Astronomers predict that a ‘stream of high-speed particles’ is on its way to Earth. The particles are released through a hole in the southern hemisphere of the Sun and move at 600 kilometers per second, or 2.1 million kilometers per hour. The particles are currently sailing through the solar system and will hit the earth on March 20.
If they do, researchers believe it could cause problems for satellite technology.
It has been classified as a G1-class storm surge that could lead to ‘weak fluctuations in the power grids’ and could have a small impact on satellite operations.
Astronomy website Space Weather said: “NOAA forecasters say a minor G1-class geomagnetic storm is likely to occur on March 20 when a fast-moving solar wind hits Earth’s magnetic field.
“The gaseous material flows faster than 600 km / s from a southern hole in the sun’s atmosphere.”
Some experts have warned that a major solar storm is a matter of ‘when, not when’.
Each time the Sun releases a solar flare which in turn explodes energy into space.
Some of these solar flares can hit the earth and are mostly harmless to our planet.
However, the sun can also release sun rays so powerfully that they can paralyze the earth’s technology.
READ MORE: The forecast of solar winds will hit the earth after the hole in the sun’s corona opens
As such, experts have lamented the lack of preparation for an extreme space event and warned that it could cost trillions and cause widespread panic.
Risk consulting firm Drayton Tyler said: ‘A superstorm in the sun is a’ when, not if ‘.
“In the worst case, the direct and indirect costs are likely to be trillions of dollars with a recovery time of years rather than months.
“The likelihood of an event of this magnitude is estimated by the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering to be one in ten in any decade.”