Can a solar storm knock out GPS?
Strong solar storms can make satellite navigation less accurate or interrupt it for a time. The effect depends on the storm's strength and where you are.
Reviewed by Jackson on Nov 8, 2026. How we work
Quick answer
Yes, a strong geomagnetic storm can disrupt satellite navigation. NOAA says storms can change how radio signals travel through the upper atmosphere, causing positioning errors. Severe storms can cause navigation problems for hours.[1][2]
In this article
Guide: Space weather, explainedWhy it mattersHow a storm reaches the signalWhy it is not a blackoutWhat you can doWhat we don't know yetWhat changedSourcesKey points
- Storms change the upper atmosphere, which can bend radio signals and create positioning errors in GPS.[1]
- NOAA's G3 level, which it calls strong, can cause intermittent satellite navigation problems.[2]
- NOAA says the most severe level, G4, can degrade satellite navigation for hours.[2]
- Most storms are minor. Navigation is usually affected only at the stronger levels.[2]
Why it matters
Phones, cars, aircraft and farm machinery use satellite navigation. Knowing when it can fail, and why, helps you understand what a storm warning really means.[1][3]
How a storm reaches the signal
A geomagnetic storm heats the upper atmosphere and changes the density of the ionosphere, the layer that radio signals pass through. NOAA says this can modify the path of those signals and create errors in the positions GPS reports.[1]
Why it is not a blackout
The British Geological Survey lists satellite navigation among the systems space weather can affect, along with power grids and communications. The effects are usually temporary, and most people will not notice them.[3]
For the full storm scale and what causes storms, read our explainer on geomagnetic storms.[1]
What you can do
- Use a second method when accuracy matters, such as a paper map or a map app that shows your position against known landmarks, during a severe storm.[2]
What we don't know yet
- Whether a particular storm will affect your device. That depends on its strength and your location.
- How much a specific phone or car is affected. NOAA describes general effects, not individual devices.
What changed
- Nov 8, 2026: First draft. Needs human review before publication.
Sources
- NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center: Geomagnetic Storms (accessed Nov 8, 2026)
- NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center: NOAA Space Weather Scales (accessed Nov 8, 2026)
- British Geological Survey: Space Weather and Geomagnetic Hazard (accessed Nov 8, 2026)