|
|
| Warnings and Alerts | |
|
Issue Time: 2026 Aug 31 0858 UTC
WARNING: Geomagnetic K-index of 4 expected Valid From: 2026 Aug 31 0858 UTC Valid To: 2026 Aug 31 1500 UTC Warning Conditions: Onset Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 65 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude. Induced Currents - Weak power grid fluctuations can occur. Aurora - Aurora may be visible at high latitudes such as Canada and Alaska. Space Weather Scales |
|
| Current Condition and Alerts | |
|
Issued: 2026 Aug 31 1205 UTC
Prepared
by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Geophysical Alert Message Solar-terrestrial indices for 30 August follow. Solar flux 107 and estimated planetary A-index 15. The estimated planetary K-index at 1200 UTC on 31 August was 3.33. 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 |
|
| Forecast Discussion | |
|
Issued: 2026 Aug 31 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. X-ray activity was limited to low-level C-class events. Region 4520 (S12W01, Dro/beta) exhibited minor growth, and new Region 4521 (N09E75, Hax/alpha) was numbered. The remaining regions were either stable or in decay. No Earth-directed CMEs were observed in available coronagraph imagery. .Forecast... Solar activity is expected to reach low levels with a slight chance for M-class (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate) activity over 31 Aug - 02 Sep. Energetic Particle .24 hr Summary... The greater than 2 MeV electron flux increased to high levels late this period. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux was at background levels. .Forecast... The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is expected to reach high levels on 31 Aug - 02 Sep. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux is expected to continue at background levels through 02 Sep. Solar Wind .24 hr Summary... Solar wind parameters remained mildly enhanced as positive polarity CH HSS influences waned. Total magnetic field strength reached a peak of 6 nT, while the Bz component reached as far south as -6 nT. Solar wind speeds ranged between ~425-500 km/s. The phi angle was predominately positive. .Forecast... Solar wind conditions are expected to return to ambient levels on 31 Aug, and persist through 02 Sep. Geospace .24 hr Summary... The geomagnetic field reached active levels due to waning positive polarity CH HSS influences. .Forecast... Periods of active conditions are expected on 31 Aug as positive polarity CH HSS influences wane. Mostly quiet conditions are likely over 01-02 Sep. Space Weather Scales |
|
| Three Day Forecast | |
|
Issued: 2026 Aug 31 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 31-Sep 02 2026 is 3.67 (below NOAA Scale levels). NOAA Kp index breakdown Aug 31-Sep 02 2026 Aug 31 Sep 01 Sep 02 00-03UT 3.00 1.67 1.67 03-06UT 3.33 1.67 1.67 06-09UT 3.33 1.67 1.67 09-12UT 3.33 1.33 1.33 12-15UT 3.67 1.33 1.33 15-18UT 1.67 0.67 0.67 18-21UT 0.67 1.33 1.33 21-00UT 1.67 1.67 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 Aug 31-Sep 02 2026 Aug 31 Sep 01 Sep 02 S1 or greater 1% 1% 1% Rationale: No S1 (Minor) or greater solar radiation storms are expected. 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 Aug 31-Sep 02 2026 Aug 31 Sep 01 Sep 02 R1-R2 10% 10% 10% R3 or greater 1% 1% 1% Rationale: There is a slight chance for R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) radio blackouts on 31 Aug - 02 Sep. Space Weather Scales |
|
| Weekly Highlights and Forecasts | |
|
Issued: 2026 Aug 31 0155 UTC
Prepared
by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 24 - 30 August 2026 Solar activity was at very low to low levels from 27-30 Aug, reached R1 (Minor) levels on 24 and 26 Aug, and peaked at R2 (Moderate) levels on 25 Aug. Region 4513 (N04, L=54, class/area Ekc/310 on 25 Aug) was responsible for all seven of the M-class (R1/R2-Minor/Moderate) flares throughout the period. The largest event was an M6.9/1b (R2) flare that peaked at 25/1002 UTC. This flare was accompanied by a Type II radio sweep, estimated speed of 603 km/s, a 160 sfu F10.7 cm radio burst, and a CME first observed in LASCO C2 imagery at ~25/1100 UTC. Analysis of the CME indicated possible impacts at Earth on 28 Aug. Region 4513 also produced an M2.2/1b flare at 26/034 UTC that had a corresponding Type II radio sweep, estimated speed of 930 km/s, and a potentially Earth-directed CME. Analysis indicated the likely arrive window for the CMEs was on 28-29 Aug. Region 4315 also contributed 14 C-class flares throughout the period. No proton events exceeding the S1 (Minor) alert threshold were observed at geosynchronous orbit. However, flux levels were elevated to near 7 nT and remained elevated from 24-26 Aug, after which they returned to near background conditions. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was high levels from 24-28 Aug, then returned to normal to moderate levels from 29-30 Aug. Geomagnetic field activity was at unsettled levels on 24 Aug, quiet levels on 25-27 Aug, and reached active levels on 28-30 Aug under positive polarity coronal hole high speed stream influence. Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 31 August - 26 September 2026 Solar activity is expected to be at very low to low levels, with a chance for moderate levels and a slight chance for high levels throughout the forecast period. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 31 Aug - 06 Sep, then again from 16-23 Sep. Levels are expected to be at normal to moderate levels from 07 - 15 Sep, and again from 24-26 Sep. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to decrease from unsettled levels on 31 Aug to mostly quiet levels from 01-11 Sep and again from 17-23 Sep. Unsettled to active conditions are expected from 12-16 Sep due to negtive polarity CH HSS influence, then again from 24-26 Sep under positive polarity CH HSS influence. Space Weather Scales |
|
| 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 | |
 |
|
| Daily Image AIA 171 PFSS Model | |
 |
|
| Daily Image AIA 193 | |
 |
|
| Daily Image AIA 304 | |
 |
|
| Daily Video AIA 171 | |
 |
|
| Daily Video AIA 171 PFSS Model | |
 |
|
| Daily Video AIA 193 | |
 |
|
| Daily Video AIA 304 | |
 |
|
| 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 | |
 |
|
| Daily Image HMI Magnetogram | |
 |
|
| Daily Video HMI Continuum | |
 |
|
| Daily Video HMI Magnetogram | |
 |
|
| 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 | |
 |
|
| Log Polar View C2 C3 and AIA 304 | |
 |
|
| Combined C2 C3 and AIA 304 Video | |
 |
|
| Log Polar View C2 C3 and AIA 304 Video | |
 |
|
| Space Weather Videos | |
|
|
|
| Space Weather Information | |
|
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. |
