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| Warnings and Alerts | |
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Issue Time: 2026 Oct 28 1638 UTC
WATCH: Geomagnetic Storm Category G1 Predicted Highest Storm Level Predicted by Day: Oct 29: None (Below G1) Oct 30: None (Below G1) Oct 31: G1 (Minor) THIS SUPERSEDES ANY/ALL PRIOR WATCHES IN EFFECT Comment: G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storms are likely on 31 Oct primarily due to recurrent, positive polarity coronal hole high speed stream effects. Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 60 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude. Induced Currents - Weak power grid fluctuations can occur. Spacecraft - Minor impact on satellite operations possible. Aurora - Aurora may be visible at high latitudes, i.e., northern tier of the U.S. such as northern Michigan and Maine. Space Weather Scales |
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| Current Condition and Alerts | |
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Issued: 2026 Oct 30 1205 UTC
Prepared
by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Geophysical Alert Message Solar-terrestrial indices for 29 October follow. Solar flux 89 and estimated planetary A-index 4. The estimated planetary K-index at 1200 UTC on 30 October was 1.67. No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours. Space weather for the next 24 hours is predicted to be minor. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level are likely. Space Weather Scales |
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| Forecast Discussion | |
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Issued: 2026 Oct 30 1230 UTC
Prepared
by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Solar Activity .24 hr Summary... Solar activity continued at very low levels. Region 4564 (N04E65, Bxo/beta) developed trailer spots this period. A new region began rotating onto the disk; the region will be evaluated for numbering once it has rotated past the worst of the limb foreshortening effects. No Earth-directed CMEs were observed at the available coronagraph imagery. .Forecast... Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels with a slight chance for isolated C-class flares through 01 Nov. Energetic Particle .24 hr Summary... The greater than 2 MeV electron flux reached high levels, with a peak flux of 1,228 pfu observed at 29/1630 UTC. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux remained steady at background levels. .Forecast... The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is expected to decrease to normal to moderate levels on 30 Oct Oct and remain there through 01 Nov. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux is anticipated to persist at background levels through 01 Nov. Solar Wind .24 hr Summary... Solar wind parameters reflected generally undisturbed conditions near Earth in the first half of the period, with the wind speeds less than 350 km/s, a total magnetic field (Bt) averaging 4 nT, and a largely neutral or north Bz (north-south) component. After approximately 30/0500 UTC, a magnetic structure began moving through: Bt reached a max of 9 nT at 30/0700 UTC while Bz reached a max southward deflection of -6 nT at 30/0615 UTC. Solar wind speeds had a very slight increase but remained below 350 km/s. The phi angle was largely negative (towards the Sun), except for a 5hr interval after 30/0500 UTC which crossed into the positive sector, potentially indicated a sector boundary crossing ahead of the anticipated CH HSS. .Forecast... Solar wind disturbances are likely to occur late on 30 Oct, continuing into 31 Oct - 01 Nov, due to the anticipated arrival of a recurrent, equatorial positive polarity CH HSS. Geospace .24 hr Summary... The geomagnetic field was quiet during the period. .Forecast... Unsettled to active geomagnetic levels are expected late on 30 Oct as the positive polarity CH HSS effects begin, with G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storming becoming likely on 31 Oct and 01 Nov. Space Weather Scales |
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| Three Day Forecast | |
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Issued: 2026 Oct 30 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 Oct 30-Nov 01 2026 is 5.00 (NOAA Scale G1). NOAA Kp index breakdown Oct 30-Nov 01 2026 Oct 30 Oct 31 Nov 01 00-03UT 1.67 5.00 (G1) 3.67 03-06UT 1.67 4.67 (G1) 4.67 (G1) 06-09UT 2.33 4.33 3.33 09-12UT 0.33 4.00 2.67 12-15UT 0.33 3.00 2.33 15-18UT 0.67 3.00 3.33 18-21UT 2.67 3.67 3.67 21-00UT 3.67 4.00 3.33 Rationale: G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storms are likely on 31 Oct and 01 Nov due to CH HSS influences. 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 Oct 30-Nov 01 2026 Oct 30 Oct 31 Nov 01 S1 or greater 1% 1% 1% Rationale: No S1 (Minor) or greater solar radiation storms are expected through 01 Nov. C. NOAA Radio Blackout Activity and Forecast No radio blackouts were observed over the past 24 hours. Radio Blackout Forecast for Oct 30-Nov 01 2026 Oct 30 Oct 31 Nov 01 R1-R2 1% 1% 1% R3 or greater 1% 1% 1% Rationale: No R1 (Minor) or greater radio blackouts are expected through 01 Nov. Space Weather Scales |
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| Weekly Highlights and Forecasts | |
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Issued: 2026 Oct 26 0118 UTC
Prepared
by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 19 - 25 October 2026 Solar activity reached moderate levels on 19 Oct when Region 4551 (S15, L=102, class/area=Eki/620 on 15 Oct) produced an M1.6/1n (R1-Minor) flare at 19/0903 UTC; the largest flare of the week. Solar activity was at low levels throughout the remainder of the week. No Earth-directed CMEs were observed. No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal to moderate levels on 19-22 Oct, with high levels observed on 23-25 Oct. Geomagnetic field activity was quiet on 19 Oct through much of 20 Oct under background solar wind conditions. Unsettled levels were observed late on 20 Oct following the initial onset of positive polarity CH HSS influences. G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storming was observed on 21 Oct, with active conditions observed on 22-23 Oct, due to sustained positive polarity CH HSS influences. Quiet conditions were observed on 24-25 Oct with the return of an ambeint solar wind environment. Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 26 October - 21 November 2026 Solar activity is expected to be at predominately low levels, with a varying chance for M-class (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate) flare activity 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 26-30 Oct, and 03-05 Nov, and 19-21 Nov. Normal to moderate flux levels are expected for the remainder or the outlook period. Due to multiple recurrent CH HSSs, geomagnetic field activity is likely to reach G1 (Minor) storm levels on 31 Oct, with active levels likely on 01, 09, and 17-18 Nov. The remainder of the outlook period is expected to be at quiet or quiet to unsettled 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. |
