{
  "id": 6064676,
  "title": "Where a Massive Solar Storm Could Take Down the US Power Grid for Millions",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/where-a-massive-solar-storm-could-take-down-the-us-power-grid-for",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-06T23:34:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Slashdot",
    "slug": "slashdot",
    "url": "https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/26/09/05/2253221/where-a-massive-solar-storm-could-take-down-the-us-power-grid-for-millions"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A new study published in AGU Advances provides a detailed look at how a massive solar storm could impact various US industries, with the power grid being particularly vulnerable, according to CNN. Researchers simulated a Carrington Event, a highly rare and intense geomagnetic storm, and estimated the US economy could suffer daily losses of $1.5 billion to $2 billion, reports the article. The most affected areas would be the Northeast and Northern Plains, especially higher latitude regions. Scientists warn that predicting the exact timing of such an event is impossible, as it could strike at any time ranging from weeks to centuries, said Anna Kelbert, a geophysicist at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Shawn Dahl, a service coordinator at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center, noted that the sun is currently in a period of heightened activity, increasing the likelihood of severe storms. Lead author Ed Oughton from George Mason University highlighted that modern US infrastructure has never faced such massive technology and power grid challenges. The grid's proprietary design and engineering models used in the study revealed that the eastern US grid's interconnected structure creates higher vulnerability, with a voltage issue in Maine potentially cascading to Washington, DC. Power restoration would depend on alternative paths and spare transformers. The study concludes that the US is unprepared for a major magnetic storm, emphasizing the catastrophic societal impacts, including power disruptions for 5.1 million people and 135,000 businesses, lasting from hours to days to weeks depending on the damage and available resources.",
  "summary": "A new study published Friday in AGU Advances \"depicts the most advanced picture yet of how a rare but massive solar storm could affect some US industries and electric systems more than others,\" reports CNN. \"During a 250-year solar storm, the East Coast would have widespread potential for grid failure.\" Researchers modeled what a Carrington Event — a 1-in-150-year geomagnetic storm or even rarer…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}