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NOAA issued a G4 (severe) solar storm alert valid until May 9, 2026 — the strongest recorded in 23 years. The X1.9-class eruption triggered a coronal mass ejection directed at Earth, and auroras were sighted in 27 American states. International Space Station astronauts were advised to take shelter against radiation.
According to Diário do Comércio, this is the most intense solar storm since the Halloween Storm of 2003, classified as X17.
According to the NOAA SWPC (Space Weather Prediction Center), the G4 alert is the second highest level on the geomagnetic storm scale.
Therefore, there is a direct risk to satellites, GPS systems, power grids, and data centers.
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While Brazil has been discussing bullet trains for 16 years, China delivers 5 new high-speed lines in 2026, surpasses 50,000 km of HSR, and moves 1 billion passengers in a single year.
Consequently, telecommunications operators have activated permanent monitoring protocols.
For comparison, the Carrington Event in 1859 — which caused telegraph failures and auroras visible even in the Caribbean — is considered the worst solar event in modern history.
As the portal recently showed regarding Angra 3 and Brazilian energy infrastructure, extreme space events are exactly the type of risk modern power grids need to absorb.
How an X1.9 eruption hits Earth in 2 days
Every solar eruption begins in an active region of the Sun — a sunspot with twisted magnetic fields.
In fact, when these fields collapse, they release electromagnetic radiation and particles.
According to CNN Brasil, solar flare classification ranges from A (weakest) to X (strongest).
Therefore, an X1.9 class is considered significant, but not a record.
Subsequently, the coronal mass ejection (CME) travels through space at speeds of up to 3,000 kilometers per second.
As a result, plasma and particles hit Earth’s magnetic field in about 1 to 3 days.
According to NOAA, the current G4 alert precisely reflects the impact of the Earth-directed CME.
The 5 systems most affected by a G4 eruption
The impact of a solar event is not cinematic, but it is real:
- Power grids: overload in high-voltage transformers, risk of regional blackout
- Satellites: electronics degradation, temporary communication loss, risk of being “stuck” in orbit
- GPS: errors of up to tens of meters in civil and military navigation
- Radio signals: interference in shortwave and polar aeronautical communications
- Astronauts: extra radiation for ISS and Tiangong (Chinese) crews
According to NOAA records, the Halloween Storm in 2003 caused transformer burnouts in South Africa.
Similarly, the 1989 Quebec storm caused a 9-hour blackout for 6 million people.
Therefore, North American and European operators activated protection protocols.
Why auroras reached 27 American states for the 1st time in decades
Auroras are a direct product of solar eruptions.
According to NOAA, charged particles collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the atmosphere.
Therefore, the sky is illuminated in green, red, and purple — colors that depend on the collision’s altitude.
Normally, auroras only appear at high latitudes: Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, northern Russia.
According to Midiamax, the current May explosion is strong enough to push the aurora as far as 27 states.
Consequently, photos of auroras in states like Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico went viral.
The ISS and Tiangong took shelter from the solar storm — understand the protocol
Crews of the International Space Station and the Chinese Tiangong received shelter guidance.
According to Fast Company Brasil, astronauts position themselves in compartments with extra radiation protection.
Therefore, extra-vehicular activities (spacewalks) were suspended during the peak of the event.
Consequently, extra radiation exposure could increase the risk of cancer and cataracts in astronauts.
According to NASA records, strong solar events shorten the lifespan of electronic equipment in orbit.
Similarly, the Chinese Tiangong adopted similar protocols for its crews on Shenzhou missions.
The 4 biggest solar storms ever recorded
The historical context helps to dimension the current event.
In 1859, the Carrington Event burned telegraph stations worldwide.
In fact, it is considered the strongest solar event ever recorded by science.
Therefore, modern simulations indicate that a Carrington event in 2026 would cause trillions of dollars in damage.
In 1989, the Quebec solar event left 6 million without power.
Subsequently, in 2003, the Halloween eruption (X17) caused polar flight reroutes and burned out satellites.
According to NOAA, the current storm ranks as the fourth strongest in modern history.
What NOAA monitors 24/7 during a solar storm
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center operates at a war room pace.
According to the operator, sensors on satellites like ACE and DSCOVR measure the speed and density of the solar wind.
According to NASA, the SOHO satellite observes the Sun at specific wavelengths to detect CMEs.
Therefore, the window between eruption and Earth impact (up to 3 days) allows time to take defensive measures.
As recent coverage on energy infrastructure and regulation in Brazil showed, the robustness of power grids against extreme events is a simultaneous technical-political issue.
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