A hole, known as a coronal hole, has opened up in the atmosphere of the Sun’s southern hemisphere.
This coronal hole is releasing a stream of particles into space and some are likely to hit Earth, researchers have warned.
Experts said there is a 55 percent chance that the solar storm could hit Earth tomorrow, March 22, causing aurora borealis or aurora australis – Northern and Southern Lights, respectively.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), who spotted the solar storm using two NASA satellites, classified the impending solar storm as a G-1 or ‘minor’.
The website Space Weather wrote: “NOAA forecasters say there is a 55% chance of G1-class geomagnetic storms on March 22nd when a stream of fast-moving solar wind is expected to reach our planet.
“The gaseous material is flowing from a southern hole in the sun’s atmosphere.”
However, the consequences could be far more serious than the appearance of the Northern or Southern Lights.
For the most part, the Earth’s magnetic field protects humans from the barrage of radiation, but solar storms can affect satellite-based technology.
Solar winds, which are a stream of particles from the sun, can heat the Earth’s outer atmosphere, causing it to expand.
This can affect satellites in orbit, potentially leading to a lack of GPS navigation, mobile phone signal and satellite TV such as Sky.
Additionally, a surge of particles can lead to high currents in the magnetosphere, which can lead to higher than normal electricity in power lines, resulting in electrical transformers and power stations blow outs and a loss of power.
The higher amounts of radiation also leave people vulnerable to cancer.