The Night the Sun Switched Off Quebec
A storm on the Sun knocked out power across Quebec in 90 seconds, and auroras lit skies as far south as Texas.
What was reported
On 13 March 1989, a huge burst of charged particles from the Sun struck Earth's magnetic field. At 2:44 in the morning, electric currents induced in the ground tripped protective equipment on Hydro-Québec's power grid, and within about 90 seconds the whole system collapsed.
Six million people lost power for around nine hours in the cold. Auroras were seen as far south as Texas and Florida.
Explanations offered
It was a severe geomagnetic storm caused by a coronal mass ejection from the Sun. The blackout led power companies around the world to strengthen their grids against space weather, and it remains a key example of why solar storms are watched closely.
- When
- 13 March 1989
- Where
- Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Witnesses
- Millions of people in Quebec
- Status
- Explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.