Huge solar storm barrels toward Earth after sun flare — and could trigger Northern Lights show

The sun has fired off a massive X-class solar flare potentially sparking vibrant aurora displays over the weekend.

The X-class flare is the most powerful type that the sun can fire off and exploded from near the star's equator at about 11pm UK time on Tuesday. The flare is understood to have had a magnitude of X7.1, making it the second strongest such explosion of this current solar cycle that started in 2019.

Scientists recorded the most powerful flare of the cycle in May, which registered as a massive X8.7 magnitude blast. It had been the most powerful flare in the past seven years.

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According to Spaceweather.com, NASA predicts radiation from the flare will enter parts of Earth's atmosphere creating a temporary blackout over vast swathes of the Pacific Ocean, including Hawaii. When it hits Earth, it will trigger a magnetic storm that will be perceived as a dazzling aurora displays at low altitudes.

A similar geomagnetic storm happened last month after an X-class flared hurled a coronal mass ejection (CME) right at us. The latest storm is yet another sign that the sun has entered the peak of its estimated 11-year solar cycle that is triggered just before its magnetic field flips, reports LiveScience.

There has been plenty of solar activity this year with Earth experiencing its most powerful geomagnetic storm in 21 years. It triggered the most widespread auroras for 500 years.

The sun has fired off 41 X-class solar flare so far this year, more than in the past nine years combined. The number of geomagnetic storms could increase as our planet's magnetic field aligns itself more closely with the solar wind around the autumn equinox.

There is an increased possibility the sun will unleash more solar storms that could be on the same level as the immense Carrington Event in 1859, the most powerful solar storm on record. Should it hit, it could disrupt power grids and knock out the majority of satellites with immense financial cost.