There was a strong solar flare for the first time in three weeks.

For the first time in three weeks, an M-class flare was recorded on the Sun. This was announced on March 13 by the Laboratory of Solar Astronomy of the IKI RAS.

"Information has been received about an M-class solar flare that has just been registered. The maximum radiation was reached at 12:55 Moscow time. The duration of the outbreak was about 20 minutes," the scientists said in a Telegram message.

The event occurred against the background of a deep drop in activity that has been going on for almost a month. The last outbreak of this class was recorded on February 25 (score M2.3). The current one turned out to be slightly lower — M1.2.

The laboratory noted that, apart from the current situation, the event is an ordinary one, since it belongs to the lower limit of the M-class. The position of the center of the flare at the edge of the solar disk excludes the impact on the Earth. There are no harbingers of the Sun's exit from the minimum — the explosion is most likely a single and accidental one.

At the same time, the first plasma streams associated with the coronal hole have already begun to arrive at the Earth. Weak disturbances are observed.

"The forecast for reaching the level of magnetic storms by the end of the day looks quite realistic," the scientists added.

Flash reception: magnetic storm affected drones, orientation of birds and health of earthlings

Have the vagaries of space weather become record-breaking and what consequences can we expect from them?

On March 10, the Laboratory of Solar Astronomy at the IKI RAS reported that a new coronal hole had formed in the Sun over the past 24 hours. According to scientists, over the past day, the geomagnetic situation remained calm, and the flare activity was moderately increased.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.