Great Solar Storm
From Wild Southwest Wiki
The Great Solar Storm was a major astronomical event that occurred from June 1st to June 3rd 2079. An geomagnetic storm caused by an intense solar coronal mass ejection, it caused disruptions throughout the Southwest.
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Electrical Effects
The storm disrupted power supplies across the Southwest, with city power grids overloading and shorting out. Albany was particularly affected with the Oyster Harbour Power Station shutting down completely on the 2nd to avoid damage to the grid. Power disruptions were reported in Pemberton, Manjimup, Walpole, Denmark Town and Rocky Gully.
Telegraph services were similarly disrupted with fires breaking out in some relay stations from currents induced in the lines. Other lines were able to operate normally despite being disconnected from power - some technicians reported that signals were coming through clearer than when attached to the batteries.
Radio Effects
Radio transmissions were heavily affected with receivers swamped with static and signals garbled or fading out long before reaching their destinations. A few radio operators found the opposite effect with the range on their transmitters substantially increased. In one instance an amateur operator in Cheyne Beach was able to converse with an operator in Manjimup (a distance of 220km) despite his unit only being rated for 80km.
The Mount Clarence Radar Station shut down at the first signs of the storm, with technicians actually disassembling some of the more delicate equipment to prevent damage. It didn't resume operations until the 9th.
Other Effects
There were scattered reports of shipboard compasses becoming unreliable, and postage services were somewhat affected by the loss of several carrier pigeons. The most noticeable natural effect was the aurora australis which lit the night sky up with a bright red glow for the duration of the event. Along the south coast it was reported to be strong enough to read newsprint by.
