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
A slow Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) could affect Earth on 30 Aug (UTC), however, only temporary, minor enhancements to auroral activity are forecast should this occur. Otherwise no significant enhancements to the auroral oval are expected during the forecast period.
Southern Hemisphere
Slight enhancement to geomagnetic activity is expected through 29 Aug and easing into 30 Aug (UTC), due to a mixture of coronal hole fast winds and possible coronal mass ejection (CME) arrivals. This may bring aurora viewings to higher latitudes, with a chance of sightings from southern New Zealand and similar magnetic latitudes.
Issued at: 02:06 (GMT) on Sun 30 Aug 2026
Forecast overview
Space Weather Forecast Headline: Chance of isolated Moderate-class flares, otherwise no significant Space Weather expected.
Analysis of Space Weather Activity over past 24 hours
Solar Activity: Solar activity was Low, with only isolated low-level Common-class flares observed during the period. There are four sunspot regions currently on the visible disc. A moderately sized region in the far northwest, nominally, was the most active, undergoing some development and later deterioration of its intermediate spots, but maintained a rather straightforward magnetic appearance. A smaller region in the southeast disc exhibited some minor growth and spreading of its main lead and trailing regions, but remained magnetically simple. Other regions on the facing-disc underwent decay, persisting as small, simple regions.
No Earth directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) were observed in available imagery.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: Solar winds were indicative of minor fast wind and CME influences, with speeds increasing from 350-400km/s (background to Slightly Elevated) up to 420-470km/s by the end of the period and a peak of 491km/s observed at 29/2232 UTC. Interplanetary Magnetic Field was Weak to Moderate. The north-south component varied erratically (Weak to Moderate), favouring a southwards direction. Geomagnetic activity was Quiet to Active.
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 only a chance of increasing to Moderate due to isolated M-class flares.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: A slow CME may reach Earth on Day 1 (30 Aug). Otherwise, Slightly Elevated winds from an ongoing fast-wind enhancement will ease, with speeds likely reaching normal background on, or before Day 2 (31 Aug). Speeds are expected to remain slow-ambient thereafter.
Geomagnetic activity is forecast to be Quiet to Active on Day 1 (30 Aug) due to minor CH and/or CME influence. By Day 2 (31 Aug) predominantly Quiet activity is expected.
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: The count rate of energetic particles (high energy protons) is expected to continue at background levels.
Issued at: 00:30 (GMT) on Sun 30 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.
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