Moderate Solar Storm Expected

BOULDER, Colo. —  Scientists detected a major solar flare Friday that could create a spectacular light show in the night sky but was not expected to disrupt communications or knock out power.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s forecast of moderate solar storm activity was in effect until midday today..

Although geomagnetic eruptions on the sun can interfere with communications and knock out electrical power, no immediate disruptions were reported. Forecasters said that the intense part of the storm had passed by midday Friday, but that there was a chance of another outbreak Sunday.

The sun is approaching the height of its 11-year storm cycle, known as the solar max, although the peak had been relatively quiet.

The storm was rated at a moderate G-2 level on the government’s new space weather scale of 1 to 5. Initially, the storm spiked to G-4.

Scientists said the storm originated early Tuesday when a cluster of sunspots emerged, then faded. A cloud of electrically charged particles hurled from the sun rode the solar wind and reached Earth’s magnetic field midday Thursday.

Scientist Eric Ort said he received reports from Ireland that the display of the aurora borealis, or northern lights, was spectacular as a result of the solar storm.