But ever since then, sunspots have been outstripping those predictions. January saw over 140 sunspots, when no more than 92 were predicted, according to a
database of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. May brought nearly 140 sunspots again.
Solar flares have also been growing more frequent and more powerful year by year. An unexpected "stealth" CME washed over Earth on March 24 and created a historically powerful geomagnetic storm,
pushing the aurora borealis as far south as Arizona.