US under threat of massive blackout – what could happen

Scientists at George Mason University have modeled a scenario of an extreme solar storm that could leave about 5.1 million people and 135,000 businesses without power across 22 US states. The greatest threat is to northern and northeastern regions. Economic damage could reach $1.8 billion per day.

Scientists at George Mason University have modeled a scenario of an extreme solar storm that could leave about 5.1 million people and approximately 135,000 businesses without electricity in the US. According to the model, the consequences could affect 22 states, especially northern and northeastern regions: Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey, and Virginia. The cause could be a powerful coronal mass ejection, causing disturbances in Earth's magnetic field and inducing additional currents in power lines. Large transformers are particularly vulnerable—their overheating could trigger a chain reaction and widespread failures. Economic damage is estimated at a minimum of $980 million per day for businesses, and in a severe scenario, up to $1.8 billion per day. Scientists note that a geomagnetic storm of this magnitude statistically occurs once every 250 years. The last similar storm—the Carrington Event of 1859—disrupted telegraph systems; today, the consequences would be much more severe due to infrastructure's dependence on electricity and satellites.

US under threat of massive blackout – what could happen