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| Warnings and Alerts | |
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Issue Time: 2026 Aug 25 1027 UTC
SUMMARY: X-ray Event exceeded M5 Begin Time: 2026 Aug 25 0932 UTC Maximum Time: 2026 Aug 25 1002 UTC End Time: 2026 Aug 25 1013 UTC Xray Class: M6.9 Optical Class: Location: N04E04 Noaa Scale: R2 - Moderate Potential Impacts: Area of impact centered primarily on sub-solar point on the sunlit side of Earth. Radio - Limited blackout of HF (high frequency) radio communication for tens of minutes. Space Weather Scales |
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| Current Condition and Alerts | |
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Issued: 2026 Aug 25 1210 UTC
Prepared
by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Geophysical Alert Message Solar-terrestrial indices for 24 August follow. Solar flux 143 and estimated planetary A-index 6. The estimated planetary K-index at 1200 UTC on 25 August was 1.00. Space weather for the past 24 hours has been minor. Radio blackouts reaching the R1 level occurred. Space weather for the next 24 hours is predicted to be moderate. Radio blackouts reaching the R2 level are likely. Space Weather Scales |
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| Forecast Discussion | |
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Issued: 2026 Aug 25 1230 UTC
Prepared
by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Solar Activity .24 hr Summary... Solar activity reached moderate levels due to M-class flare activity from Region 4513 (N04E02, Ekc/beta-gamma-delta). AR 4513 was responsible for five M-class flares as it continued to mature and maintained a moderately strong mixed polarity configuration in its intermediate area. The largest of event of the period was an M6.9 flare that peaked at 25/1002 UTC. This event was accompanied by a 10.7cm radio burst of 160 SFU and a Type II radio sweep with an estimated speed of 603 km/s. All indicators, to include an EIT wave beginning just before 25/0955 UTC in GOES SUVI 195 imagery, point to a subsequent CME and analysis of this event will continue once proper coronagraph imagery becomes available. .Forecast... Solar activity will likely continue to reach moderate levels driven by occasional M-class flare activity (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate) primarily driven by Region 4513 through 27 Aug. Energetic Particle .24 hr Summary... The greater than 2 MeV electron flux reached high levels with a peak flux of 1,240 pfu observed at 25/1125 UTC. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux remained elevated, but below S1 (Minor) levels, ranging from 2-3 pfu throughout the period. .Forecast... The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is expected to reach high levels on 24-27 Aug. There is a slight chance for the greater than 10 MeV proton flux to reach S1 (Minor) storm levels through 27 Aug, which is primarily being driven by activity from Region 4513. Solar Wind .24 hr Summary... Solar wind parameters were at nominal levels with solar wind speeds at or below roughly 365 km/s. Total field ranged from 4-7 nT while the Bz component was between +/-5 nT. Phi angle was predominantly negative. .Forecast... Nominal solar wind conditions are expected through approximately midday on 27 Aug. An enhancement is expected by mid to late on 27 Aug due to the onset of positive polarity CH HSS conditions. Solar wind speeds are likely to be more enhanced than the previous rotation due to a more developed northerly extension of the CH. Solar wind speeds in the 500-600 km/s range are likely. Geospace .24 hr Summary... The geomagnetic field was at quiet levels. .Forecast... The geomagnetic field is expected to be mostly quiet through midday on 27 Aug under ambient solar wind conditions. By mid to late on 27 Aug, Unsettled to active levels are expected, with a chance for G1 (Minor) storm levels, due to the onset of CH HSS conditions. Space Weather Scales |
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| Three Day Forecast | |
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Issued: 2026 Aug 25 1230 UTC
Prepared
by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
