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| Warnings and Alerts | |
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Issue Time: 2026 Apr 07 0500 UTC
CONTINUED ALERT: Electron 2MeV Integral Flux exceeded 1000pfu Continuation of Serial Number: 3667 Begin Time: 2026 Apr 03 0920 UTC Yesterday Maximum 2MeV Flux: 6075 pfu Potential Impacts: Satellite systems may experience significant charging resulting in increased risk to satellite systems. Space Weather Scales |
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| Current Condition and Alerts | |
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Issued: 2026 Apr 07 1205 UTC
Prepared
by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Geophysical Alert Message Solar-terrestrial indices for 06 April follow. Solar flux 116 and estimated planetary A-index 10. The estimated planetary K-index at 1200 UTC on 07 April was 1.00. No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours. No space weather storms are predicted for the next 24 hours. Space Weather Scales |
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| Forecast Discussion | |
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Issued: 2026 Apr 07 1230 UTC
Prepared
by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Solar Activity .24 hr Summary... Solar activity was at low levels during the reporting period with C-class flaring limited to events from Region 4404 (N14W79, Hsx/alpha) as it approached the western limb. There are currently six numbered sunspot groups on the visible disk. Region 4411 (S06, L=111) decayed to plage, though a new unnumbered region emerged to the east of its former location. Region 4409 (N01W58, Dai/beta-gamma) underwent a period of structural consolidation; while the total number of individual spots decreased as they merged into larger cores, the group continued to exhibit persistent flux emergence and developed a mixed-polarity gamma configuration. Similarly, Region 4408 (N08W59, Dsi/beta-gamma) experienced the rapid emergence of new leading spots, subsequently developing its own gamma configuration. The remaining regions on the disk were either stable or in a state of gradual decline. No Earth-directed CMEs were observed in available coronagraph imagery. .Forecast... Solar activity is expected to be at low levels over 07-09 Apr, with a chance for M-class (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate) flares and a slight chance for an X-class (R3/Strong or greater) flares, driven primarily by the flare potential of Region 4409. Energetic Particle .24 hr Summary... The greater than 2 MeV electron flux was at high levels with a peak flux of 6,075 pfu at 06/1700 UTC. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux was at background levels. .Forecast... The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is expected to continue to reach high levels 07-09 Apr. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux is expected to remain at background levels. Solar Wind .24 hr Summary... Solar wind parameters reflected the transition out of a waning negative polarity CH HSS. Wind speeds continued to decline from a peak of ~580 km/s to near 400 km/s by the end of the period. A Sector Boundary Crossing was observed as the phi angle shifted from a a predominantly negative (towards) orientation to a more variable but predominantly positive (away) orientation. Total magnetic field (Bt) averaged around 4 nT while the North-South (Bz) component reached a maximum southward deflection of -3 nT before remaining mostly northward later in the period. .Forecast... Solar wind parameters are anticipated to remain somewhat enhanced through 07 Apr before returning to nominal, quiet-wind state conditions on 08-09 Apr. Geospace .24 hr Summary... The geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels under waning negative polarity CH HSS influences. .Forecast... The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels for the remainder of 07 Apr, while mostly quiet levels with isolated unsettled periods are forecasted for 08-09 Apr as the solar wind environment stabilizes at nominal levels. Space Weather Scales |
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| Three Day Forecast | |
