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
There are currently no active notifications.
Aurora forecasts
Northern Hemisphere
No significant enhancements to the auroral oval are expected during the forecast period.
Southern Hemisphere
No significant enhancements to the auroral oval are expected during the forecast period.
Issued at: 20:49 (GMT) on Mon 31 Aug 2026
Forecast overview
Space Weather Forecast Headline: Slight-chance of Moderate-class flares.
Analysis of Space Weather Activity over past 24 hours
Solar Activity: Solar activity was Low, with isolated low-level Common-class flares observed during the period. There are four sunspot regions currently on the visible disc. These are small and magnetically simple.
No Earth-directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) were observed in available imagery.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: Solar winds were slightly elevated. Interplanetary Magnetic Field was Weak and the north-south component was also Weak, mostly favouring a southwards direction. Geomagnetic activity was Quiet to Active (Kp2-4).
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: The count rate of energetic particles (high energy protons) was near background, with no Solar Radiation Storms observed.
Four-Day Space Weather Forecast Summary
Solar Activity: Activity is expected to remain Low to Very Low, with a slight-chance of Moderate if an isolated M-class flare is observed.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: No Earth-directed CMEs are currently forecast.
Slightly Elevated solar winds are likely to continue on Days 1 and 2 (31 Aug and 01 Sep). Thereafter speeds easing and reducing to normal Low levels.
Geomagnetic activity is forecast to be Quiet to Unsettled on Day 1 (31 Aug), then expected to be Quiet from Day 2 (01 Sep) onwards.
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: The count rate of energetic particles (high energy protons) is expected to continue at background levels.
Issued at: 12:12 (GMT) on Mon 31 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: