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| Warnings and Alerts | |
| No Current Warnings Space Weather Scales | |
| Current Condition and Alerts | |
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Issued: 2026 Jul 29 1210 UTC
Prepared
by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Geophysical Alert Message Solar-terrestrial indices for 28 July follow. Solar flux 143 and estimated planetary A-index 8. The estimated planetary K-index at 1200 UTC on 29 July was 1.67. 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 29 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. Only low level C-class flares were observed, mostly from Region 4498 (N14E56, Dai/beta). Slight growth was observed in Regions 4498 and 4499 (N04E26, Dro/beta). New region 4500 (N18E64, Bxo/beta) emerged and was numbered. The rest of the spotted regions were either stable or slowly decaying. A CME that was first seen in LASCO coronagraph imagery at approximately 27/2348 UTC appeared to be related to a C3.3 flare from Region 4494 (S03W34, Hsx/alpha) as evidenced by observed ejecta in GOES SUVI 304 imagery at 21/2249 UTC. Modeling of this event, when combined with CMEs from 26 and 27 July, indicated a relatively weak arrival signature at Earth on 01 Aug. .Forecast... Solar activity is expected to be low with a chance for M-class flares (R1-R2, Minor-Moderate) through 31 Jul. 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 remained at background levels. .Forecast... The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is likely to remain at normal to moderate levels through 31 July and the greater than 10 MeV proton flux is expected to remain at background levels through 31 Jul. Solar Wind .24 hr Summary... Solar wind parameters were at nominal levels. Solar wind speed ranged from approximately 330 to 410 km/s. Total field ranged from 2-8 nT while the Bz component was between +2/-5 nT. Phi angle was mostly negative until 29/0747 UTC when it switched into a positive sector. .Forecast... Additional enhancements are likely to begin on 30 July due to possibly combined positive polarity CH HSS and CME influences as events that left the Sun on 26 and 27 July pass the near-Earth environment. Geospace .24 hr Summary... The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. .Forecast... The geomagnetic field is expected to be mostly quiet through 29 Jul. Unsettled to active levels are likely again beginning late on 30 July, and carrying on into 31 July, with the arrival of the 26-27 Jul CMEs. Chances for G1 or greater activity on 30 and 31 July sit at 25%, but could become higher depending on both CME trajectory and strength of connectivity to the aforementioned positive polarity CH HSS. Space Weather Scales |
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| Three Day Forecast | |
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Issued: 2026 Jul 29 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 Jul 29-Jul 31 2026 is 4.33 (below NOAA Scale levels). NOAA Kp index breakdown Jul 29-Jul 31 2026 Jul 29 Jul 30 Jul 31 00-03UT 2.00 3.00 4.00 03-06UT 2.00 1.67 4.33 06-09UT 1.33 2.00 3.00 09-12UT 1.67 2.00 2.33 12-15UT 1.67 2.00 2.00 15-18UT 1.33 2.67 2.00 18-21UT 1.00 3.33 2.33 21-00UT 1.67 4.00 3.00 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 Jul 29-Jul 31 2026 Jul 29 Jul 30 Jul 31 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 Jul 29-Jul 31 2026 Jul 29 Jul 30 Jul 31 R1-R2 30% 30% 25% R3 or greater 1% 1% 1% Rationale: Solar activity is expected to be low with a chance for M-class flares (R1-R2, Minor-Moderate) through 31 Jul. 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. |
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