Boulder, CO – A powerful solar flare erupted early Sunday, Sept. 28, disrupting high-frequency (HF) radio signals across parts of Earth.
According to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), the flare peaked at 0843 UTC (4:43 a.m. EDT) from active Region 4232 on the east side of the sun’s visible disk. Classified as an M6.4 event, the flare triggered an R2 “moderate” radio blackout, a level known to cause limited degradation or brief loss of HF communication.
Scientists explained that solar flares of this magnitude often occur around solar maximum, though they remain relatively infrequent. Flares release bursts of X-ray energy that can affect technology on Earth. Impacts typically include disrupted radio signals, particularly for users of aviation and maritime communication systems.
“Events at this level can cause interruptions to HF radio lasting tens of minutes,” NOAA noted in its update. The agency also highlighted that new active regions developing on the sun may lead to additional solar activity in the coming days.
Space weather experts are monitoring conditions closely and encourage users reliant on HF communication to stay updated through NOAA channels. No immediate threats to satellites or power grids have been reported at this time.
