According to the Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the Institute of Space Research (IKI) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, powerful magnetic storms of levels G3 and G4 are expected to hit Earth on Tuesday. The information was published on the institution's Telegram channel.
The occurrence of magnetic storms is linked to recent activity on the Sun, where a major flare occurred. Preliminary forecasts indicate that the magnetic storms will peak on Tuesday, with the auroral zone reaching up to 50 degrees, as stated in the message.
According to the classification, G3 corresponds to strong storms, while G4 is considered very strong.
In another message, it is specified that the explosion on the Sun covered a vast area of about half a million kilometers.
Scientists also presented a more detailed video of the X-flare that occurred on the Sun. The image shows a horizontal size of 450 thousand kilometers, which is 35 times the diameter of Earth.
The day before, on Sunday evening, the laboratory reported the first X-class flare of 2026, which occurred in region 4341 on the visible disk of the Sun, directly facing Earth. The peak of the flare was recorded at 21:09 Moscow time, and it was classified as X1.95, making it one of the most powerful since November of last year.
As noted by the head of the laboratory, Sergey Bogachev, despite a slight decrease in solar activity, there is a possibility of record flares occurring in 2026. Several powerful M-class events have already been recorded since the beginning of the year.
Flares are classified by the level of X-ray radiation into five categories: A, B, C, M, and X. These phenomena can cause magnetic storms on Earth, which, in turn, lead to disruptions in power systems and affect the migration paths of animals and birds. Strong magnetic storms can interfere with shortwave communication and navigation systems, as well as cause voltage fluctuations in industrial networks. Additionally, increased solar activity can expand the visibility of auroras. The question of the impact of magnetic storms on human health remains open.
