On May 14, 2025, the Sun emitted a powerful X2.7-class solar flare, the strongest of the year so far. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the event, which peaked at 4:25 a.m. ET. This flare caused temporary radio blackouts across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
The flare was accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME) dubbed 'Bird Wing' due to its distinctive shape. The 'Bird Wing' CME spanned over 967,000 kilometers, far exceeding Earth's diameter. Space weather physicist Tamitha Skov noted that Earth received a glancing blow from the storm, primarily north of the planet, leading to turbulent space weather conditions.
Solar flares and CMEs can disrupt Earth's magnetic field, impacting technological systems such as power grids, satellites, and communication networks. While the 'Bird Wing' event's direct impact was avoided, experts indicate that increased auroral activity may be visible at high latitudes. The event is typical of the current solar maximum, with potential for further solar activity as new active regions rotate towards Earth.