who had pending applications for USCIS,” an FBI special agent said.
Health
AI-designed drug shows promise to slow human ageing process
“If your biological age is lower, you are likely to die later,” said Alex Zhavoronkov, the CEO of Insilico Medicine.
Education
UNIZIK lecturers declare indefinite strike over non-payment of August salary
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, has declared an indefinite strike over the non-payment of the full August 2026 salary to its members.
Opinion
How African campaigns can win on global award juries
Every year, African agencies and brands produce campaigns that dominate conversations at home, influence culture and sometimes deliver impressive commercial results
Health
Foundation rallies 10 cities for childhood cancer awareness walk
The Okapi Children Cancer Foundation says it will mobilise participants across 10 cities in Nigeria and the UK for its 10th Annual Childhood Cancer Awareness Walk.
Showbiz
First Bank backs Calabar entertainment conference, festival
First Bank has renewed its partnership with the Calabar Entertainment Conference and Festival as the event’s official banking partner for the second consecutive year.
