The Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the Space Research Institute (IKI) of the Russian Academy of Sciences reported on its Telegram channel that magnetic storms of level G3/G4 are expected on Tuesday, caused by a strong solar flare.
According to preliminary data, these magnetic storms will reach Earth on Tuesday. Level G3 corresponds to a strong storm, while G4 indicates a very strong storm, and the lower boundary of the auroral zone may extend up to 50 degrees.
Experts also clarified that the recent solar explosion was significant, covering the central area of the star, which spans about half a million kilometers. In addition, a video of the X-flare that occurred on the Sun was published, with a horizontal size of 450 thousand kilometers, which is 35 times the diameter of our planet.
On Sunday, the laboratory reported the first X-class flare of 2026, which occurred in region 4341 on the solar disk, directly opposite Earth. The peak of the flare occurred at 21:09 Moscow time, and it was classified as X1.95, making it one of the most powerful since last November.
Sergey Bogachev, head of the laboratory, noted that even despite the decrease in solar activity, record flares are still possible in 2026. Several strong M-class events have already been recorded since the beginning of the year.
Flares are classified by the intensity of X-ray radiation into five classes: A, B, C, M, and X. They can cause magnetic storms on Earth, which, in turn, can lead to disruptions in power systems and affect the migration of birds and animals. Strong magnetic storms can cause disturbances in shortwave communication and navigation systems, as well as failures in industrial networks. Additionally, increased solar activity can expand the area of observation for auroras. However, to date, there is no definitive answer to the question of how magnetic storms affect human health.
