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
Fiery summer snaps and video moments. Your weather - Your shots. . . Sunday 19 July 2026
Split image showing vivid orange clouds glowing at sunset on the left and bright sunbeams streaming through scattered clouds above a rocky coastline and calm sea on the right.
Sunday 19 July 2026

Your weather - Your shots

Fiery summer snaps and video moments
A wet start before conditions settle. Commonwealth Games 2026. . . Wednesday 22 July 2026
Split image showing a weather map for western Scotland with widespread rain around Glasgow on the left, and runners poised at a starting line on an athletics track on the right.
Wednesday 22 July 2026

Commonwealth Games 2026

A wet start before conditions settle
Drought across large parts of Europe. High fire risk. . . Monday 20 July 2026
Split image showing a Europe rainfall anomaly map on the left with widespread dry conditions across much of the continent, and a cracked, parched field on the right alongside a wildfire warning symbol highlighting elevated fire risk.
Monday 20 July 2026

High fire risk

Drought across large parts of Europe
All weather news
This might also interest you
Storm Chandra makes impact. Severe gales & heavy rain. . . Tuesday 27 January 2026
Split image showing strong winds over the UK on a forecast map and widespread rain and snow on a weather radar map.
Tuesday 27 January 2026

Severe gales & heavy rain

Storm Chandra makes impact
Turbulent weather in the Canary Islands. Storm and rain. . . Friday 12 December 2025
Weather graphic showing rain and wind fields over the Canary Islands and a central warning symbol.
Friday 12 December 2025

Storm and rain

Turbulent weather in the Canary Islands
Flooding, gales, and heavy snow. Storm Chandra. . . Tuesday 27 January 2026
Split image showing aerial flooding in a town with muddy water covering roads on the left, and a rural road on the right blocked by heavy snowfall with vans stopped and a person walking in snow.
Tuesday 27 January 2026

Storm Chandra

Flooding, gales, and heavy snow
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