The storm is the largest in five years, and will be firing charged particles at the Earth, with the effect being most keenly felt at the poles. It also means that the Northern Lights will be seen in clear skies at lower latitudes, and aeroplanes are being advised to avoid heavily affected areas.

This evening will be the best time to see the Northern Lights in the UK, according to scientists.

Joseph Kunches, an expert at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) described the affects as “hitting us right on the nose”.

"Space weather has gotten very interesting over the past 24 hours," Mr Kunches told the BBC. He described the storm as the Sun’s own version of Super Tuesday.

Particles will be hitting the Earth at approximately 4,000,000 miles per hour, and the storm will last until Friday.

Several other solar storms have been witnessed over the past few decades, with one in 1972 cutting long-distance telephone lines in the US state of Illinois.