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| Warnings and Alerts | |
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Issue Time: 2026 Aug 26 0813 UTC
CONTINUED ALERT: Electron 2MeV Integral Flux exceeded 1,000pfu Continuation of Serial Number: 3728 Begin Time: 2026 Aug 21 1105 UTC Yesterday Maximum 2MeV Flux: 1039 pfu Max time: 2026 Aug 26 0805 UTC Space Weather Scales |
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| Current Condition and Alerts | |
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Issued: 2026 Aug 26 1510 UTC
Prepared
by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Geophysical Alert Message Solar-terrestrial indices for 25 August follow. Solar flux 132 and estimated planetary A-index 4. The estimated planetary K-index at 1500 UTC on 26 August was 1.00. Space weather for the past 24 hours has been minor. Radio blackouts reaching the R1 level occurred. Space weather for the next 24 hours is predicted to be minor. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G1 level are likely. Radio blackouts reaching the R1 level are likely. Space Weather Scales |
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| Forecast Discussion | |
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Issued: 2026 Aug 26 1230 UTC
Prepared
by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Solar Activity .24 hr Summary... Solar activity reached moderate levels. Region 4513 (N04W10, Dac/beta-gamma-delta) was responsible for an M2.2/1B flare that reached its peak at 26/0634 UTC. This event was accompanied by a 10.7cm radio burst that reached 140 sfu and a type II radio sweep with an estimated shock speed of 930 km/s despite its relatively impulsive nature. No resulting CME has been observed in available coronagraph imagery as of the time of this writing. Other activity of note since the last reporting period included an easterly CME first seen in LASCO C2 coronagraph imagery at approximately 25/1548 UTC and another at 25/1948 UTC. The first event likely originated from the vicinity of Region 4513 around 25/1412 UTC while no definitive source could be identified with any confidence for the latter. Never the less, both of these events are currently being modeled and assessed to determine the presence of an Earth-directed. .Forecast... Solar activity will likely to remain at Minor-Moderate (R1-R2) levels, with a slight chance for Strong (R3) activity through 28 Aug, mostly due to the flare history and potential of Region 4513. Energetic Particle .24 hr Summary... The greater than 2 MeV electron flux reached high levels with a peak flux of 1,350 pfu at 26/1125 UTC. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux returned to background-like levels. .Forecast... The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is expected to continue reaching high levels through 27 Aug, returning to moderate levels on 28 Aug. There is a slight chance for the greater than 10 MeV proton flux to reach S1 (Minor) storm levels through 28 Aug, mostly due to the activity, location and development of Region 4513. Solar Wind .24 hr Summary... Solar wind parameters were at undisturbed levels with solar wind speeds between ~300-340 km/s, total field at or below 5 nT and Bz northward or near neutral. Phi angle was predominantly negative. .Forecast... Nominal solar wind conditions are expected to continue until midday on 27 Aug, when the onset of positive polarity CH HSS influences is anticipated. Additional solar wind disturbances, with increased solar wind densities and total IMF, are likely on 28 Aug due to the impact of the CMEs that left the Sun on 25 Aug. Geospace .24 hr Summary... The geomagnetic field remained at quiet levels. .Forecast... The geomagnetic field is expected to be mostly quiet through midday on 27 Aug under ambient solar wind conditions. By mid to late on 27 Aug, unsettled to G1 (Minor) storm levels are likely, due to the onset of CH HSS conditions. G2 (Minor) storms are likely on 28 Aug due to the anticipated impact of the CMEs discussed above. Space Weather Scales |
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| Three Day Forecast | |
