Solar wind
speed: 410.3 km/sec
density: 13.0 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 0926 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C3 0706 UT Oct31
24-hr: C3 1529 UT Oct30
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 0930 UT

GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: Get ready for a Halloween storm. Sometime on Oct. 31st, a CME is expected to strike Earth's magnetic field, sparking minor (G1) to strong (G3) geomagnetic storms. The incoming CME was hurled toward Earth by an X1-class solar flare on Oct 28th.

Solar wind
speed: 434.5 km/sec
density: 12.3 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 1506 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: B4 0923 UT Oct31
24-hr: C3 1529 UT Oct30
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1510 UT

WEAK CME IMPACT: A CME hit Earth's magnetic field on Oct. 31st at approximately 10:00 UT. The impact was weak--a far cry from the "big hit" we expected. What happened? It's possible that the bulk of the Oct. 28th CME missed our planet; after all, it was directed somewhat south of the sun-Earth line. Despite the feebleness of the impact, minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are still possible in the hours ahead.

Solar wind
speed: 557.0 km/sec
density: 8.4 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 0525 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: M1 0301 UT Nov02
24-hr: M1 0301 UT Nov02
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 0530 UT

ANOTHER SOLAR FLARE AND CME--UPDATED: Sunspot AR2887 erupted again on Nov. 1st (0145 UT), producing an M1-class solar flare and a plasma wave that rippled across half the solar disk: movie.

The USAF reports Type II radio emissions which likely came from the shock front of a CME moving ~600 km/s through the sun's atmosphere.

NOAA analysts are currently evaluating the possibility of a glancing blow from this CME on Nov. 4th. Stay tuned.

Solar wind
speed: 562.1 km/sec
density: 8.2 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 1651 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C1 1305 UT Nov02
24-hr: M1 0301 UT Nov02
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1655 UT

THE SOLAR WIND IS BLOWING: Earth is inside a stream of fast-moving (~600 km/s) solar wind, which is causing geomagnetic unrest around the poles. This is not a storm-level event. However, Arctic sky watchers should be alert for auroras after nightfall on Nov. 2nd.

Solar wind
speed: 546.9 km/sec
density: 8.2 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 1135 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: B4 0830 UT Nov03
24-hr: C1 1305 UT Nov02
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1140 UT

HERE COMES A CANNIBAL CME: It's official. The CME heading for Earth is a cannibal. SOHO coronagraphs recorded the CME leaving the sun on Nov. 2nd following a slow-motion solar flare (M1.7) in the magnetic canopy of sunspot AR2891:

Cannibal CMEs are fast coronal mass ejections that sweep up slower CMEs in front of them. Piled together, the mish-mash of CMEs contain strong magnetic fields and compressed plasmas that can do a good job sparking geomagnetic storms.
The slower CMEs, in this case, were hurled into space on Nov. 1st and 2nd by departing sunspot AR2887. NOAA analysts plugged all the plasma clouds into a computer model, and this is what they found:

The animation shows the cannibal cloud sweeping up one whole CME and a portion of another. If NOAA's model is correct, the combined CME will make first contact with our planet around 2300 UT on Nov. 3rd, with geomagnetic storms commencing on Nov. 4th.

The model also predicts a +300 km/s increase in solar wind speed and a 5-fold jump in solar wind density in the CME's wake. These conditions, if they materialize, would set the stage for geomagnetic storms as strong as category G2.

Solar wind
speed: 503.3 km/sec
density: 6.2 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 1425 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: B4 0830 UT Nov03
24-hr: B7 0016 UT Nov03
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1430 UT

🔥 🔥 Solar wind
speed: 762 km/sec
density: 0.8 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 2120 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C5 2116 UT Nov03
24-hr: C5 2116 UT Nov03
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 2125 UT

CME IMPACT --> GEOMAGNETIC STORM WARNING: A cannibal CME, described below, has just hit Earth's magnetic field. Solar wind data from the DSCOVR spacecraft show a stairstep structure indicative of two or more CMEs pressed together. G1- to G2-class geomagnetic storms are possible in the hours ahead.

Solar wind
speed: 719 km/sec
density: 0.6 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 2232 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C5 2116 UT Nov03
24-hr: C5 2116 UT Nov03
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 2235 UT

Solar wind
speed: 623.2 km/sec
density: 6.7 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 1601 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C3 1053 UT Nov04
24-hr: C5 2116 UT Nov03
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1605 UT

Solar wind
speed: 588.8 km/sec
density: 21.1 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 0525 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: B3 0153 UT Nov05
24-hr: C3 1053 UT Nov04
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 0530 UT

THE STORM IS OVER: Earth's magnetic field is calming as our planet exits the wake of a Cannibal CME, which struck on Nov. 3rd. Almost 20 hours of strong geomagnetic storms followed the CME's impact. During the apex of the category G3 event, auroras were sighted as far south as California, New Mexico and Colorado. The storm is over now.

Solar wind
speed: 574.2 km/sec
density: 13.2 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 0935 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C1 0347 UT Nov06
24-hr: C2 2157 UT Nov05
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 0940 UT

Solar wind
speed: 452.5 km/sec
density: 3.3 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 1700 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: B5 1105 UT Nov07
24-hr: B6 1035 UT Nov07
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1705 UT

Solar wind
speed: 421.4 km/sec
density: 3.3 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 0559 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: B7 0510 UT Nov08
24-hr: B7 0510 UT Nov08
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 0605 UT