THE SOLAR WIND IS COMING: A stream of solar wind is approaching Earth. ETA: Aug. 25th.

The gaseous material is flowing from a northern hole in the sun's atmosphere and could cause polar geomagnetic unrest when it arrives.

Solar wind
speed: 300.5 km/sec
density: 16.0 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 1145 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: B1 1103 UT Aug23
24-hr: B6 1658 UT Aug22
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1150 UT

Solar wind
speed: 299.4 km/sec
density: 14.5 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 0935 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: B1 0408 UT Aug24
24-hr: B1 1334 UT Aug23
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 0940 UT

EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD IS ABOUT TO BE UPSET: A solar wind stream and, possibly, two CMEs are approaching Earth. A direct hit by the stream on Aug. 25th followed by near-misses (or glancing blows) from the CMEs on Aug. 26th could spark 2 to 3 days of polar geomagnetic unrest. That's exciting because the Arctic Circle is getting dark enough for auroras. Read on...

Solar wind
speed: 341.7 km/sec
density: 19.7 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 2015 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C1 1449 UT Aug24
24-hr: C1 1449 UT Aug24
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 2020 UT

POSSIBLE CME IMPACT THIS WEEK: A coronal mass ejection (CME) might hit Earth on Aug. 26-27. It left the sun on Aug. 23rd when a magnetic filament in the sun's northern hemisphere exploded.

In SOHO images, the CME looks like a faint expanding halo--a sign that it is heading almost directly for our planet. Geomagnetic unrest, and maybe minor geomagnetic storms, are possible when the CME arrives.

Solar wind
speed: 395.1 km/sec
density: 4.5 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 1825 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: B4 1602 UT Aug25
24-hr: C1 0124 UT Aug25
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1830 UT

CHANCE OF STORMS, DOWNGRADED: NOAA analysts have determined that a CME launched by yesterday's "inky explosion" (described below) will sail east of the sun-Earth line, missing our planet. Another CME might still deliver a weak blow on Aug. 26-27. Overall, the chance of magnetic storms is less than before, albeit not zero.

Solar wind
speed: 398.6 km/sec
density: 5.4 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 0510 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: B2 2351 UT Aug25
24-hr: B4 1602 UT Aug25
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 0515 UT

Solar wind
speed: 404.3 km/sec
density: 11.6 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 0459 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C3 2322 UT Aug26
24-hr: C3 2322 UT Aug26
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 0505 UT

WEAK IMPACT: As predicted, a CME hit Earth's magnetic field on Aug. 27th (0100 UT). The impact was weak, lifting the solar wind speed by less than 50 km/s, and it did not cause a geomagnetic storm.

The CME was hurled in our direction by an unstable solar filament on Aug. 23rd.

Solar wind
speed: 362.8 km/sec
density: 0.7 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 0631 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: M4 0611 UT Aug28
24-hr: M4 0611 UT Aug28
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 0635 UT

Solar wind
speed: 390.7 km/sec
density: 9.5 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 1720 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C2 1722 UT Aug29
24-hr: C8 1003 UT Aug29
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1725 UT

🚨 MINOR STORM WARNING: A CME hurled into space by Thursday's solar tsumani is expected to strike Earth later today (Aug. 29th) or tomorrow (Aug 30th). NOAA forecasters say there is a chance of minor G1-class geomagnetic storms when the CME arrives.

Solar wind
speed: 395.7 km/sec
density: 8.5 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 0431 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C1 0154 UT Aug30
24-hr: C8 1003 UT Aug29
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 0435 UT

GEOMAGNETIC STORM WARNING: One and perhaps two CMEs are about to hit Earth. The first, hurled toward us by Thursday's solar tsumani (C3), is expected to arrive on Aug. 29-30.

The second, ejected by Saturday's solar flare (M4.7), could come on Aug. 31-Sept 1. Neither CME is particularly bright or powerful; however, they could combine to produce G1-class geomagnetic storms.

Solar wind
speed: 384.7 km/sec
density: 5.0 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 1830 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C2 1624 UT Aug30
24-hr: C2 1624 UT Aug30
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1835 UT