Boulder, CO – A powerful X4.0 solar flare erupted from Region 4274 early Friday morning, producing R3-level radio blackout conditions across parts of the sunlit side of Earth. The event peaked at 8:30 UTC, according to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center.
According to NOAA, X-class flares are the strongest type of solar flare measured, capable of disrupting high-frequency (HF) radio communication for minutes to hours depending on intensity. Region 4274, currently positioned on the Earth-facing side of the Sun, produced a rapid spike in X-ray output that triggered the R3 (Strong) radio blackout classification.
Forecasters say solar flares of this magnitude can be impulsive, rising and falling quickly, or persist for several minutes. Friday’s flare prompted immediate signal degradation across aviation, maritime operations, and amateur radio users operating in HF bands. NOAA reports that HF communication loss or significant degradation likely occurred across portions of the dayside hemisphere, where Earth was directly exposed to the flare’s X-ray energy.
While strong solar flares are more common during periods of higher solar activity, NOAA notes they are still impactful due to the sudden disruption they can cause to communication-dependent industries. Major disruptions typically remain short-lived, but users in affected areas may notice fading, signal loss, or unusual interference.
At this time, NOAA has not issued any geomagnetic storm alerts tied to this flare, though forecasters will continue monitoring Region 4274 for additional activity. More flares could occur as the active region rotates across the solar disk in the coming days.
Residents, pilots, and radio operators should stay updated through the Space Weather Prediction Center for any further bursts of solar activity.
