Power outages from solar storm

Will a solar storm cause widespread outages & damage?

Concern that a solar storm might cause widespread outages and damage is valid and documented. As we approach peak solar activity in 2025, solar storms may increase in frequency and intensity. An event of similar intensity to the Carrington Event will damage more than our power grid.

What happened during a solar storm?

During the storm, the high magnetically-induced currents damaged a transformer in New Jersey and tripped the grid’s circuit breakers. In this case, the outage led to 5 million people being without power for nine hours. In addition to electrical failures, a massive solar storm would disrupt communications on a worldwide scale.

What happens when a solar storm hits a power line?

If a solar storm hits a power line, it could induce unexpected electrical currents in long-distance power lines. These currents could cause safety systems to flip, triggering temporary power outages in some areas. The effects depend on the orientation of the storm's magnetic field.

How will solar storms affect the world?

Bottom line: Massive solar storms could damage the power grid, disrupt the internet, affect GPS and create auroras that reach toward the equator. Will solar flares destroy modern civilization?

Could solar storms damage the electric grid?

The possibility exists that, without protection, the electric grid is vulnerable to large solar storms that could damage large portions of the grid in ways that could conceivably take years to fix. Lights of North America, Central America, and Caribbean Islands as sunlight hits the far right edge of the globe. NASA Image

What happens if a storm hits a power line?

Depending on the orientation of the storm's magnetic field, it could induce unexpected electrical currents in long-distance power lines — those currents could cause safety systems to flip, triggering temporary power outages in some areas.