Sun Unleashes Intense X-Class Solar Flare, With More Blasts Expected

The blast of charged particles wasrecorded as an X1.2-class flare.

The flare was the most powerful seen since at least October.

An X1 flare like this one, though, is at the low end of the X-scale.

Still, it was brief.

However, scientists believe there is surely more in this sunspot’s arsenal.

So far there’s no report of a CME accompanying Thursday’s flare.

NOAA’sSpace Weather Prediction Center forecastsa 10 percent chance of more X flares over the weekend.