Sun unleashes strongest 2026 flare—X8.3 blast from sunspot 4366 triggers R3 radio blackout

Key facts

• An X8.3-class solar flare erupted from sunspot region 4366, the most powerful flare recorded in 2026.
• The flare peaked at 6:57 pm EST on 1 February 2026.
• At least 18 M-class and three X-class flares occurred in the past 24-hour period.
• X-class flares are the most intense explosions the Sun can produce; each letter step (A, B, C, M, X) represents a tenfold energy increase.
• The blast released strong ultraviolet and X-ray radiation that disturbed Earth’s upper atmosphere and caused R3-level radio blackouts across parts of the South Pacific.
• Shortwave radio signals were disrupted in eastern Australia and New Zealand, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center.
• Early assessments suggest most ejected solar material from the X8.3 flare is likely to miss Earth, with only a slight chance of geomagnetic impact around 5 February 2026 that could enhance high-latitude auroras.
• Sunspot 4366 continues to grow rapidly and is rotating more directly toward Earth, with further solar activity expected.