Space weather forecast: Solar storm is predicted for next week - and could cause chaos

Earth’s orbit around the Sun will soon align with a coronal hole – a hole in the Sun’s upper atmosphere – and solar particles will subsequently bombard the planet after they have made their way through space. Experts predict that the solar storm will hit Earth on July 31 or August 1. People in the northern hemisphere are likely to be treated to northern lights – or aurora borealis – as the solar winds bombard the upper reaches of the planet.


Auroras, which also include southern lights – aurora australis – are caused when solar particles hit the atmosphere. As the magnetosphere gets bombarded by solar winds, stunning blue lights can appear as that layer of the atmosphere deflects the particles. Website Space Weather said: “A hole in the sun’s atmosphere is turning toward Earth and spewing a stream a solar wind in our direction. “Estimated time of arrival: Jul. 31st or Aug. 1st. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras on those dates.”

However, the consequences could be far more serious than the appearance of the northern or southern lights. For the most part, the Earth’s magnetic field protects humans from the barrage of radiation, but solar storms can affect satellite-based technology. Solar winds can heat the Earth’s outer atmosphere, causing it to expand.

“A hole in the sun’s atmosphere is turning toward Earth"

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