Solar Activity and Space Weather Update thread

[Stavros Kiri]

Mon. March 30, 2026
X-CLASS SOLAR FLARE AND CME: NASA's Artemis rocket might be launching into a geomagnetic storm. This morning, an X-class solar flare hurled a fast and massive CME into space. It is expected to make contact with Earth on March 31st, sparking geomagnetic storms on the night before the Moon rocket's launch window opens.

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Above: An X1.5-class solar flare on March 30, 2026. Credit: Solar Dynamics Observatory​

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[Stavros Kiri]

Space Weather News for April 3, 2026

ARTEMIS IS FLYING THROUGH A STRONG GEOMAGNETIC STORM: A strong G3-class geomagnetic storm is underway on April 3rd following a CME impact. NASA's Artemis mission is experiencing this storm inside Earth's magnetotail--a complex space weather environment that few humans have encountered before.

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Above:​ This is the CME that just hit the Earth-Moon system​

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[Stavros Kiri]

For April 8, 2026 (and for current days and abead ...)

Wake up before dawn to see Comet PANSTARRS (C/2025 R3) brightening in the morning sky.

A NAKED-EYE COMET IS COMING: There's a comet in the morning sky, and you may be able to see it with your unaided eyes. Comet PANSTARRS (C/2025 R3) just crossed the threshold of naked eye visibility as it approaches the sun for a close encounter on April 19-20.

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Above: Comet PANSTARRS photographed on April 7, 2026, by Dan Bartlett of June Lake, CA

 

[Stavros Kiri]

April 24, 2026

X-Class SOLAR FLARE SHATTERS THE QUIET: The sun has been mostly quiet for weeks. That ended today with a powerful X2.4-class solar flare. The unexpected explosion caused a radio blackout in the Pacific Ocean and hurled a CME into space. More solar flares appear to be in the offing this weekend.

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Above: An X2.4-class solar flare on April 24, 2026. Credit: Solar Dynamics Observatory​

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[Borg]

@davenn I didn't see this app in a quick search of the thread. Enjoy.

Live Sun and Moon Dashboard with NASA Footage
https://www.lumara-space.app/

 

[Astronuc]

Solar Cycle 25 reached its maximum in October 2024
https://www.sidc.be/article/solar-cycle-25-reached-its-maximum-october-2024
Apparently, the predictions at the beginning of SC25 for maximum were between November 2024 and March 2026 (a 17 month spread).

https://www.sidc.be/SILSO/dayssnplot

There are some relatively new features regarding Solar Activity and Solar Wind on the main page
https://www.sidc.be/

For March 18, 2026
Solar Activity

Solar flaring activity was low over the past 24 hours, with only three C-class flares identified. The brightest flare was SIDC flare 7724, a C9.7 with its peak on 17 May at 20:53 UTC. It was associated with SIDC Sunspot Group 825 (NOAA Active Region 4436, Beta magnetic configuration). The solar flaring activity is expected to be low over the next 24 hours, with C-class flares very likely and a small chance for M-class flares.No Earth-directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) were observed in the last 24 hours. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux, as measured by the GOES-19 satellite, was at nominal levels over the past 24 hours and is likely to remain so in the next 24 hours. During the past 24 hours the greater than 2 MeV electron flux as, measured by GOES 19, was above the 1000 pfu alert threshold with a peak value of 5900 pfu on 17 May at 20:53 UTC. It is expected to remain above the alert threshold in the next 24 hours.The electron fluence was at moderate in the past 24 hours and it is expected to remain at those levels in the next 24 hours.

Solar Wind

The geomagnetic conditions of the past 24 hours were both globally and locally at quiet levels (NOAA Kp 2 to 2+ and K BEL 1 to 2), with the exception of locally unsettled levels for a brief period of time (K BEL 3, 17 May 12:00-15:00 UTC). In the next 24 hours it is likely that they will increase to unsettled levels, as a glancing blow from SIDC CME 656 is expected to arrive at Earth. The effect of the High Speed Stream (HSS) that arrived on 15 May waned during the past 24 hours and currently the Solar Wind (SW) conditions feature a slow regime. The SW speed dropped from almost 700 to 500 km/s, the interplanetary magnetic field (B) reached a maximum value of 4 nT, and its North-South component (Bz) varied from -4 to 4 nT. A glancing blow from a Coronal Mass Ejection (SIDC CME 656) is predicted to arrive in the next 24 hours, however, no significant impact is expected from it.

1 pfu (proton flux unit) = particles/cm²-s-sr, a measure of proton flux

SWPC currently forecasts the probability of S1 (Minor Radiation Storm) occurrence as part of our 3-day forecast and forecast discussion products and issues a warning for an expected S1 or higher event; as well as a warning for when the 100 MeV proton level is expected to reach 1 pfu. Additionally, SWPC issues alerts for when each NOAA Space Weather Scale Radiation Storm level is reached (S1-S5) and/or when the 100 MeV protons reach 1 pfu.

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/solar-radiation-storm

From the Space Weather Prediction Center, NOAA
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/report-and-forecast-solar-and-geophysical-activity

Joint USAF/NOAA Solar Geophysical Activity Report and Forecast
SDF Number 137 Issued at 2200Z on 17 May 2026

IA. Analysis of Solar Active Regions and Activity from 16/2100Z to
17/2100Z: Solar activity has been at moderate levels for the past 24
hours. There are currently 7 numbered sunspot regions on the disk.
IB. Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is expected to be low with
a chance for M-class flares on days one, two, and three (18 May, 19 May,
20 May).

IIA. Geophysical Activity Summary 16/2100Z to 17/2100Z: The geomagnetic
field has been at quiet to unsettled levels for the past 24 hours. Solar
wind speed reached a peak of 734 km/s at 16/2108Z. Electrons greater
than 2 MeV at geosynchronous orbit reached a peak level of 6117 pfu.
IIB. Geophysical Activity Forecast: The geomagnetic field is expected
to be at quiet to minor storm levels on days one and two (18 May, 19
May) and quiet levels on day three (20 May).

III. Event probabilities 18 May-20 May
Class M 40/45/45
Class X 05/05/05
Proton 05/05/01
PCAF green

IV. Penticton 10.7 cm Flux
Observed 17 May 104
Predicted 18 May-20 May 105/110/115
90 Day Mean 17 May 124

V. Geomagnetic A Indices
Observed Afr/Ap 16 May 019/034
Estimated Afr/Ap 17 May 011/013
Predicted Afr/Ap 18 May-20 May 015/021-018/021-007/008

VI. Geomagnetic Activity Probabilities 18 May-20 May
A. Middle Latitudes
Active 40/35/20
Minor Storm 30/30/05
Major-severe storm 05/05/01
B. High Latitudes
Active 05/10/20
Minor Storm 25/25/30
Major-severe storm 60/60/25

 

[Stavros Kiri]

MONSTER SUNSPOT VISIBLE FROM MARS: One of the biggest sunspots in years is crossing the farside of the sun, crackling with X-class solar flares. Europe's Solar Orbiter and NASA's Perseverance rover on Mars can both see it. The behemoth will rotate toward Earth in 5 or 6 days, putting our planet in the strike zone.​

Above: This huge farside sunspot is crackling with X-class solar flares.​