close up view of the sun firing off a colossal X5.1 solar flare on Nov. 11.

Sun unleashes strongest solar flare of 2025, sparking radio blackouts across Africa and Europe

November 11, 2025

gif animation of the X5.1 solar flare

Check out the ripples from the coronal wave lifting off during the X5.1 solar flare. (Image credit: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center)

The sun erupted in spectacular fashion this morning (Nov. 11), unleashing a major X5.1-class solar flare, the strongest of 2025 so far and the most intense since October 2024.

coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that could combine and impact Earth overnight tonight, possibly triggering strong (G3) geomagnetic storm conditions and widespread auroras, according to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center. While analysis of today’s eruption is ongoing, scientists are monitoring coronagraph data to determine whether the X5.1 launched a CME directly toward Earth. With AR4274 in an Earth-facing position, any associated outburst is likely to be heading for us.

You may like

Wow! The CME has already cleared the occulting disk in CCOR-1 – this is a fast one. Massive coronal dimming in EUV too. Expecting a slightly lopsided full-halo CME. More soon! https://t.co/mTLr31TSWk pic.twitter.com/WoJCNYl7KXNovember 11, 2025

gif animation showing the CME lifting off from the sun after the X5.1 solar flare.

Coronagraph imagery shows the CME lifting off in rapid fashion this morning (Nov.11) (Image credit: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center)

Solar flares are ranked by strength in five classes, A, B, C, M and X, with each step representing a tenfold increase in energy output. X-class solar flares are the most powerful kind and the number following the X describes the flare’s intensity. At X5.1, this latest eruption sits toward the top of the scale.

The eruption sent a surge of X-rays and extreme ultraviolet radiation toward Earth, ionizing the upper atmosphere and causing widespread radio signal degradation. Strong (R3) radio blackouts were recorded over Africa and Europe.

graphic showing the strong radio blackouts across the sunlit portion of earth at the time of the eruption. the strongest blackouts are over africa and some of europe.

Radio blackouts associated with the X5.1 solar flare on Nov. 11. (Image credit: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center)

This active region has become one of the most prolific solar flare producers of Solar Cycle 25, marking a fiery peak in what’s already been an extraordinary week for solar activity.

This is a developing story and will be updated later today as more data on the flare and associated CME becomes available.