Space Weather
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, with any aurora sightings limited to regions north of the UK.
Southern Hemisphere
No significant enhancements to the auroral oval are expected, with any aurora sightings limited to Antarctica.
Issued at:
Forecast overview
Space Weather Forecast Headline: No significant space weather expected.
Analysis of Space Weather Activity over past 24 hours
Solar Activity: Low, with C-class flares observed in the past 24 hours. There are three sunspot regions on the disc, with one notable region in the south-west, which is of moderate size and magnetic complexity. The remaining regions are small and simple.
No Earth-directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) were observed.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: Solar winds showed a declining coronal hole fast wind. Solar wind speeds were initially Elevated, declining to Slightly Elevated. Total Interplanetary Magnetic Field was Weak. The north-south component was also Weak. Geomagnetic activity was Quiet (Kp0-2).
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: The count rate of energetic particles (high energy protons) eased back to background after recent enhancements, with no Solar Radiation Storms observed.
Four-Day Space Weather Forecast Summary
Solar Activity: Low solar activity is forecast with a chance of isolated Moderate-class flares.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections are expected. The ongoing coronal hole fast wind is expected to erratically ease through day 1 (19 Nov) with solar winds easing to Slow-Ambient levels. The next fast wind is then due to arrive day 2 into day 3 (20-21 Nov), perhaps reaching elevated levels, before gradually waning day 4 (22 Nov).
Geomagnetic activity is expected to be Quiet to Unsettled. There is a chance of Active, with a slight chance of G1/Minor Storm intervals days 2 and 3 (20-21 Nov) due to the next coronal hole fast wind.
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: The count rate of energetic particles (high energy protons) is most likely to remain at background, however there continues to be a slight but decreasing chance of further enhancement if any further significant eruptions occur from the large region over the northwest limb.
Issued at:
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: