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| Warnings and Alerts | |
| No Current Warnings Space Weather Scales | |
| Current Condition and Alerts | |
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Issued: 2026 May 06 1205 UTC
Prepared
by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Geophysical Alert Message Solar-terrestrial indices for 05 May follow. Solar flux 128 and estimated planetary A-index 12. The estimated planetary K-index at 1200 UTC on 06 May 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 May 06 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. Occasional low-level C-class flaring was observed from Region 4425 (N06W82, Hsx/alpha), with isolated flaring noted from the remaining regions. There are currently six numbered regions on the visible disk. Most regions showed various stages of decay and consolidation. Region 4429 (S05W40, Cso/beta) exhibited minor decay, particularly in the trailing spots. Region 4431 (S16W08, Eso/beta) showed notable submergence, particularly within its trailing spots which lost all penumbra as the region simplifies toward a unipolar state. Region 4432 (N13E05, Cso/beta) experienced minor decay in its intermediary spots following a recent growth phase. Region 4433 (S16E36, Dso/beta) showed consolidation within its leading spot group alongside decay and a near-total loss of penumbra in its trailing spots. All other regions were stable. No Earth-directed CMEs were observed in available coronagraph imagery. .Forecast... Solar activity is expected to be at low levels through 08 May, with a chance for isolated M-class flares (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate), primarily due to Region 4429 and an active region (likely old Region 4419) near L=330 (seen in Solar Orbiter imagery and expected to rotate into view on 08 May). Energetic Particle .24 hr Summary... The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at low to moderate levels, with a peak flux of 337 pfu observed at 05/1520 UTC. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux remained at background levels. .Forecast... The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is expected to remain at low to moderate levels on 06–07 May with the transition back toward a slow solar wind regime. An increase to high levels is expected by 08 May due to the anticipated onset of a positive polarity coronal hole high-speed stream (+CH HSS). The greater than 10 MeV proton flux is expected to remain at background levels through 08 May. Solar Wind .24 hr Summary... Solar wind parameters reflected the continued passage of a slow-moving CME that initially arrived at approximately 04/1200 UTC. Total magnetic field (Bt) was sustained near 10–11 nT early in the period, then decreased to 5 nT, while the North-South component (Bz) initially ranged -7 nT and -10 nT. A gradual rotation was observed early in the period, with Bz recovering toward near-zero and turning northward by 05/0600 UTC. Bz briefly strengthened to 10 nT around 05/1400 UTC. Solar wind speed steadily declined throughout the day, decreasing from approximately 450 km/s to 350 km/s. The phi angle switched from a negative to positive orientation at ~06/0500 UTC. .Forecast... Solar wind parameters are expected to continue declining toward nominal background levels on 06 May. Minor enhancements are possible due to potential glancing influences from a CME that departed the Sun on 30 April, though confidence in this impact is low. On 07 May, a solar sector boundary crossing is anticipated, followed by the onset of a +CH HSS that is expected to persist through 08 May. Geospace .24 hr Summary... The geomagnetic field started the reporting period at G1 (Minor) storming levels. Following the storming, the field experienced a single unsettled period before returning to quiet levels for the remainder of the period. .Forecast... The geomagnetic field is anticipated to be at mostly quiet to unsettled levels on 06 May as CME influences wane, though isolated active periods remain possible due to the low-confidence 30 April CME. Active conditions are likely on 07 and 08 May following the onset of the +CH HSS, with isolated G1 (Minor) storming periods possible. Space Weather Scales |
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| Three Day Forecast | |
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Issued: 2026 May 06 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 May 06-May 08 2026 is 4.33 (below NOAA Scale levels). NOAA Kp index breakdown May 06-May 08 2026 May 06 May 07 May 08 00-03UT 0.67 3.33 4.00 03-06UT 0.67 3.00 3.67 06-09UT 0.67 2.33 3.33 09-12UT 1.00 1.33 3.00 12-15UT 1.67 2.33 2.33 15-18UT 2.33 3.00 2.33 18-21UT 2.00 3.67 3.33 21-00UT 2.67 4.33 3.67 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-19 over the past 24 hours, was below S-scale storm level thresholds. Solar Radiation Storm Forecast for May 06-May 08 2026 May 06 May 07 May 08 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 May 06-May 08 2026 May 06 May 07 May 08 R1-R2 25% 25% 35% R3 or greater 1% 1% 5% Rationale: There is an increasing chance for isolated R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) radio blackouts on 06-08 May, primarily due to Region 4429 and an active region (likely old Region 4419) near L=330 (seen in Solar Orbiter imagery and expected to rotate into view on 08 May). Space Weather Scales |
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| Weekly Highlights and Forecasts | |
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Issued: 2026 May 04 0142 UTC
Prepared
by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 27 April - 03 May 2026 Solar activity reached moderate levels on 27 and 18 Apr due to M-class (R1-Minor) activity from Region 4425 (N05, L=162, class/area=Ekc/320 on 28 Apr) and 4420 (S18, L=246, class/area=Eki/300 on 21 Sep). Region 4420 produced the strongest flare of the period, an M1.5/Sn (R1) flare at 28/1353 UTC. The region also produced two Type II radio sweeps alongside C-class activity. The ejecta associated with the activity originated from near the NW limb and was not suspected to contain an Earth-directed component. The other 13 numbered active regions on the visible disk were either mostly quiet or only produced C-class X-ray activity. No other Earth-directed CMEs were identified in available coronagraph imagery. No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was normal to moderate levels over the past seven days. Geomagnetic field activity reached G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm levels on 30 Apr and active levels on 01 May due to influence from a negative polarity CH HSS. Total magnetic field strength reached a brief peak of 14 nT on 30 Apr, with Bz reaching as far south as -12 nT. Solar wind speeds peak at just over 500 km/s early on 01 May and gradually waned over the next two days. The remainder of the period was at quiet to unsettled levels. Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 04 May - 30 May 2026 Solar activity is likely to be at low levels with a chance for M-Class (R1/R2-Minor/Moderate) throughout the outlook period due to the flare potential of multiple regions on the visible disk as well as multiple complex regions due to return from the Sun's farside. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is likely to reach high levels on 15-20 May due to influence from a recurrent, negative polarity coronal hole. The remainder of the outlook period is expected to at normal to moderate levels. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to reach G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm levels on 15-17 May; active levels are likely on 08 May, 18 May, 23 May, and 27 May; unsettled levels are likely on 04 May, 09 May, 21-22 May, and 27 May. All enhancements in geomagnetic activity are forecast in anticipation of influence fron multiple, recurrent, coronal hole HSSs. The remainder of the outlook period is expected 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 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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