A backhand slap from end of solar storm

By SETH BORENSTEIN, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Space weather forecasters say the solar storm that seemed to be more fizzle than fury got much stronger overnight. It's now the most potent solar storm since 2004.

So far, no power outages or other technological disturbances have been reported from the solar storm that started on Tuesday.

It reached Earth on Thursday morning at mild levels. But for several hours early Friday morning it turned strong. Scientists say that's because the magnetic orientation of the storm flipped.

And more is coming. The federal government's Space Weather Prediction Center says the same area of the sun erupted again Thursday night, with a milder storm expected in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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