LOS ANGELES, May 15 (Xinhua) -- A powerful solar flare erupted from the sun on Wednesday, triggering severe radio blackouts across vast regions on Earth, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed on Thursday.
The flare, classified as an X2.7 event, was observed at 4:25 a.m. Wednesday Eastern Time. According to NOAA, solar flares of this intensity are relatively rare.
The event triggered temporary degradation or complete loss of high frequency radio signals on much of the sunlit side of Earth, according to NOAA.
Solar flares are sudden, intense bursts of radiation resulting from magnetic energy released in the sun's atmosphere. Their effects can last from minutes to hours, depending on the strength of the flare.
