Imagine waking up to a world with no electricity.
No internet. No running water. No way to communicate.
This isn’t the plot of a dystopian sci-fi novel—it’s a very real scenario that could unfold if a massive solar storm were to strike Earth.
And now, for the first time ever, scientists have mapped out the regions in the U.S. that would bear the brunt of such an event.
A geomagnetic storm, caused by highly charged solar particles slamming into Earth’s magnetic field, could fry power grids and disrupt infrastructure on an unprecedented scale.
The financial damage alone? Up to $2.6 trillion. The worst part? It could take months—if not years—to fully recover.
But thanks to groundbreaking research by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), we now know which parts of the country are most at risk.
This map isn’t just another research project—it’s a potential lifesaver, offering a rare chance to prepare for a catastrophe before it happens.
Why Some Places Are More at Risk
Not all regions in the U.S. would suffer equally in a geomagnetic storm.
The biggest factors at play? Latitude and geology.
- High-latitude areas (closer to Earth’s magnetic poles) are natural targets for solar storm activity, as they receive a greater influx of charged particles.
- Subsurface rock composition affects how the Earth conducts electricity. Some rock types, like sedimentary rock, are more conductive, making power grids in those areas more susceptible to damage.
Geophysicist Jeffrey Love from the USGS explains, “Power grids are grounded, so they can pick up electric fields generated deep inside the Earth.
But that geoelectric activity depends on the geology, and that’s different from one region to the next.”
Using data from INTERMAGNET, a global network monitoring Earth’s magnetic field, and the U.S. National Science Foundation’s EarthScope program, researchers have pinpointed the areas at highest risk.
The findings are alarming.
Which U.S. States Would Be Hit the Hardest?
According to the map, Minnesota and Wisconsin are among the most vulnerable states, with “red zones” indicating where geoelectric hazards are at their peak.
The northeastern U.S. is also a major concern due to its combination of dense population centers and extensive power infrastructure.
But here’s the shocking part: more than half the U.S. hasn’t even been charted yet.
That’s right—scientists are still missing crucial data from many parts of the country, including the northeast. The only thing standing in their way? Funding.
Why This Research is More Important Than Ever
Despite the urgency, securing the necessary funding has been an uphill battle.
Researchers estimate that just $500,000 is needed to complete the survey—a fraction of what it would cost to recover from a full-blown geomagnetic storm.
“Hello, that’s where a lot of people live,” Love told Business Insider.
“It’s also where a lot of power grid infrastructure is located, and it’s sitting on top of some complicated geology…
Given the stakes, which are quite high, and the costs, which are quite low, it’s worth it. $500,000 is about the price of a condo.”
The last time Earth was hit by a geomagnetic storm of this magnitude was in 1859.
Known as the Carrington Event, it caused telegraph systems across the U.S. and Europe to fail, setting some on fire.
But that was before our world became utterly dependent on electricity and digital networks.
Today, the impact would be far more catastrophic.
What Happens If We Ignore the Warning Signs?
Many experts believe it’s not a matter of if another major solar storm will hit—it’s when.
Some studies suggest that there is a 12% chance of a Carrington-level event occurring within the next decade.
If a solar storm of that magnitude were to strike, the entire power grid could collapse, plunging cities into prolonged blackouts.
Hospitals, emergency services, banks, and food supply chains would all be thrown into chaos.
Without electricity, modern life as we know it would come to a screeching halt.
But there is hope.
The Path Forward: Can We Protect Our Power Grids?
The USGS research isn’t just about identifying vulnerabilities—it’s about giving utilities a roadmap to strengthen their infrastructure before disaster strikes.
The goal is to develop mitigation strategies, such as:
- Upgrading transformers to withstand geomagnetic-induced currents
- Developing fail-safe mechanisms to shut down grids temporarily and prevent long-term damage
- Building emergency backup systems to keep critical infrastructure running
“The hope is to help power utilities find out where their networks have weaknesses, how their systems might respond, and how they could alleviate problems,” Love said.
“If we don’t do it, we don’t know what the risk is in the northeast.”
The Bottom Line: Act Now or Pay the Price Later
The newly developed U.S. power grid vulnerability map is a wake-up call.
Scientists now have the ability to identify the regions at the highest risk—but without adequate funding and swift action, this research will remain just that: research.
Governments, power companies, and policymakers must act now to safeguard the grid before the next big solar storm arrives.
Because when it does, the cost of inaction will be far greater than $500,000.
The question isn’t whether we can afford to invest in this research—it’s whether we can afford not to.
