Gangster X-class solar flare slams earth - 2 punch CME on the way

A giant solar flare exploded on Sunday, July 2, creating a powerful stream that lashed Earth's atmosphere and caused a radio blackout over parts of the U.S. and the Pacific ocean. The solar flare erupted from the sunspot AR3354 which is seven times the width of the Earth. Flares are grouped according to their strength, with the smallest flares called B-flares, which are followed by C-flares, then M-flares. The strongest class of solar flares are X-flares. Two solar storms, or coronal mass ejections (CMEs), are on the way. NASA has projected that the first massive ejection of ionized gas will impact Earth by Friday (July 7).