NOAA Warning: Trio of X-Class Flares Have Triggered a CME That Will Deliver a Glancing Blow on Friday 13th

The flares emitted over a two day period

A trio of major solar flares could spell trouble for Earth on Friday 13th, scientists have warned.

The solar events, captured on film by NASA, caused communications blackouts on Tuesday lunchtime – and there may be further consequences tomorrow.

“Impacts from this activity were short-lived and affected high-frequency communications for the day lit side of Earth at the time of the flare,” said a statement on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) website.

“A Coronal Mass Ejection associated with the activity has been observed moving at a flank from Earth and a glancing blow to Earth from this event is expected on June 13.”

A Coronal Mass Ejection releases vast amounts of matter and electromagnetic radiation – resulting in a threat to high-frequency communication systems used by weather stations, aviators, government time stations and international shortwave broadcasters, among others.

NASA says GPS can also be affected by solar flares.

“Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth’s atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground,” the organisation’s website says.

“However, when intense enough, they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel.”

The solar flares – caused by the build-up of magnetic energy in the sun’s atmosphere – are thought to be among the most powerful of the current 11-year solar cycle.

The NOAA has warned of “continuing chances” of further flares in the near future – some of which could be even more powerful.