Batten down those hatches, the Earth is experiencing the biggest solar storm in five years and it may cause disruptions in power grids, communication networks and power grids over the next 24 hours.

The sun erupted in series of massive solar flares late Tuesday that hurtled a wave of plasma and charged particles towards Earth. Scientists expect the solar storm to intensify Thursday morning as the coronal mass ejection races to the planet.

The storm is expected to hit early Thursday night in Australia and last through Saturday morning. The storm, which is the strongest overall solar storm since December 2006, is expected to cause disruptions to power grids, GPS systems and satellites, interruptions in airline flights in the northern areas.

"There is the potential for induced currents in power grids," Joseph Kunches, a space weather scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center told reporters Wednesday. "Power grid operators have all been alerted. It could start to cause some unwanted induced currents."

The sun released a large solar flare at an active region on its surface known as 1429. Another solar flare followed on March 7. NASA said the second flare was one of the largest of this solar cycle.

"The current increase in the number of X-class flares is part of the Sun's normal 11-year solar cycle, during which activity on the Sun ramps up to solar maximum, which is expected to peak in late 2013," the US space agency said.

The sun is experiencing an upswing in solar storms as it moves from its solar minimum period and moves into a solar maximum over the next few years.

The effects of this storm will last for 24 hours. Sky gazers will get a bonus as the magnetic storm will likely enhance normal aurora displays. The aurora borealis will be visible for those lucky enough to be living in northern latitudes. People living in parts of central Asia will be treated to a prime look at the aurora borealis. Interested observers living in Tasmania will be treated to the aurora australis, or southern lights if the weather permits.

"It all depends on how the magnetic fields in the CME line up with the Earth's magnetic field," Dr. Matthew Francis from the Ionospheric Prediction Services said. "This one's powerful enough for the southern lights to be easily visible in the night skies above places like Hobart."