A. NOAA Geomagnetic Activity Observation and Forecast The greatest observed 3 hr Kp over the past 24 hours was 3 (below NOAA Scale levels). The greatest expected 3 hr Kp for Aug 25-Aug 27 2026 is 4.00 (below NOAA Scale levels). NOAA Kp index breakdown Aug 25-Aug 27 2026 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27 00-03UT 1.33 1.67 1.67 03-06UT 1.67 1.67 1.33 06-09UT 1.33 1.67 1.33 09-12UT 1.00 1.33 1.67 12-15UT 1.67 0.67 2.33 15-18UT 0.67 1.33 2.67 18-21UT 0.67 1.67 4.00 21-00UT 1.33 1.67 4.00 Rationale: No G1 (Minor) or greater geomagnetic storms are expected. No significant transient or recurrent solar wind features are forecast. B. NOAA Solar Radiation Activity Observation and Forecast Solar radiation, as observed by NOAA GOES-18 over the past 24 hours, was below S-scale storm level thresholds. Solar Radiation Storm Forecast for Aug 25-Aug 27 2026 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27 S1 or greater 10% 10% 10% Rationale: A slight chance for S1 (Minor) storms will persist through 27 Aug given the currently level of activity and potential displayed by Region 4513. C. NOAA Radio Blackout Activity and Forecast Radio blackouts reaching the R2 levels were observed over the past 24 hours. The largest was at Aug 25 2026 1002 UTC. Radio Blackout Forecast for Aug 25-Aug 27 2026 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27 R1-R2 55% 55% 55% R3 or greater 10% 10% 10% Rationale: R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) radio blackouts are likely through 27 Aug due to the flare potential currently exhibited by Region 4513. Space Weather Scales |
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| Weekly Highlights and Forecasts | |
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Issued: 2026 Aug 24 0259 UTC
Prepared
by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 17 - 23 August 2026 Solar activity reached moderate levels on 19, 20 and 21 Aug and was at low levels on 17, 18, 22, and 23 Aug. Region 4513 (N04, L=50, class/area Ekc/260 on 22 Aug) was the main contributor of M-class flares, producing four out of the five M-flares observed. The largest, an M8.1/Sf flare that peaked at 20/1142 UTC, had an associated Type II radio sweep (estimated speed of 1201 km/s) and a non-Earth-directed CME. Region 4513 also produced an M1.0 flare at 19/1824 UTC, an M1.8/Sf flare at 20/0805 UTC, and an M2.9/Sf flare at 20/1611 UTC, as well as multiple C-class flares. Region 4507 (N04, L=197, class/area Ehi/300 on 18 Aug) added an M1.6 flare at 21/1017 UTC and multiple C-class flares as well.<o:p></o:p></span> Although proton levels never reached the S1 (Minor) storm threshold, the greater than 10 MeV flux levels at geosynchronous orbit were slightly enhanced between 3-6 pfu on 17-23 Aug. This enhancement was likely associated with an energetic event from at or just beyond the western limb on 21 Aug.<o:p></o:p></span> The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal to moderate levels on 17-20 and 23 Aug, and reached high levels on 21-22 Aug. <o:p></o:p></span> Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet to active levels on 17 Aug, reached G1 (Minor) storm levels on 18-19 Aug, quiet to unsettled on 20-21 Aug, and returned to quiet levels on 22-23 Aug. The elevated conditions on 17-19 Aug were attributed to the flanking influence from a CME that left the Sun on 14 Aug, combined with the onset of a CIR ahead of a negative polarity CH HSS. The slightly elevated activity continued on 20-21 Aug as influence from the negative polarity CH HSS persisted, and then decreased by 22-23 Aug.<o:p></o:p></span> Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 24 August - 19 September 2026 Solar activity is expected to be at low levels, with a chance for M-class flares (R1/R2-Minor/Moderate) and a slight chance for X-class (R3-Strong) flares on 24 Aug - 03 Sep, mainly attributed to the flare activity and magnetic complexity of Region 4513. Activity is then likely to decrease to just a slight chance for M-class flares (R1/R2-Minor/Moderate) from 04 Sep - 19 Sep. There is a slight chance for a greater than 10 MeV proton event on 24 Aug - 03 Sep, mainly attributed to the magnetic complexity of Region 4513. No proton events are expected from 04 Sep - 19 Sep. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 24-27 and 30 Aug, and then again on 16-18 Sep. Normal to moderate levels are expected on 28-29 and 31 Aug, and then from 31 Aug- 15 Sep and 19 Sep, Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be quiet to unsettled throughout the entire period, with a chance for active conditions 28 Aug, and 13-14 Sep, all attributed to coronal hole high speed stream influence. Space Weather Scales |
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| About AIA Images | |
