An image of a solar flare on Thursday, July 5, captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. (NASA)
ATLANTA -- NASA says that an active region on the sun has erupted with at least 12 M-class flares since Tuesday, peaking with a moderately large flare Thursday morning.
Officials said Thursday morning's flare caused some limited interruption of radio signals around the time it peaked, at 7:44 a.m. ET.
M-class flares are the second-strongest classification of solar flares, with X-class flares being the strongest. Thursday morning's flare was classified as an M6.1 flare, which have caused disruption to radio waves on earth in the past.
M- and X-class flares are capable of producing enhanced aurora borealis displays in northern latitudes. NASA and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration say these are possible over the next 24 hours in the higher latitudes.
NASA and NOAA scientists say additional M-class or X-class solar flares are possible over the next few days.