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Issued: 2026 Aug 26 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 1 (below NOAA Scale levels). The greatest expected 3 hr Kp for Aug 26-Aug 28 2026 is 5.67 (NOAA Scale G2). NOAA Kp index breakdown Aug 26-Aug 28 2026 Aug 26 Aug 27 Aug 28 00-03UT 0.33 3.67 5.67 (G2) 03-06UT 0.67 3.33 4.67 (G1) 06-09UT 0.67 3.33 4.00 09-12UT 1.00 3.00 4.00 12-15UT 0.33 3.67 3.67 15-18UT 0.67 3.67 4.00 18-21UT 1.00 3.67 4.00 21-00UT 1.67 4.67 (G1) 4.67 (G1) Rationale: G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storms are likely by late on 27 Aug due to positive polarity CH HSS effects. G1-G2 (Minor-Moderate) geomagnetic storms are likely on 28 Aug under combined effects from positive polarity CH HSS effects and CME influences from events that left the Sun on 25 Aug. 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 Aug 26-Aug 28 2026 Aug 26 Aug 27 Aug 28 S1 or greater 10% 10% 10% Rationale: A slight chance for S1 (Minor) radiation storms will persist through 28 Aug primarily driven by the current flare potential of Region 4513. C. NOAA Radio Blackout Activity and Forecast Radio blackouts reaching the R1 levels were observed over the past 24 hours. The largest was at Aug 26 2026 0634 UTC. Radio Blackout Forecast for Aug 26-Aug 28 2026 Aug 26 Aug 27 Aug 28 R1-R2 55% 55% 55% R3 or greater 15% 15% 15% Rationale: R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) radio blackouts are likely, with a slight chance for an isolated R3 (Strong) event, through 28 Aug primarily driven by the current flare potential of Region 4513. Space Weather Scales |
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| Weekly Highlights and Forecasts | |
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Issued: 2026 Aug 24 0259 UTC
Prepared
by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction
Center
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 17 - 23 August 2026 Solar activity reached moderate levels on 19, 20 and 21 Aug and was at low levels on 17, 18, 22, and 23 Aug. Region 4513 (N04, L=50, class/area Ekc/260 on 22 Aug) was the main contributor of M-class flares, producing four out of the five M-flares observed. The largest, an M8.1/Sf flare that peaked at 20/1142 UTC, had an associated Type II radio sweep (estimated speed of 1201 km/s) and a non-Earth-directed CME. Region 4513 also produced an M1.0 flare at 19/1824 UTC, an M1.8/Sf flare at 20/0805 UTC, and an M2.9/Sf flare at 20/1611 UTC, as well as multiple C-class flares. Region 4507 (N04, L=197, class/area Ehi/300 on 18 Aug) added an M1.6 flare at 21/1017 UTC and multiple C-class flares as well.<o:p></o:p></span> Although proton levels never reached the S1 (Minor) storm threshold, the greater than 10 MeV flux levels at geosynchronous orbit were slightly enhanced between 3-6 pfu on 17-23 Aug. This enhancement was likely associated with an energetic event from at or just beyond the western limb on 21 Aug.<o:p></o:p></span> The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal to moderate levels on 17-20 and 23 Aug, and reached high levels on 21-22 Aug. <o:p></o:p></span> Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet to active levels on 17 Aug, reached G1 (Minor) storm levels on 18-19 Aug, quiet to unsettled on 20-21 Aug, and returned to quiet levels on 22-23 Aug. The elevated conditions on 17-19 Aug were attributed to the flanking influence from a CME that left the Sun on 14 Aug, combined with the onset of a CIR ahead of a negative polarity CH HSS. The slightly elevated activity continued on 20-21 Aug as influence from the negative polarity CH HSS persisted, and then decreased by 22-23 Aug.<o:p></o:p></span> Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 24 August - 19 September 2026 Solar activity is expected to be at low levels, with a chance for M-class flares (R1/R2-Minor/Moderate) and a slight chance for X-class (R3-Strong) flares on 24 Aug - 03 Sep, mainly attributed to the flare activity and magnetic complexity of Region 4513. Activity is then likely to decrease to just a slight chance for M-class flares (R1/R2-Minor/Moderate) from 04 Sep - 19 Sep. There is a slight chance for a greater than 10 MeV proton event on 24 Aug - 03 Sep, mainly attributed to the magnetic complexity of Region 4513. No proton events are expected from 04 Sep - 19 Sep. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 24-27 and 30 Aug, and then again on 16-18 Sep. Normal to moderate levels are expected on 28-29 and 31 Aug, and then from 31 Aug- 15 Sep and 19 Sep, Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be quiet to unsettled throughout the entire period, with a chance for active conditions 28 Aug, and 13-14 Sep, all attributed to coronal hole high speed stream influence. 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. |