| The Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is designed to provide an unprecedented view of the solar corona, taking images that span at least 1.3 solar diameters in multiple wavelengths nearly simultaneously, at a resolution of ~ 1 arcsec and at a cadence of 10 s or better. The primary goal of the AIA Science Investigation is to use these data, together with data from other SDO instruments and from other observatories, to significantly improve our understanding of the physics behind the activity displayed by the Sun's atmosphere, which drives space weather in the heliosphere and in planetary environments. The AIA will produce data required for quantitative studies of the evolving coronal magnetic field, and the plasma that it holds, both in quiescent phases and during flares and eruptions; the AIA science investigation aims to utilize these data in a comprehensive research program to provide new understanding of the observed processes Left Click Image for screen size, Right Click Image and open in new tab for full size. | |
| Daily Image AIA 171 | |
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| Daily Image AIA 171 PFSS Model | |
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| Daily Image AIA 193 | |
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| Daily Image AIA 304 | |
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| Daily Video AIA 171 | |
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| Daily Video AIA 171 PFSS Model | |
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| Daily Video AIA 193 | |
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| Daily Video AIA 304 | |
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| About the HMI Images | |
| (Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager) HMI is an instrument designed to study oscillations and the magnetic field at the solar surface, or photosphere. HMI is one of three instruments on the Solar Dynamics Observatory; together, the suite of instruments observes the Sun nearly continuously and takes a terabyte of data a day. HMI observes the full solar disk at 6173 Å with a resolution of 1 arcsecond. HMI is a successor to the Michelson Doppler Imager on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory. This is very much how the Sun looks like in the visible range of the spectrum (for example, looking at it using special 'eclipse' glasses: Remember, do not ever look directly at the Sun!). The magnetogram image shows the magnetic field in the solar photosphere, with black and white indicating opposite polarities. Left Click Image for screen size, Right Click Image and open in new tab for full size. | |
| Daily Image HMI Continuum | |
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| Daily Image HMI Magnetogram | |
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| Daily Video HMI Continuum | |
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| Daily Video HMI Magnetogram | |
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| About LASCO Images | |
| LASCO (Large Angle Spectrometric Coronagraph) is able to take images of the solar corona by blocking the light coming directly from the Sun with an occulter disk, creating an artificial eclipse within the instrument itself. The position of the solar disk is indicated in the images by the white circle. The most prominent feature of the corona are usually the coronal streamers, those nearly radial bands that can be seen both in C2 and C3. Occasionally, a coronal mass ejection can be seen being expelled away from the Sun and crossing the fields of view of both coronagraphs. The shadow crossing from the lower left corner to the center of the image is the support for the occulter disk. C2 images show the inner solar corona up to 8.4 million kilometers (5.25 million miles) away from the Sun. C3 images have a larger field of view: They encompass 32 diameters of the Sun. To put this in perspective, the diameter of the images is 45 million kilometers (about 30 million miles) at the distance of the Sun, or half of the diameter of the orbit of Mercury. Many bright stars can be seen behind the Sun. Left Click Image for screen size, Right Click Image and open in new tab for full size. | |
| Combined C2 C3 and AIA 304 | |
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| Log Polar View C2 C3 and AIA 304 | |
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| Combined C2 C3 and AIA 304 Video | |
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| Log Polar View C2 C3 and AIA 304 Video | |
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| Space Weather Videos | |
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| Space Weather Information | |
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Demystifying Space Weather An article by Scientific Frontline Informative information and glossary about “Space Weather” Space weather has become increasingly important in our modern world due to our growing reliance on technology. It can impact various aspects of our daily lives, from communication and navigation systems to power grids and even astronaut safety. In this deep dive, we'll explore the intricacies of space weather, its causes, its effects, and why understanding it is crucial in our technology-dependent society. |
