Could be interesting, hopefully those potentially afffected will take note and action.

In the plot, above, black curves are solar cycles; the amplitude is the sunspot number. Red curves are geomagnetic indices, specifically the Inter-hour Variability Index or IHV. "These indices are derived from magnetometer data recorded at two points on opposite sides of Earth: one in England and another in Australia. IHV data have been taken every day since 1868," says Hathaway.

Cross correlating sunspot number vs. IHV, they found that the IHV predicts the amplitude of the solar cycle 6-plus years in advance with a 94% correlation coefficient.

"We don't know why this works," says Hathaway. The underlying physics is a mystery. "But it does work."

<href="http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/21dec_cycle24.htm?list41072">NASA

At first glance it would appear that the Earth is influencing the Sun, but logically that would seem to be impossible. I imagine the solar cycle influences the IHV in a so-far undiscerned way such that observed IHV variations precede observed solar cycle changes.