The sun emitted its strongest solar flare in seven years on Thursday, and space weather forecasters are looking at what consequences this event will have on Earth, including displays of the Northern Lights and implications for the power grid, radio communications and GPS.

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) said the X9.0 flare was seen from the sun Thursday morning. An X flare is the most intense and the number represents its strength. Although the sun regularly produces these bursts of energy, bursts of this magnitude are unusual.

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The X9.0 flare crowns the previous strongest outburst of Solar Cycle 25, an X8.7 flare on May 14. Thursday’s eruption is the 15th strongest flame on record, Space Weather Watch reports.

At least two coronal mass ejections associated with the recent eruption activity are heading toward Earth and are expected to arrive within the next three days.

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an

(NASA/SDO)

The Sun is approaching its solar maximum in solar cycle 25 – 11 years of activity, marked by a crescendo of sunspots, which could lead to solar flares and more space weather events. Since May, the Sun has created the three largest eruptions of the cycle, two of which are happening this week.

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The immediate effects of the eruption include a sharp degradation or loss of signal for high-frequency communications bands over much of the sunlit side of the Earth. According to the SWPC, high-frequency radio signals can cause loss of contact or major disruptions for minutes to a few hours.

During solar radiation storms of this magnitude, GPS navigation errors are likely, which could impact GPS-dependent equipment such as tractors, as farmers experienced during the extreme solar storms in May.

What is the North Lweather forecasts for the US?

The SWPC issued a Geomagnetic Storm Watch from Thursday through Sunday after the Sun emitted an X7.1 solar flare, the third strongest of the solar cycle, and the more recent X9.0 solar flare.

The SWPC rates solar storms at a five-level scalewith five being the most extreme and rarest space weather events.

Aurora lights, clouds forecast for Thursday evening.
(FOX Weather)

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According to the SWPC, a number of coronal mass ejections will occur this weekend. A period of G3 “strong” geomagnetic storm conditions is possible Friday through Sunday. These conditions could produce the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, as far south as Iowa and into the Midwest.

Cloud cover should be minimal across much of the northern layer Friday evening, with the exception of a few clouds in the northeast.

Aurora lights, clouds forecast for Friday evening.
(FOX Weather)

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These stronger geomagnetic storms are less common than G1 or G2 events. However, Earth experienced near-global auroras in May, as far south as Florida, when an “extreme” (G5) geomagnetic storm occurred due to two groups of extremely active sunspots.

NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured this image of an

(NASA/SDO)

With the new, stronger eruption, space weather forecasters told FOX Weather it is “highly likely” it has Earth-centered components.

A few coronal mass ejections are expected to occur over the next three days, and the current Geomagnetic Storm Watch could be expanded or upgraded to a warning.

If the SWPC predicts a severe (G4) geomagnetic storm, the Northern Lights could be visible as far south as the Carolinas.

Stay with FOX Weather for the latest space weather forecasts and updates on this developing story.