A solar radiation storm marks the release of intense, rapidly-moving charged particles toward Earth and can impact space launches, aviation and satellite operations. The last time severe solar radiation storm levels were observed was in October 2003, according to SWPC.

The sun sure has woken up this week, unleashing a powerful X-class solar flare on Jan. 18 that hurled a colossal, fast-moving coronal mass ejection (CME) directly toward Earth. That CME has now arrived, triggering severe (G4) geomagnetic storm conditions far earlier than initially forecast.

A strong geomagnetic storm could interact with Earth's atmosphere within the next 24 hours, bringing the potential for northern lights much further south in the U.S.

A major solar storm brought aurora sightings as far south as Colorado and Connecticut in the US Monday night, alongside sightings in Europe as far south as Germany and France. But, if you missed the display, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scales indicate the solar storm's effects could linger into Tuesday night.

The storm is also responsible for pushing the aurora farther south, giving some people across the southern U.S. a rare chance to see the northern lights.

Just as avalanches on snowy mountains start with the movement of a small quantity of snow, the ESA-led Solar Orbiter spacecraft has discovered that a solar flare is triggered by initially weak disturbances that quickly become more violent.

A powerful X-class solar flare has unleashed a severe geomagnetic storm, arriving faster and stronger than predicted. Join Weather Network's Kim MacDonald and meteorologist Scott Sutherland as they explain the science behind the storm,