A massive X2-class solar flare was recently released during a geomagnetic storm, causing blackouts across parts of the Earth.

On Monday 20th February, an X2-class solar flare occurred. This is one of the most powerful events that can be produced by our star during its phases of high activity.

The intense solar storm lasted one hour and 12 minutes, and created temporary radio blackouts in the sunlit area on Earth, though this kind of impact from solar storms is fairly rare.

The solar flare followed a series of previous flares and a coronal mass ejection (CME) released by the sun, which in turn can affect the Earth and our magnetic field, including other planets in the solar system.

This led experts to issue warnings that a geomagnetic storm could affect the earth between 16th to 18th February, which it indeed did, including a higher likelihood of aurora becoming visible in that time.