Geomagnetic storms caused by solar flares are expected to hit Earth this weekend and could affect radio communications in certain areas, the US Space Weather Forecast Center said on Saturday.

American experts expect that these geomagnetic storms belong to the G1 (minor) and G2 (moderate) categories.

The Earth-bound component of this solar flux is expected to hit our planet in the afternoon on Saturday, the US center said. Its effects will be felt until Sunday.

Storms of the G2 category may lead to the need to correct the orientation of spacecraft, reports the same center in the United States. In addition, it may affect certain wireless communications at high latitudes.

Electrical transformers may also have been damaged, and the aurora borealis could be seen in both the south and north polar regions.

The geomagnetic storms are caused by so-called “coronal mass ejections” (CMEs) that occurred on Thursday and Friday. These CMEs eject plasma clouds consisting of electrons, protons, and atomic nuclei into space.

“Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. “Solar fluxes and flares can affect radio communications, power grids, navigation signals and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts,” NASA said.

According to the same American center, the strongest polar eruptions recorded so far were registered on Thursday. The eruptions knocked out some wireless networks on Thursday.

Solar activity began to increase from December 2019. The Sun periodically goes through cycles of about 11 years, during which it experiences greater or lesser activity. The current solar cycle is approaching its peak. (Source: Agerpres)