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| Warnings and Alerts | |
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| Current Condition and Alerts | |
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Issued: 2026 Jan 06 1210 UTC
Prepared
by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Geophysical Alert Message Solar-terrestrial indices for 05 January follow. Solar flux 154 and estimated planetary A-index 14. The estimated planetary K-index at 1200 UTC on 06 January 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 Jan 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. Only C-class flares were observed from Regions 4323 (S16W63, Dso/beta), 4324 (N25W16, Cso/beta), 4330 (S16, L=275), and 4336 (S09E59, Eso/beta). Slight decay was observed in Regions 4323, 4325(S08W71, Eko/beta), and 4333 (S10W46, Cro/beta). The rest of the spot groups were relatively stable. Other activity included an approximate 5 degree filament eruption centered near S18W40 at 05/1854 UTC. A likely associated CME was observed off the SW limb at 05/1857 UTC in SOHO/LASCO C2 imagery. Modeling efforts resulted in a miss behind Earths orbit. .Forecast... Solar activity is expected to be low with a chance for M-class flares (R1-R2, Minor-Moderate), and a slight chance for isolated X-class flares (R3-Strong) over 06-08 Jan. Energetic Particle .24 hr Summary... The greater than 2 MeV electron flux was at normal to moderate levels and the greater than 10 MeV proton flux was at background levels. .Forecast... The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is expected to continue at normal to moderate levels on 06-08 Jan. There is a slight chance for S1 (Minor) solar radiation storms through 08 Jan. Solar Wind .24 hr Summary... Solar wind parameters were at nominal levels. Total field strength was between 5-7 nT. The Bz component was at benign values. Solar wind speed was mostly below 400 km/s. Phi was negative. .Forecast... Solar wind parameters are expected to be at or near nominal levels on 06-08 Jan. Geospace .24 hr Summary... Geomagnetic activity was at quiet to unsettled levels. .Forecast... The geomagnetic field is expected to be mostly quiet on 06-08 Jan. Space Weather Scales |
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| Three Day Forecast | |
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Issued: 2026 Jan 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 3 (below NOAA Scale levels). The greatest expected 3 hr Kp for Jan 06-Jan 08 2026 is 1.67 (below NOAA Scale levels). NOAA Kp index breakdown Jan 06-Jan 08 2026 Jan 06 Jan 07 Jan 08 00-03UT 1.00 1.67 1.67 03-06UT 0.33 1.67 1.33 06-09UT 1.00 1.33 1.33 09-12UT 1.67 1.33 1.33 12-15UT 1.33 1.33 1.33 15-18UT 1.33 1.33 1.33 18-21UT 1.00 1.67 1.67 21-00UT 0.67 1.33 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 Jan 06-Jan 08 2026 Jan 06 Jan 07 Jan 08 S1 or greater 10% 10% 10% Rationale: There is a slight chance for S1 (Minor) or greater solar radiation storms through 08 Jan. C. NOAA Radio Blackout Activity and Forecast No radio blackouts were observed over the past 24 hours. Radio Blackout Forecast for Jan 06-Jan 08 2026 Jan 06 Jan 07 Jan 08 R1-R2 40% 40% 40% R3 or greater 10% 10% 10% Rationale: There is a chance for R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) radio blackout events, with a slight chance for R3 (Strong), 06-08 Jan. Space Weather Scales |
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| Weekly Highlights and Forecasts | |
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Issued: 2026 Jan 05 0224 UTC
Prepared
by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 29 December - 04 January 2026 Solar activity ranged from low to high levels. High levels were observed on 31 Dec following an M7.1/1N flare at 31/1351 UTC from Region 4324 (N25, L=288, class/area=Dao/230 on 29 Dec). Associated with the event was Type IV and Type II radio sweep, a Tenflare, and a CME signature to the NE in subsequent coronagraph imagery. Modeling of the CME event suggested passage by Earth late on 03 Jan. Moderate levels were observed on 01 Jan following an M1/Sf flare at 29/0651 from Region 4325 (S08, L=296, class/area=Eki/330 on 01 Jan). The other 21 numbered active regions across the visible disk this week were either quiet or only produced C-class activity. A Type II radio sweep was reported on 02 Jan but was associated with a CME that erupted from beyond the W limb. No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels over the past seven days. Geomagnetic field activity was at mostly quiet to unsettled levels on everyday but 02 Jan. G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm levels were observed on late on 02 Jan following the arrival of the last of a set of weak CMEs that left the Sun over 28-31 Dec. Total magnetic field strength reached a peak of 09 nT as the CME passed. Bz reached as far south as -8 nT. Solar wind speeds peaked between ~600-700 km/s. While influence from a negative polarity coronal hole was observed beginning on 31 Dec, no significant geomagnetic activity was observed from the feature over the following days. Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 05 January - 31 January 2026 Solar activity is likely to remain at low levels, with a chance for moderate (R1-Minor) conditions and a slight chance for high (R2/R3-Moderate-Strong) over the next solar rotation due to multiple regions on the visible disk as well as regions expected 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 expected to reach high levels on 05 Jan and 15 Jan - 13 Jan due to the anticipated influence of multiple, recurrent coronal holes. The remainder of the outlook period is likely to at normal to moderate levels. Geomagnetic field activity is likely to reach G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm levels on 13-14 Jan, 17-20 Jan, and 29 Jan; active levels are likely on 05 Jan and 28 Jan; unsettled levels are likely on 09-10 Jan, 12 Jan, 21-22 Jan, 27 Jan, and 30-31 Jan. All enhancements in geomagnetic activity are due to the anticipated influence of multiple, recurrent, coronal holes. The remainder of the outlook period is expected to be mostly quiet. 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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| 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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