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| Warnings and Alerts | |
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| Current Condition and Alerts | |
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Issued: 2026 Jul 17 1205 UTC
Prepared
by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Geophysical Alert Message Solar-terrestrial indices for 16 July follow. Solar flux 101 and estimated planetary A-index 7. The estimated planetary K-index at 1200 UTC on 17 July was 1.33. 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 Jul 17 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. The largest flare of the period was a C5.2 at 16/2135 UTC from an area around the SE limb. Region 4490 (N15E17, Bxo/beta) decayed nearly to plage while the remaining three regions were largely stable throughout the period. No Earth-directed CMEs were detected in available coronagraph imagery. .Forecast... Solar activity is expected to reach low levels on 17-19 Jul, with a chance for M-class flares (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate). Energetic Particle .24 hr Summary... The greater than 2 MeV electron flux reached high levels with a peak of 1,550 pfu at 16/2050 UTC. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux was steady at background levels. .Forecast... The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is expected to reach high levels on 17-19 Jul. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux is expected to persist at background levels through 19 Jul. Solar Wind .24 hr Summary... Solar wind parameters were at predominantly nominal levels. Total magnetic field strength averaged 5 nT, while the Bz component ranged between +2/-6 nT. Solar wind speeds steadily decreased throughout the period, beginning at approximately 460 km/s and finishing around 400 km/s. The phi angle was mostly positive throughout the period. .Forecast... The solar wind environment is expected to be slightly enhanced over the remainder of 17 Jul and into 18 Jul with positive polarity CH HSS influences. Background conditions are likely to prevail on 19 Jul. Geospace .24 hr Summary... The geomagnetic field was quiet. .Forecast... The geomagnetic field is likely to be at quiet and unsettled levels on 17-18 Jul under weak positive polarity CH HSS influences. Mostly quiet conditions are likely to prevail on 19 Jul. Space Weather Scales |
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| Three Day Forecast | |
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Issued: 2026 Jul 17 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 Jul 17-Jul 19 2026 is 3.00 (below NOAA Scale levels). NOAA Kp index breakdown Jul 17-Jul 19 2026 Jul 17 Jul 18 Jul 19 00-03UT 1.00 2.33 1.67 03-06UT 1.33 3.00 2.00 06-09UT 0.67 1.67 1.67 09-12UT 1.67 1.67 1.33 12-15UT 1.67 1.00 0.67 15-18UT 1.67 1.00 0.67 18-21UT 2.00 2.00 1.67 21-00UT 2.00 2.33 1.67 Rationale: No G1 (Minor) or greater geomagnetic storms are expected through 19 Jul. 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 Jul 17-Jul 19 2026 Jul 17 Jul 18 Jul 19 S1 or greater 1% 1% 1% Rationale: No S1 (Minor) or greater solar radiation storms are expected through 19 Jul. No significant active region activity favorable for radiation storm production is forecast. C. NOAA Radio Blackout Activity and Forecast No radio blackouts were observed over the past 24 hours. Radio Blackout Forecast for Jul 17-Jul 19 2026 Jul 17 Jul 18 Jul 19 R1-R2 25% 25% 25% R3 or greater 1% 1% 1% Rationale: There is a chance for R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) radio blackouts through 19 Jul. Space Weather Scales |
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| Weekly Highlights and Forecasts | |
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Issued: 2026 Jul 13 0507 UTC
Prepared
by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 06 - 12 July 2026 Solar activity ranged from low to moderate levels (R1-Minor). Region 4482 (S09, L=296, class/area=Eki/420 on 08 Jul) produced the strongest flare of the reporting period, an M4.01/1b flare at 07/1419 UTC. Type II (est. 593 km/s) and Type IV radio sweeps were associated with the event. Subsequent coronagraph imagery only contained a faint identifiable CME signature in STEREO-A COR2 imagery. No Earth-directed component was identified in the analysis of the event. An additional Type II sweep (est. 1,441 km/s) was on 07 Jul at 07/2256 UTC and associated with an eruptive event on the W limb. Near that time, near the Sun's E limb (N18E75), a large filament eruption (~15 degrees) was observed beginning around 07/2116 UTC in SUVI 304 imagery. The subsequent CME was analyzed and determined to not be Earth-directed. The region only produced two other M-class flares, an M1.5/1n flare at 08/1756 UTC and an M1.1/Sf at 09/0227 UTC during its transit across the visible disk. Region 4485 (S10, L=353, class/area=Dac/180 on 11 Jul) produced a CME on 09 Jul, associated with a C2.7 flare at 09/0713 UTC, that was analyzed and modeled. The results suggested influence from the CME should be observed at Earth on 12 Jul. Other activity from this region included a Type II radio sweep on 12 Jul, with the associated CME likely to pass by Earth on 16 Jul. No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at high levels on 06-07 Jul following influence from combined effects of a CME and positive polarity CH HSS. High levels were again observed on 10-12 Jul following influence from a negative polarity CH HSS. Moderate levels were observed on 08-09 Jul. Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet to unsettled levels on 06-08 Jul. Influence of a negative polarity CH HSS increased wind speeds to over 600 km/s 09 Jul and through 10 Jul. This resulted in periods of active conditions. Quiet conditions were observed on 11 Jul as solar winds steadily decreased. G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm conditions were observed on 12 Jul due to the passage of a mild CME that left the Sun on 09 Jul. Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 13 July - 08 August 2026 Solar activity is expected to be at low levels, with a chance for M-class activity (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate), over the outlook period due to multiple complex active regions both on the visible disk and the return of significantly complex regions from the Sun's farside. 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 13-14 Jul, 24-27 Jul, and 06-08 Aug due to the anticipated influence of multiple, recurrent coronal holes. Normal to moderate levels are likely throughout the remainder of the outlook period. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to range from quiet to active levels. Active levels are likely over 13-14 Jul, 16 Jul due to potential CME influence and again on 22 Jul, 01 Aug, And 04-05 Aug due to anticipated coronal hole influence. Unsettled level are likely on 15 Jul, 23 Jul, 02 Aug, and 06 Aug. The remainder of the outlook period is likely to be at mostly quiet levels. 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 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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