Region 3078 produced frequent flares, including an M5 X-ray flare (R2-Moderate radio blackout) on August 16, 2022, at 07:58 UT, which created a shortwave radio blackout for frequencies under 22 MHz over the Gulf Area. The Low-Frequency Radio Telescope at SAASST detected this sudden ionospheric disturbance from 7:55-08:20 (11:55-12:20 local time). Radio Blackouts are caused by bursts of X-ray and Extreme Ultra Violet radiation emitted from solar flares.

NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) — a division of the National Weather Service — was monitoring the Sun and solar winds following a series of Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) that began at 08:30 am EDT on August 14. Space weather forecasters predict a strong geomagnetic storm, a G3 on NOAA’s scales, late on August 18 and moderate (G2) geomagnetic storming on August 19. Therefore, they issued a Geomagnetic Storm Watch through August 19.

Geomagnetic storms can impact infrastructure in near-Earth orbit and on the surface, potentially disrupting communications, the electric power grid, navigation, radio, and satellite operations. It can also drive the aurora further south from its usual position over the polar region.