Thanks cutworm!
Terrific article on this from your link:
https://spaceweatherarchive.com/2019/04/23/a-perfect-storm-of-cosmic-rays/
What’s What's going on? The answer is “Solar Minimum.” During the low phase of the 11-year solar cycle, the sun’s magnetic field and solar wind weaken. Cosmic rays find it easier to penetrate the inner solar system. In 2009, the sun experienced the deepest solar minimum in a century. Cosmic rays reaching Earth naturally surged.