"Solar storm 'a backhand slap' to our face"

Solar storm forecast to be "punch in nose"

But it ended up being a mild backhand slap

No disruption, just stunning auroras

THE solar storm that seemed to be more fizzle than fury has had a brief resurgence before fading again.

At its peak, it was the most potent solar storm since 2004, space weather forecasters said.  But no power outages or other technological disturbances were reported from storm, which started to peter out yesterday.

Solar storms, which can't hurt people, can disturb electric grids, GPS systems, and satellites. They can also spread colourful aurora light displays further than usual, as the latest storm did.

And more storms are coming. The US Space Weather Prediction Centre says the same area

of the sun erupted again late this week, with a milder storm expected to reach Earth on Sunday.

The latest storm had been forecast to be strong and direct, with one scientist predicting it would blast Earth directly like a punch in the nose. But it arrived at mild levels.  It strengthened for several hours as the storm neared its end. 

Scientists say that's because the magnetic part of the storm flipped direction.

"We were watching the boxer, expecting the punch. It didn't come," said physicist Terry Onsager at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's space weather centre. 

"It hit us with the back of the hand as it was retreating."

The Northern Lights are seen off the east coast of Iceland
during the March solar flare

Forecasters can predict a solar storm's speed and strength, but not the direction of its magnetic field. If it is northward, like Earth's, the jolt of energy flows harmlessly around the planet, he said. A southerly direction can cause power outages and other problems.

Skywatchers reported to NOAA shimmering colourful auroras in areas of the US that do not normally see the Northern 

Lights.  Other space weather enthusiasts reported auroras in Australia and New Zealand.

"Up north, they got a great display," said NASA solar physicist David Hathaway.

Forecasters now have a new flare from the same sunspot region to watch.  Preliminary forecasts show it to be slightly weaker than the one that just hit.

The storms are part of the sun's normal 11-year cycle, which is supposed to reach a peak next year.  "This is what we're expecting as we approach solar maximum," Mr Onsager said. "We should be seeing this for the next few years now."