"Powerful 'X Class' Solar Flare Marks Solar Cycle 25 Peak, Risks Earthly Disruptions"
The strongest solar explosion since 2017, an X5 flare, released on New Year's Eve, was expected to impact Earth but has been delayed due to slower solar wind speeds, described by physicist Dr. Tamitha Skov as being 'stuck in traffic.' The solar storm has caused minor disruptions in radio frequencies, affecting marine radios, possibly Starlink, and certain television broadcasts. NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) warns of potential radio frequency disturbances and minor impacts on polar high-frequency radio propagation. The general public is not at risk, but there have been temporary disruptions to satellite signals like GPS due to the intense solar activity.