"Sun Unleashes Powerful Solar Flare, Causing Radio Disruptions and Radiation Storm"

A strong X-class solar flare emitted from the Sun on Friday caused a solar radiation storm on Earth, with charged particles accelerated near the Sun arriving at over 10 times the normal background amount. The storm, classified as moderate (level S2 out of S5), was expected to peak on Saturday morning. While powerful solar flares can cause radio blackouts in polar regions and pose risks to space launches and spacecraft, most people do not need to be concerned as the energetic particles do not reach low enough into Earth's atmosphere to affect the public. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the X3.3 flare, and more sunspots are expected as the Sun approaches the solar maximum of Solar Cycle 25.