Space Weather
Space weather describes changing environmental conditions in near-Earth space. Magnetic fields, radiation, particles and matter, which have been ejected from the Sun, can interact with the Earth’s upper atmosphere and surrounding magnetic field to produce a variety of effects.
Space weather notifications
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Aurora forecasts
Northern Hemisphere
No significant enhancements are expected to the auroral oval through the period, with aurora sightings unlikely.
Southern Hemisphere
No significant enhancements are expected to the auroral oval through the period, with aurora sightings unlikely.
Issued at: 11:18 (GMT) on Wed 5 Aug 2026
Forecast overview
Space Weather Forecast Headline: Slight chance of isolated R1/Minor radio blackouts.
Analysis of Space Weather Activity over past 24 hours
Solar Activity: Solar activity has been Low in the last 24 hours, peaking at 05/0622 UTC. There are currently six regions on the visible disc. The largest sunspot region resides in the northwest, comprising a moderately large leader with a clustering of small minor spots to the south and east that appear to be generally decaying. The remaining regions are small and simple.
Two coronal mass ejections were detected on 04 Aug, although there has been some difficulty analysing them due to lack of imagery. It is possible that the wide northwestward directed coronal mass ejection could give a glancing blow to Earth on Day 4 (08 Aug).
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: Solar wind speeds were background to slightly elevated. Interplanetary Magnetic Field was Weak. The north-south component was weak and variable. Geomagnetic activity was Quiet (Kp 0-1).
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: GOES18 high energy (>10MeV) proton flux was background.
Four-Day Space Weather Forecast Summary
Solar Activity: Low solar activity is expected to continue with a slight chance of isolated Moderate-class flares.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: Two slow coronal mass ejections from 03 Aug are expected to miss Earth, though may give a slight chance of a glance late on Day 3 (07 Aug) or on Day 4 (08 Aug). A wide coronal mass ejection from the northwest on 04 Aug, is likely to give a glancing blow Day 4 (08 Aug).
Solar winds are now Slow-Ambient, and likely to remain at similar levels through much of the period. A narrow coronal hole evident in the southeast, may give a slight enhancement to Slightly elevated levels on Day 4 (08 Aug).
Geomagnetic activity is expected to remain Quiet (Kp0-2), with a chance of Unsettled (Kp3) intervals for much of the period. On Day 4 (08 Aug), geomagnetic activity may rise to Unsettled (Kp3) with a chance of Active (Kp4) intervals, and a slight chance of an isolated G1/Minor Geomagnetic Storm (Kp5) interval due to possible glancing coronal mass ejection and coronal hole high speed stream influences.
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: GOES18 >10MeV proton flux is expected to continue at Background.
Issued at: 12:15 (GMT) on Wed 5 Aug 2026
Solar imagery
SDO AIA-193
This channel highlights the outer atmosphere of the Sun - called the corona - as well as hot flare plasma. Hot active regions, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections will appear bright here. The dark areas - called coronal holes - are places where very little radiation is emitted, yet are the main source of solar wind particles.
Issued at:
SDO AIA-304
This channel is especially good at showing areas where cooler dense plumes of plasma (filaments and prominences) are located above the visible surface of the Sun. Many of these features either can't be seen or appear as dark lines in the other channels. The bright areas show places where the plasma has a high density.
Issued at: