New Delhi: A cluster of sunspots designated as Active Region (AR) 4274 or Sunspot Group 687 erupted in three X-class solar flares in as many days, with the associated Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) inducing a severe geomagnetic storm at the Earth. Two of these CMEs combined just before washing over the Earth, with the third now reaching the planet. According to the Center of Excellence in Space Sciences India (CESSI) hosted by the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Kolkata, “CME3 from AR 14274 associated with the X5.2 solar flare has impacted near-Earth space just before 20:00 UTC on 12 November with a shock speed upwards of 800 km/s. Moderate to strong space weather impact expected if Bz turns negative.”

The third of these CMEs was associated with an X5.1 so

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