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
The auroral oval is expected to remain at background levels, with auroral sightings unlikely.
Southern Hemisphere
The auroral oval is expected to remain at background levels, with auroral sightings unlikely in the southern hemisphere despite the lengthening nighttime hours.
Issued at: 00:45 (GMT) on Fri 22 May 2026
Forecast overview
Space Weather Forecast Headline: Chance of isolated Moderate class flares.
Analysis of Space Weather Activity over past 24 hours
Solar Activity: Solar activity has remained at Low Levels with only isolated Common class flares observed, although one flare did come close to becoming Moderate, this was from a previously active region which has now rotated off behind the northwest limb. There are six sunspot regions on the visible disc, of which two are unnumbered, small, weak and magnetically simple. A region in the northwest remains the largest and most complex of the numbered regions. The remaining numbered regions are smaller and either unipolar or bipolar, and generally stable and inactive.
There were no Earth-directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) observed over the past 24hrs.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: Solar wind speeds have persisted at Slightly Elevated levels whilst slowly declining, and are currently around 410 km/s. The strength of the solar winds magnetic field was Weak, while the north-south component was Weak and variable. As a result the geomagnetic activity was Quiet.
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: GOES18 high energy (>10 MeV) proton flux was at or near Background.
Four-Day Space Weather Forecast Summary
Solar Activity: Low solar activity is expected to continue, though there is a chance of isolated Moderate-class flares. The chance of significant flares may increase, as new or returning regions are likely to rotate onto the visible disc through the period.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: No Earth-directed CMEs feature in the forecast. Solar wind speeds are expected to continue declining to reach Background levels through Day 1 (22 May). No significant enhancements are anticipated over the following days.
Geomagnetic activity is expected to remain predominantly Quiet with a chance of isolated Unsettled intervals.
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: GOES >10 MeV proton flux is expected to remain at background levels.
Issued at: 00:26 (GMT) on Fri 22 May 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: