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For the first time since 2005, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center issued a severe geomagnetic storm watch for Friday (May 10) evening.
The sun has been extremely active as of late, with two giant sunspots merging, sending two X-class and several M-class solar flares hurtling toward the Earth. A second sunspot is also sending charged and superheated plasma toward the Earth.
"These two sunspot clusters are magnetically complex and much larger than Earth. Together, they have been the source of frequent M-class flares (minor to moderate)," the Space Weather Prediction Center said, according to Fox Weather. "RGN 3664 (the combined sunspot region) continues to grow and increase in magnetic complexity and has evolved into a higher threat of increased solar flare risk."
Solar flares could cause issues as they slam into the Earth's magnetic field. They can disrupt satellite communications, cause problems with GPS systems, and cause high-frequency radio blackouts.
They can also create the aurora borealis, the dazzling light show in the sky, also known as the northern lights. Due to the intensity of the solar flares, they could be visible as far south as Alabama, giving millions of people a rare chance to see the breathtaking phenomenon without having to travel to the Arctic.