Home
Weather Dublin
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
    Home / Weather News /

    Solar maximum means more aurora

10:00
24 October 2024

Solar cycle 25
Solar maximum means more aurora

NASA and NOAA have officially announced that we're in the solar maximum of Solar Cycle 25!

It's no secret the Sun has been active lately with all the geomagnetic storms causing beautiful auroras to be seen far south across the northern hemisphere.

The Sun has an 11-year cycle going from little activity, peaking in the middle, then eventually waning again.

This solar maximum period is expected to last 2 to 3 years and we can expect the sun to unleash plenty of energy resulting in space weather, according to the Solar Cycle Prediction Panel.

Since last year, the Sun's activity has been growing and surpassing forecasts for more activity even a year early. This year alone, the solar flares have been some of the strongest in at most 20 years!

These flares are spewed from sunspots and come out as coronal mass ejections, eventually interacting with Earth's magnetic field if they are aimed toward us.

We're in for more geomagnetic storms during the solar maximum, but that's not the only thing that comes from Earth-facing solar flares.

Satellites, astronauts, radio and GPS communications can also be compromised when hit by these flares.

Aurora captured by you in Octoberread more
Weather & Radar editorial team
More on the topic
Slow start to summer across Europe. A spell of cooler weather. . . Monday 1 June 2026
Temperature radar for Europe. A low-pressure system and a blue arrow are shown
Monday 1 June 2026

A spell of cooler weather

Slow start to summer across Europe
Spring records for England & Wales. Above-average warmth. . . Tuesday 2 June 2026
Split graphic showing a European temperatures anomaly map on the left with widespread warmer-than-average conditions, and a UK and Ireland heat map on the right displaying intense heat with temperatures exceeding 30 °C.
Tuesday 2 June 2026

Above-average warmth

Spring records for England & Wales
Severe thunderstorms in northern Italy. Hail and storm damage. . . Wednesday 3 June 2026
A split-screen image showing fallen trees on a road and a weather radar map of northern Italy. Numerous thunderstorm cells are active between Turin, Milan and Bologna.
Wednesday 3 June 2026

Hail and storm damage

Severe thunderstorms in northern Italy
All weather news
This might also interest you
Seasonal warmth between spring thunder. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday 19 April 2026
Split image showing coastal sunset with layered lenticular clouds over rooftops and palm trees on the left, and a green valley with river and hills under soft daylight on the right.
Sunday 19 April 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Seasonal warmth between spring thunder
Mixed conditions on an unsettled week. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday 2 November 2025
plit image showing a double rainbow over a rocky shoreline on the left and sheep grazing in a green field under stormy clouds on the right.
Sunday 2 November 2025

Your weather - Your shots

Mixed conditions on an unsettled week
Historic Storm Éowyn arrives. On this day.... . . Saturday 24 January 2026
Split image showing a person in a yellow jacket struggling against strong winds and heavy rain on a street at night on the left, and an Irish wind forecast map on the right with red and purple shading, gusts up to 75 mph, and a wind warning icon, divided by a curved white line.
Saturday 24 January 2026

On this day...

Historic Storm Éowyn arrives
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwitteryouTubelinkList