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| Warnings and Alerts | |
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Issue Time: 2026 Jul 31 1105 UTC
WATCH: Geomagnetic Storm Category G2 Predicted Highest Storm Level Predicted by Day: Jul 31: None (Below G1) Aug 01: None (Below G1) Aug 02: G2 (Moderate) THIS SUPERSEDES ANY/ALL PRIOR WATCHES IN EFFECT Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 55 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude. Induced Currents - Power grid fluctuations can occur. High-latitude power systems may experience voltage alarms. Spacecraft - Satellite orientation irregularities may occur; increased drag on low Earth-orbit satellites is possible. Radio - HF (high frequency) radio propagation can fade at higher latitudes. Aurora - Aurora may be seen as low as New York to Wisconsin to Washington state. Space Weather Scales |
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| Current Condition and Alerts | |
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Issued: 2026 Aug 01 1205 UTC
Prepared
by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Geophysical Alert Message Solar-terrestrial indices for 31 July follow. Solar flux 148 and estimated planetary A-index 5. The estimated planetary K-index at 1200 UTC on 01 August was 0.67. Space weather for the past 24 hours has been minor. Solar radiation storms reaching the S1 level occurred. Space weather for the next 24 hours is predicted to be moderate. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G2 level are likely. Space Weather Scales |
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| Forecast Discussion | |
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Issued: 2026 Aug 01 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. Region 4499 (N04W15, Cai/beta) produced the strongest flare of the period, a C1.7/Sf flare at 31/1357 UTC. Region 4501 (S07W20, Dao/beta) exhibited some areal growth. The remaining regions on the visible disk were either mostly stable or in gradual decay. No Earth-directed CMEs were observed in available coronagraph imagery. .Forecast... Solar activity is expected to be low with a chance for M-class flares (R1-R2, Minor-Moderate) over 01-03 Aug. Energetic Particle .24 hr Summary... The greater than 2 MeV electron flux was at normal to moderate levels. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux returned to the S1 (Minor) storm level at 31/1335 UTC and remained there until 31/1740 UTC. Current levels remain elevated but below the 10 pfu (S1) threshold. .Forecast... The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is likely to remain at normal to moderate levels over the next three days. There remains a chance for S1 (Minor) solar radiation storms over 01-02 Aug. Solar Wind .24 hr Summary... Solar wind parameters were at near-background levels. Total magnetic field strength reached 6 nT. No significant periods of Bz south were observed. Solar wind speeds remained below ~335 km/s. Phi angle was predominantly oriented in the positive solar sector. .Forecast... Solar wind parameters are likely to continue near nominal levels until 02 Aug, when an enhancement from a CME that left the Sun on 30 Jul passes by Earth. Enhancements are likely to continue on 03 Aug as CME effects persist. Geospace .24 hr Summary... The geomagnetic field was quiet. .Forecast... Mostly quiet to unsettled conditions are likely over 01 Aug. G1-G2 (Minor-Moderate) storm levels are likely on 02 Aug with the anticipated arrival of a CME that left the Sun on 30 Jul. Enhanced conditions are likely to persist into 03 Aug as CME effects wane. Space Weather Scales |
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| Three Day Forecast | |
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Issued: 2026 Aug 01 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 01-Aug 03 2026 is 5.67 (NOAA Scale G2). NOAA Kp index breakdown Aug 01-Aug 03 2026 Aug 01 Aug 02 Aug 03 00-03UT 1.00 4.00 3.33 03-06UT 1.00 4.33 4.00 06-09UT 1.33 5.67 (G2) 3.00 09-12UT 0.67 4.33 2.33 12-15UT 2.00 5.00 (G1) 3.00 15-18UT 1.67 3.00 1.00 18-21UT 2.33 1.67 1.00 21-00UT 3.33 1.67 0.67 Rationale: G1-G2 (Minor-Moderate) geomagnetic storms are likely over 02 Aug due to anticipated effects from the arrival of a CME that left the Sun on 30 Jul. B. NOAA Solar Radiation Activity Observation and Forecast Solar radiation, as observed by NOAA GOES-18 over the past 24 hours, was above S-scale storm level thresholds. Solar Radiation Storm Forecast for Aug 01-Aug 03 2026 Aug 01 Aug 02 Aug 03 S1 or greater 25% 25% 5% Rationale: A decreasing chance for S1 (Minor) solar radiation storms is forecast over 01-03 Aug. C. NOAA Radio Blackout Activity and Forecast No radio blackouts were observed over the past 24 hours. Radio Blackout Forecast for Aug 01-Aug 03 2026 Aug 01 Aug 02 Aug 03 R1-R2 35% 35% 35% R3 or greater 5% 5% 5% Rationale: There exists a chance for R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) radio blackouts over 01-03 Aug. Space Weather Scales |
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| Weekly Highlights and Forecasts | |
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Issued: 2026 Jul 27 0325 UTC
Prepared
by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 20 - 26 July 2026 Solar activity was at low to R1 (Minor) levels this period. A total of 54 C-class and 6 R1 (Minor) events were observed. The largest, and most complex spot group, was Region 4493 (N06, L=158, class/area Eki/440 on 23 Jul). This region produced a total of 42 C-class and 5 M-class events, the largest an M3.6 at 22/0635 UTC. A 200 sfu 10 cm Burst was associated with this event. Region 4494 (S04, L=088, class/area Dac/120 on 26 Jul) produced the other R1 (Minor) event, an M3.2 at 26/1528 UTC. Associated with this event was a Type II Sweep with an estimated shock velocity of 1,057 km/s. No other significant activity was observed. No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at high levels on 20 and 26 Jul with the high value of 1,300 pfu observed at 20/1645 UTC. Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet to G1 (Minor) levels. Quiet levels were observed on 20 Jul. Levels increased to unsettled to active on 21 Jul to early on 24 Jul, with isolated G1 (Minor) levels observed late on 23 Jul. This activity was due to effects from a negative polarity CH HSS. Quiet conditions were observed most of 24 Jul and 25-26 Jul. Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 27 July - 22 August 2026 Solar activity is expected to be at mostly low levels with a chance for moderate R1 (Minor) levels throughout the outlook period. 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 27 Jul, 02-03 Aug, 06-09 Aug, 12-16 Aug, and 22 Aug. The remainder of the outlook period is expected to be at normal to moderate levels. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled to active levels on 27-28 Jul due to potential weak CME effects. Unsettled to active levels are expected on 29-31 Jul, 04-07 Aug, 11-12 Aug, and 17-20 Aug with isolated G1 (Minor) levels possible on 19 Aug. This level of activity is due to recurrent CH HSS effects. Mostly quiet levels are expected for 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. |
