Back-to-Back Solar Flares Knock Out Radio Signals Across the US

On October 14th, a major space weather event occurred, when two solar flares erupted from the Sun back-to-back within an hour of each other. The flares produced a strong burst of radiation that caused radio signals to be temporarily, but widely, disrupted across the United States.

Solar flares are created when the electrons and protons that comprise the sun’s electromagnetic field become twisted and unpredictable. When this happens, a powerful burst of X-rays and the ultra-high energy particles known as “solar energetic particles” are released. While solar flares are most notable for their direct effect on communication signals, they can also interfere with satellite technology, electrical power grids, and the aurora borealis.

The two flares that erupted on October 14th were categorized as X-class; the highest level of solar flare activity. X-class flares have been known to knock out radiowaves up to tens of thousands of kilometers away from the solar flare’s source; meaning that both Australia and Europe experienced slightly less than what we suffered here in the US.

After the flares, we experienced a sudden lack of TV, radio, GPS, and shortwave communication signals. Telephone conversations were affected, as well as radio broadcasts from Coast Guard and North American VHF maritime mobile services. Radio signals across the US were affected on an intermittant basis; resulting in incomplete messages, delays, and dropped calls. Additionally, anyone in the outdoors was at greater risk of a radiation burn due to the UV radiation the flares sent Earth-ward.

Fortunately, most of the impacts these two solar flares had on communication has slowly disappeared. Cell phones, radios, GPS navigation systems, television broadcasts and air traffic control radios have all returned to normal. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the largest impact occurred between the hours of 12 Noon and 8 PM EDT on October 14th, 2020.

While this two-flare event wasn’t as severe as the massive Carrington Event of 1859 – an event that caused massive destruction to telegraph poles – it helped to demonstrate just how fragile our technology-filled world is when it comes to Mother Nature’s most powerful forces.