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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Forecast overview
Space Weather Forecast Headline: Chance of Moderate-class X-ray flares.
Analysis of Space Weather Activity over past 24 hours
Solar Activity: Solar activity has been Low with minor Common-class flares observed in the past 24 hours. There are currently eleven sunspot regions on the visible disc, with three separate regions near the southeast limb. These include two unipolar spots and an apparent bipolar region nearest the limb, although further complexity may emerge as it rotates into a clearer view. One region is in the process of rotating off the northwest limb and can no longer be properly assessed. Another region in the southeast has continued to grow steadily. The remaining spots are smaller and simple at present.
There is a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) currently being analysed from the north-north-east but this is not expected to be Earth-directed.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: Solar winds showed background conditions, with recent weak transient influence. Wind speeds were slow, ranging between 270-370km/s. The Interplanetary Magnetic Field was mainly weak, jumping to moderate after 24/2325 UTC, but has been weak since 25/0040UTC. The north-south component varying weakly. Geomagnetic activity was Quiet to Unsettled (Kp 1-3).
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: No solar radiation storms were observed.
Four-Day Space Weather Forecast Summary
Solar Activity: There is an increasing chance of isolated Moderate-class flares, initially most likely from regions currently on the disc, but with an increasing component from far side region(s) rotating onto the east limb.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: No CMEs currently feature in the forecast. Background solar wind speeds may start to rise later Day 2, but more likely Day 3 (26-27 May), with speeds up to 500 km/s possible into Day 4 (28 May). This is due to coronal hole fast winds.
Mainly Quiet geomagnetic activity is expected at first, but activity is likely to become Unsettled to Active with coronal hole influence, most likely on Days 3-4, with a slight chance of G1/Minor Storm intervals.
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: Solar radiation levels are likely to remain at background.
Issued at: 12:18 (GMT) on Mon 25 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: