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NASA is warning of a space storm coming around the year 2013 that could cause widespread damage to technology across the world and everyday electronics and communications could be severely disrupted once the sun awakes from a “deep slumber” around 2013.

Researchers say that devices from computers to Sat Navs may be damaged when magnetic energy from solar flares reaches unprecedented levels, potentially causing widespread economic devastation.

Extreme levels of radiation will be emitted when the Sun’s magnetic energy cycle hits its peak and the number of sun spots reaches a maximum, according to Dr Richard Fisher, the director of NASA's Heliophysics division.

This 'perfect storm' happens every 22 years, but despite this knowledge scientists have no idea how bad this space storm will be, Dr Fisher said.

“It will disrupt communication devices such as satellites and car navigations, air travel, the banking system, our computers, everything that is electronic. It will cause major problems for the world. Systems will just not work. The flares change the magnetic field on the earth that is rapid and like a lightning bolt. That is the solar affect,” he explained.

The situation appears to be much more serious than the last time this happened beacuse of modern society's dependence on electronics and satellites.