US forecasters say a severe solar storm is smacking Earth with a surprisingly big geomagnetic jolt, potentially affecting power grids and satellite tracking systems while pushing the colourful northern lights farther south.
So far no damage has been reported.
Thomas Berger, director of the Space Weather Prediction Centre said two blasts of magnetic plasma left the sun on Sunday, combined and arrived on Earth on Tuesday much earlier and stronger than expected.
This storm ranks a 4 on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 1-to-5 scale for geomagnetic effects.
The storm, which could last all day, can disrupt power grids only temporarily.
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