Departing sunspot complex AR2565-AR2567 erupted on July 23rd, twice, producing two strong solar flares in quick succession. The first @ 0211 UT registered M5 on the Richter Scale of Flares. The second @ 0516 UT registered M7.6, making it the strongest flare of 2016 so far. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded the flare's extreme ultraviolet flash:
Radiation from the two flares ionized the top of Earth's atmosphere, causing a blackout of shortwave radio transmissions over the Pacific side of Earth. Blackout maps from NOAA show the frequencies and territories affected: blackout #1, blackout #2. People who might have noticed the blackouts include ham radio operators, mariners and aviators.
The explosions likely hurled CMEs into space. However, we won't know for sure until coronagraph images from SOHO become available later in the day.
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