Phone issues? Why experts say solar flares likely aren't to blame

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Some Tennesseans are experiencing wireless service outages Thursday morning. AT&T has notified the Rutherford County Emergency Communications District of customers unable to make or receive data calls on mobile, including 911 calls.

The company says they are working to mitigate the issue and some service has already been restored. Cricket Wireless customers have also reported issues, the company telling FOX 17 News Nashville "Some of our customers are experiencing wireless service interruptions this morning. We are working urgently to restore service to them. We encourage the use of Wi-Fi calling until service is restored."

One potential explanation for the outage, though not confirmed, is a disruption caused by a solar flare. FOX 17 CODE RED Meteorologist Greg Bobos explains how solar winds from the sun send charged particles through space which are normally repelled by Earth's magnetic poles. However, solar storms can sometimes emit more particles than normal and those particles can penetrate our magnetic fields and lead to disruption.

While no correlation has been drawn by officials, two solar flares were reported over the last 24 hours, one at 5:07 pm CST on Wednesday and the other at 12:32 am CST on Thursday morning. As NASA explains, "Solar flares are powerful bursts of energy. Flares and solar eruptions can impact radio communications, electric power grids, navigation signals, and pose risks to spacecraft and astronauts."

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