Solar storms can have a knock-on effect on planting crops that could quickly escalate, delaying yields and directly or indirectly affecting their quality.

A hidden magnetic island inside a coronal hole unleashed a surprise G3 storm, sparking dazzling displays across the US.

One lucky air traveler even captured the Northern Lights on their flight from New York to San Francisco on Sunday evening.

Tonight, a rare celestial event is set to dazzle and disrupt. As a powerful solar storm approaches, the skies may light up, but at what cost to our daily lives?

The sun has become more and more active over the last 16 years, in a turn that surprised scientists and could affect space weather, NASA said.

With advance warning, however, steps can be taken to reduce the risks. If an electrical grid is running near capacity, for example, and a solar storm has been detected, operators can restrict the flow of electricity onto the grid. That means residents may experience a brownout—an inconvenience, but not as disruptive as a full-on blackout.

At G3 the storm is considered "strong", but it is also strengthened by something known as the "Russell-McPherron Effect".