The Sun unleashed its third major solar flare in 24 hours Monday night. The X-class flare was the strongest flare of the year, surpassing two other X-class flares that occurred earlier in the 24 hour period. (Photo : NASA/SDO)

The Sun unleashed its third major solar flare in 24 hours Monday night. The X-class flare was the strongest flare of the year, surpassing two other X-class flares that occurred earlier in the 24 hour period.

Increased numbers of solar flares are expected as the Sun enters the peak of high activity in its 11-year cycle, known as the solar maximum. The Space Weather Prediction Center reported upcoming solar activity to be moderate with a 40 percent probability of more X-class flares erupting between now and May 16.

The latest X-class flare was also associated with a coronal mass ejection, or CME, which was not Earth-directed, according to a NASA statement.

The CME's speed of 1,400 miles per second is considered particularly fast for a CME and models suggest that it will catch up with the CMEs connected to the earlier X-class eruptions, merging into a giant mass of speeding solar material. The merged cloud of solar matter will pass by the Spitzer spacecraft and may possibly intercept the STEREO-B and Epoxi spacecraft. Spacecraft mission operators were given enough weaning to put the craft into "safe mode" to prevent any damage from the CME.

When strong CMEs reach Earth they have the power to blowout transformers in power grids and disrupt radio communications as well as enhance northern lights displays.

Monday night's solar flare was classified as a X3.2 flare. X-class events are the strongest types of solar flare; the three X-class flares since Sunday were the first of the year. The strongest flare recorded during this Sun cycle was an X6.9 on Aug. 9, 2011. So far, there have been 18 X-class solar flares in Solar Cycle 24, according to Space.com.