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.
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Aurora forecasts
Northern Hemisphere
There is the potential for weak auroral enhancements overnight on Saturday 26th due ongoing fast solar winds, and a further enhancement from a coronal hole. Aurora visibility is most likely to be limited to the highest latitudes, but viewings could briefly occur as far south as northern Scotland or similar geomagnetic latitudes.
Southern Hemisphere
There is the potential for weak auroral enhancements overnight on Saturday 26th due ongoing fast solar winds, and a further enhancement being possible. Aurora visibility is most likely to be limited to the Antarctic continent, but limited viewings could briefly occur as far north as New Zealand's South Island, or similar geomagnetic latitudes.
Issued at: 01:19 (GMT) on Sat 26 Sep 2026
Forecast overview
Space Weather Forecast Headline: Chance of G1 Minor Storms, most likely day 1 (26 Sep), from onset of fast solar winds.
Analysis of Space Weather Activity over past 24 hours
Solar Activity: Low with only isolated very small Common class flares observed. There are nine sunspot regions on the Earth-facing disc, however these are generally small and either stable or in decay. The main exception is the largest of the regions in the northwest, which has seen some small growth within its intermediated spots, but remains magnetically simple. A new and currently unnumbered region has emerged in the southwest, which is also small and simple.
No Earth-directed Coronal Mass Ejections were observed in available imagery.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: A connection to the fast wind from a coronal hole was observed, with this feature now near the southwest solar limb. Solar wind speeds rose from Slightly Elevated to Elevated levels, from around 400km/s and peaking near 560km/s. Interplanetary Magnetic Field varied between Weak and Moderate with the north-south component also variable, but mainly Weak and favouring a southward orientation. Geomagnetic Activity was Quiet to Active (Kp 2-4).
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: No Solar Radiation Storms were observed with the count rate of energetic particles (high energy protons) persisting at Background.
Four-Day Space Weather Forecast Summary
Solar Activity: Solar activity is expected to be Low, perhaps Very Low, with only a slight chance of rising to Moderate with isolated M-class flares.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: There are no Earth-directed CMEs. Ongoing fast winds from CH96/+ at first, are expected to transition into the fast winds from CH97/- on day 1 (26 Sep), with Slightly Elevated solar winds becoming Elevated. These winds then easing days 2-4 (27-29 Sep). Geomagnetic activity is expected to be mainly Quiet to Unsettled with a chance of Active intervals at first, before a spell of Unsettled to Active, with a chance of G1 Minor Storms on day 1 (26 Sep), perhaps into day 2 (27 Sep) before declining to be mostly Quiet by days 3 and 4 (28-29 Sep).
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: No Solar Radiation Storms are expected with the count rate of energetic particles (high energy protons) persisting at Background.
Issued at: 00:22 (GMT) on Sat 26 Sep 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.
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