Sun Closes Out 2024 with a Bang: X1.5 Solar Flare May Trigger Northern Lights

On 30 December 2024, at 2:18 a.m. EST (0718 GMT), the sun emitted a powerful X1.5-class solar flare from its northwest Earth-facing region. In addition, more than 20 M-class and 3 more X-class flares were registered during the day. According to space weather monitoring, the most powerful at the moment are X1.5 and M7.1.

X1.5 Solar Flare May Trigger Northern Lights

A major solar flare measuring X1.5 erupted from Active Region (AR) 3936 at 04:14 UTC on 30 December 2024. The event started at 04:01 and ended at 04:28 UTC. The flare was associated with a 10cm Radio Burst (tenflare) from 04:08 to 04:15 UTC, with a peak flux of 1 000 sfu.

This intense flare, originating from the sun’s northwest Earth-facing region, temporarily disrupted radio communications on Earth and underscored the growing solar activity as we approach the solar maximum of the current 11-year cycle. Radio frequencies were forecast to be most degraded over the Indian Ocean, SE Asia, and Australia at the time of flare events.

Experts at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) are investigating if the event was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME). CMEs can amplify auroras and pose risks to satellites, power grids, and communication systems when directed at Earth.

If a coronal mass ejection (CME) is confirmed, regions closer to the poles could be treated to dazzling aurora displays in the coming days. The intensity and visibility of these northern lights depend on the strength and direction of the CME’s magnetic field when it reaches Earth. Skywatchers in northern latitudes should stay tuned for potential aurora alerts.

Context in Solar Activity

While this flare is impressive, it doesn’t eclipse the X9-class flare on 3 October, which holds the record for the strongest solar event of 2024. That event ranked among the top five since 2005, highlighting an uptick in solar activity as the sun gears up for its solar maximum.

This flare was observed via NOAA’s GOES-16 weather satellite, a collaborative effort with NASA. Such monitoring capabilities are essential as solar activity intensifies, reminding us of the sun’s profound impact on Earth’s technology and infrastructure.

As we head into 2025, the scientific community anticipates more significant solar events, reinforcing the need for vigilance in monitoring and mitigating potential disruptions caused by space weather.