Internal NOAA documents show the storm’s profound effects. Solar Cycle 25 unexpectedly intensified, producing powerful solar flares that impacted Earth’s upper atmosphere, according to a May 14 memo from Clinton Wallace, director of NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center. This caused major disruptions to industries including transoceanic aviation, power grids and high-frequency radio communications essential for satellite operations.
In response to the storm, NOAA activated the North American Electric Reliability Corp. hotline, giving electric utilities six hours to prepare. The agency also briefed FEMA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Agency on the situation. Despite those efforts, Wallace’s memo emphasized that the storm “highlighted the vulnerability of modern infrastructure to space weather” and highlighted areas that “require improved preparation and response.”
Source: Ferra
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