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Issued: 2026 Apr 07 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 Apr 07-Apr 09 2026 is 3.33 (below NOAA Scale levels). NOAA Kp index breakdown Apr 07-Apr 09 2026 Apr 07 Apr 08 Apr 09 00-03UT 3.33 3.33 3.33 03-06UT 2.00 3.33 3.00 06-09UT 2.00 1.67 1.67 09-12UT 2.67 1.33 1.00 12-15UT 2.33 2.00 0.67 15-18UT 2.33 2.00 1.33 18-21UT 1.67 1.67 1.33 21-00UT 1.33 2.67 1.67 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 Apr 07-Apr 09 2026 Apr 07 Apr 08 Apr 09 S1 or greater 5% 5% 5% Rationale: There is less than a slight chance for the greater than 10 MeV proton flux to exceed S1 (Minor) solar radiation storm levels 07-09 Apr. C. NOAA Radio Blackout Activity and Forecast No radio blackouts were observed over the past 24 hours. Radio Blackout Forecast for Apr 07-Apr 09 2026 Apr 07 Apr 08 Apr 09 R1-R2 30% 30% 35% R3 or greater 5% 5% 10% Rationale: There is a chance for R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) radio blackouts, with a slight chance for R3 (Strong) or greater events 07-09 Apr. Space Weather Scales |
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| Weekly Highlights and Forecasts | |
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Issued: 2026 Apr 06 0211 UTC
Prepared
by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 30 March - 05 April 2026 Solar activity reached high levels on 30 Mar and 04 Apr, moderate levels on 02-03 Apr, with low levels observed on 31 Mar, 01 Apr, and 5 Apr. Region 4409 (N02, L=156, class/area=Eai/170 on 04 Apr) was the most active of the period, producing 50 C-class flares and six M-class flares. Region 4405 (S27, L=220, class/area=Eai/220 on 02 Apr) added the strongest flare of the period, an X1.4/Sf flare, on 30 Mar at 0319 UTC. Accompanying the flare was a Type II radio sweep (estimated velocity 1872 km/s) and a partial halo CME first seen in LASCO C2 imagery at 30/0312 UTC. Expected impacts from this CME were on 01 Apr. Region 4409 also produced a C8.1 flare at 01/1958 UTC. Accompanying this flare was a filament eruption and subsequent CME that had a likely Earth-directed trajectory with impacts likely felt on 03-04 Apr. Slightly elevated proton levels were observed from 01-05 Apr, but conditions remained below alert thresholds throughout the period. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels throughout most of the period of 30 Mar - 05 Apr, with a peak flux value of 6,000 pfu observed at 05/1645 UTC. The only exception was on 02 Apr when conditions dropped to moderate levels for that 24 hour reporting period. Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to G3 (Strong) storm levels during the 30 Mar - 05 Apr period. Quiet to unsettled levels were observed on 30 Mar - 01 Apr, and most of 05 Apr (aside from an isolated active period at the beginning of the UT day). Conditions increased to active to G2 (Moderate) levels on 02 Apr following the onset of a negative polarity coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS). Conditions remained at active to G1 (Minor) levels through midday on 03 Apr when they increased to G3 (Strong) levels with the arrival of the anticipated CME from 01 Apr (C8.1 flare and filament eruption). Conditions then decreased to G1 levels to start 04 Apr, before decreasing to quiet to active conditions lasting through 05 Apr. Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 06 April - 02 May 2026 Solar activity is expected to be at low levels, with a varying chance for M-class (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate) flares, and a slight chance for X-Class (R3/Strong) flares from 06 Apr through 02 May. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit, barring any significant, non-recurrent solar activity. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach high levels on 06-09 Apr, 11-16 Apr, and 18 Apr-02 May. Normal to moderate flux levels are expected on 10 and 17 Apr. Geomagnetic field activity is anticipated to reach G1/G2 (Minor/Moderate) geomagnetic storm levels on 18-19, and 29 Apr due to the influence of negative polarity CH HSS (-CH HSS). Periods of G1 (Minor) storming are likely on 04 April in response to a negative polarity CH HSS (-CH HSS). Unsettled to Active levels are expected on 06-07 Apr, 20-22 Apr, and 30 Apr, as well as 01-02 May associated with negative polarity CH HSS effects. On 10-13 and 25-26 April, positive polarity CH HSS influences are expected to bump geomagnetic conditions to unsettled to active levels. Mostly quiet levels are expected during all other days of the period. 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. |
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