Powerful ‘cannibal storm’ to hit Earth today – and it could disrupt communications and GPS

A powerful solar storm is expected to bring a dazzling Northern Lights display later – as well as potentially disrupting GPS, communications and power grids.

The British Geological Survey upgraded its forecast to the highest level and said the ongoing storm had already interfered with communications systems and satellite navigation.

It said a second geomagnetic “cannibal storm”, feeding off the first, could reach the UK by early afternoon and be one of the biggest in 20 years.

A solar storm is an explosion of particles, energy, magnetic fields and material blasted into the solar system by the sun that can disturb the Earth’s magnetic field, according to NASA.

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