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| Warnings and Alerts | |
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Issue Time: 2026 Feb 24 1155 UTC
EXTENDED WARNING: Geomagnetic K-index of 4 expected Extension to Serial Number: 5269 Valid From: 2026 Feb 21 2230 UTC Now Valid Until: 2026 Feb 24 2100 UTC Warning Condition: Persistence 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 |
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| Current Condition and Alerts | |
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Issued: 2026 Feb 24 1205 UTC
Prepared
by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Geophysical Alert Message Solar-terrestrial indices for 23 February follow. Solar flux 108 and estimated planetary A-index 23. The estimated planetary K-index at 1200 UTC on 24 February was 2.33. 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 |
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| Forecast Discussion | |
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Issued: 2026 Feb 24 1230 UTC
Prepared
by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Solar Activity .24 hr Summary... Solar activity reached low levels due to a C1.0 flare at 24/0733 UTC from a region just beyond the SE limb near S21. The solar disk was largely spotless through the period with some short-lived pore emergence in the SE quadrant. X-ray flux background gradually increased indicating possible new or returning regions just beyond the east limb. No Earth-directed CMEs were observed in available coronagraph imagery. .Forecast... Solar activity is anticipated to remain very low to low on 24-26 Feb, with a chance for C-class flares and a slight chance for isolated M-class activity (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate). Energetic Particle .24 hr Summary... Electrons greater than 2 MeV at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels, with a peak of 4,960 pfu at 23/1545 UTC. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux remained at or near background levels. .Forecast... The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is likely to reach moderate to high levels on 24-26 Feb. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux is expected to remain at background levels through 26 Feb. Solar Wind .24 hr Summary... Solar wind parameter continued under negative polarity CH HSS influence. Solar wind speed decreased from approximately 700 km/s to near 600 km/s. Total field ranged from 3-5 nT while the Bz component was between +/-5 nT. Phi angle was predominantly negative. .Forecast... Disturbed solar wind conditions are likely to prevail over 24-26 Feb due to persistent negative polarity CH HSS influences. Geospace .24 hr Summary... The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels due to persistent CH HSS effects. .Forecast... The geomagnetic field is expected to be at unsettled to active levels on 24-26 Feb as negative polarity CH HSS influences persist. Space Weather Scales |
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| Three Day Forecast | |
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Issued: 2026 Feb 24 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 4 (below NOAA Scale levels). The greatest expected 3 hr Kp for Feb 24-Feb 26 2026 is 4.00 (below NOAA Scale levels). NOAA Kp index breakdown Feb 24-Feb 26 2026 Feb 24 Feb 25 Feb 26 00-03UT 3.00 3.67 3.67 03-06UT 3.67 4.00 3.00 06-09UT 2.67 3.33 2.67 09-12UT 2.33 2.67 2.33 12-15UT 3.00 2.33 2.00 15-18UT 2.00 2.00 2.00 18-21UT 2.00 2.00 2.33 21-00UT 3.67 3.00 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 Feb 24-Feb 26 2026 Feb 24 Feb 25 Feb 26 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 Feb 24-Feb 26 2026 Feb 24 Feb 25 Feb 26 R1-R2 10% 10% 10% R3 or greater 1% 1% 1% Rationale: No R1 (Minor) or greater radio blackouts are expected. No significant active region flare activity is forecast. Space Weather Scales |
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| Weekly Highlights and Forecasts | |
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Issued: 2026 Feb 23 0204 UTC
Prepared
by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 16 - 22 February 2026 Solar activity ranged from very low to moderate levels. The largest event was an M2.5 flare (R1-Minor) at 16/0435 UTC from a location beyond the east limb. A Type II radio sweep (est. 310 km/s) was observed on 18 Feb and associated with a large eruption just beyond the southeast limb. Only low-levels C-class activity was observed over 17-23 Feb. The sun ended the summary period free of sunspots on the visible disk for the first time since 2022. No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels over 16-20 Feb following sustained higher wind speeds from a positive polarity coronal hole. Normal to moderate levels were observed over 21-22 Feb. Geomagnetic field activity reached a peak of G2 (Moderate) levels on 16 Feb due to influence from a positive polarity CH HSS. Quiet to unsettled levels were observed over 17-19 Feb. Active levels over 20-21 Feb were likely associated with transient passage. By 22 Feb, a CIR ahead of a negative polarity CH HSS increased geomagnetic conditions up to G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm levels. Wind speeds were observed between 600-700 km/s on 22 Feb as the high speed stream set in. Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 23 February - 21 March 2026 Solar activity is expected to be at very low, with a good change for C-class flares and a slight change for M-class flare (R1/R2-Minor/Moderate) 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 23 Feb - 03 Mar, 06-08 Mar, 11-12 Mar, 15-19 Mar, and 21 Mar due to anticipated influence of multiple recurrent coronal holes. The remainder of the outlook period is likely to be at normal to moderate levels. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to reach G2 (Moderate) levels on 21 Mar.;G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm levels are likely on 23 Feb, 10 Mar, 14 Mar, and 20 Mar; active levels are likely on 24 Feb, 05-06 Mar, 12-13 Mar, 15-16 Mar, and 19 Mar; unsettled levels are likely over 25 Feb, 07 Mar, 09 Mar, 11 Mar, and 17-18 Mar. All increases in geomagnetic activity are anticipated due to expected influence from multiple, recurrent coronal hole HSSs. The remainder of the outlook period is likely 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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| 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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