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| Warnings and Alerts | |
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Issue Time: 2026 Aug 23 0921 UTC
CONTINUED ALERT: Electron 2MeV Integral Flux exceeded 1,000pfu Continuation of Serial Number: 3725 Begin Time: 2026 Aug 21 1105 UTC Yesterday Maximum 2MeV Flux: 1000 pfu Max time: 2026 Aug 23 0915 UTC Space Weather Scales |
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| Current Condition and Alerts | |
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Issued: 2026 Aug 23 1205 UTC
Prepared
by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Geophysical Alert Message Solar-terrestrial indices for 22 August follow. Solar flux 124 and estimated planetary A-index 4. The estimated planetary K-index at 1200 UTC on 23 August was 2.00. 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 Aug 23 1230 UTC
Prepared
by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Solar Activity .24 hr Summary... Solar activity remained at low levels. Region 4513 (N04E32, Eai/beta-gamma) produced multiple C-flares, the largest being a C4.1/Sf at 23/0653 UTC, and remained stable throughout the period. Region 4517 (N10E18, Cao/beta) exhibited minor growth, while Regions 4508 (N08, L=166) and 4511 (S09, L=148) decayed to plage. Other activity included an area of coronal dimming near S20E04 at 22/2030 UTC, but no associated CME was detected in coronagraph imagery. At around 22/0030 UTC, a filament lifted off near N40E45, and produced a narrow CME that is well north of the Sun-Earth line. No Earth-directed CMEs were detected in available coronagraph imagery. .Forecast... Solar activity is expected to be at low levels, with a chance for M-flares (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate) and a slight chance for an X-flare (R3/Strong or greater) over 23-25 Aug. Energetic Particle .24 hr Summary... The greater than 2 MeV electron flux reached high levels. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux remained elevated, ranging from 2-5 pfu throughout the period. .Forecast... The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is expected to reach high levels on 23-25 Aug. There is a chance for the greater than 10 MeV proton flux to reach S1 (Minor) levels on 23 Aug, and a slight chance on 24-25 Aug. Solar Wind .24 hr Summary... The solar wind environment remained at background levels. Total magnetic field strength ranged between 3-6 nT, and the Bz component varied +/-4 nT. Solar wind speeds were steady between 400-460 km/s throughout the period. The phi angle was predominately negative. .Forecast... Background solar wind conditions are expected to prevail over 23-25 Aug. Geospace .24 hr Summary... The geomagnetic field was at quiet levels under an ambient solar wind environment. .Forecast... The geomagnetic field is expected to continue at mostly quiet levels over 23-25 Aug. Space Weather Scales |
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| Three Day Forecast | |
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Issued: 2026 Aug 23 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 2 (below NOAA Scale levels). The greatest expected 3 hr Kp for Aug 23-Aug 25 2026 is 2.00 (below NOAA Scale levels). NOAA Kp index breakdown Aug 23-Aug 25 2026 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25 00-03UT 0.67 1.67 1.67 03-06UT 2.00 1.67 1.67 06-09UT 1.67 1.67 1.33 09-12UT 2.00 1.33 1.33 12-15UT 1.33 0.67 1.33 15-18UT 1.33 1.33 1.33 18-21UT 1.67 1.67 1.67 21-00UT 1.67 1.67 1.33 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 23-Aug 25 2026 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25 S1 or greater 25% 10% 10% Rationale: There is a chance for the greater than 10 MeV proton flux to reach S1 (Minor) levels on 23 Aug, and a slight chance on 24-25 Aug. C. NOAA Radio Blackout Activity and Forecast No radio blackouts were observed over the past 24 hours. Radio Blackout Forecast for Aug 23-Aug 25 2026 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25 R1-R2 45% 45% 45% R3 or greater 10% 10% 10% Rationale: There is a chance for R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) radio blackouts, and a slight chance for an R3 (Strong) or greater event, over 23-25 Aug. Space Weather Scales |
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| Weekly Highlights and Forecasts | |
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Issued: 2026 Aug 17 0058 UTC
Prepared
by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 10 - 16 August 2026 Solar activity ranged from very low to low levels throughout the period. No R1 (Minor) or greater events were observed. The largest flare was a C8.2/Sn at 16/1928 UTC from Region 4506 (N12, L=215, class/area=Dao/100 on 16 Aug). An associated CME was observed in LASCO C2 imagery following the C8.2 flare, but analysis is ongoing in order to determine any Earth-directed component. Other activity included the lift-off of avlarge filament near S16E22 at 14/0332 UTC which produced a CME that is expected to arrive on 17-18 Aug. No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was normal to moderate levels throughout the period. Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet or quiet to unsettled levels throughout the period. Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 17 August - 12 September 2026 Solar activity is expected to range from very low to low levels throughout the outlook period, with a slight chance for an R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) event. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach high levels on 19-20, 23-24, and 28 Aug. Normal to moderate levels are expected to prevail throughout the remainder of the outlook period. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to reach active levels on 17-18 Aug due to the anticipated arrival of a CME that left the Sun on 14 Aug. Active conditions are expected again on 21-22 Aug and 04 Sep due to the influences of a CH HSS. Quiet and quiet to unsettled conditions are expected to prevail throughout the remainder of the outlook 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. |
