Solar storm warning issued as flare to hit Earth today. How the UK could be affected

An alert from the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), which is part of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has said that we should expect “weak power grid fluctuations".

Additionally, satellite "orientation irregularties" could occur which could increase drag on craft in low Earth orbit.

Experts have stated that the solar storm is at a G2 level on a scale of G1 to G5, where one is the weakest and five has the most potential for damage.

According to cyber security expert Chris Vickery, the flare may hit between 6am and 6pm GMT today.

Heads-up. Big solar flare observed & headed for Earth. Trajectory is going to be a direct hit. Expect low level geomagnetic disruption.

Estimated time of impact:
Oct 11th at 0600-1800 GMT.

The scale of solar storm intensity goes from G1 to G5.
Incoming storm will be G2 at most.

— Chris Vickery (@VickerySec) October 10, 2021

He wrote on Twitter: "Heads-up. Big solar flare observed & headed for Earth. Trajectory is going to be a direct hit. Expect low level geomagnetic disruption."

How will the solar flare affect the UK?

There is a chance that there could be power grid fluctuations, which could potentially affect anywhere around the world.

The storm could also allow aurora to be visible in certain parts of the UK.

Sky News reported the Met Office saying: ""Aurora is possible through [the] 11th across much of Scotland, although cloud amounts are increasing, meaning sightings are unlikely.

"There is a slight chance of aurora reaching the far north of England and Northern Ireland tonight, but cloud breaks and therefore sightings are more likely in Northern Ireland."