MORE STRONG FLARES: The Flaring Contines. In Addition To The Solar Flares Described Below, Active Sunspot

MORE STRONG FLARES: The flaring contines. In addition to the solar flares described below, active sunspot 4087 has produced two more big explosions: X2.7 and M7.7. Stay tuned for updates on these events--and get ready for more. This sunspot shows no signs of quieting down. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text

STRONG SOLAR ACTIVITY: After weeks of calm, solar activity is suddenly high again, with two strong solar flares erupting from opposite sides of the sun:

The first of these flares (X1.2) caused a brief shortwave blackout over the Americas and hurled a CME into space. A NASA model shows the CME hitting Mercury, grazing Venus, and completely missing Earth later this week.

The second flare (M5.3) caused a longer shortwave radio blackout over southeast Asia and probably hurled a CME into space. If so, it could have an Earth-directed component. Confirmation awaits fresh data from SOHO coronagraphs.