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
Only minor enhancements to the auroral oval are expected over the coming days, associated with either a weak CME or the peripheral influence of a weak high-speed solar wind stream. Any visible aurora is likely to remain confined to high latitudes, where observations will also be limited by the short hours of darkness at this time of year.
Southern Hemisphere
Only minor enhancements to the auroral oval are expected over the coming days, associated with either a weak CME or the peripheral influence of a weak high-speed solar wind stream. Any aurora is likely to be restricted to high latitudes.
Issued at: 02:08 (GMT) on Wed 29 Jul 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 been Low, with just Common-class flares in the last 24 hours.
There are nine sunspot regions visible on the solar disc, most of which are small and magnetically simple. The region near the northeastern limb is currently the largest region. Although it remains difficult to assess due to its proximity to the limb, it appears to contain a small area of opposite polarity to its south. Another region, located in the eastern hemisphere, is of interest. It continues to grow gradually and has become slightly more magnetically complex, although it is not currently producing any significant flaring.
There were no Earth-directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) observed in the past 24 hours.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: Solar winds indicated that Earth remains under the influence of a weak magnetic cloud. Wind speeds were slow and mostly around 370 km/s. The Interplanetary Magnetic Field has remained weak, with the north-south component varying weakly. Geomagnetic activity was Quiet (Kp 0-2).
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: The count rate of energetic particles (high energy protons) persisted at background levels with no Solar Radiation storms observed.
Four-Day Space Weather Forecast Summary
Solar Activity: Solar activity is expected to be predominantly Low, with a chance of isolated Moderate class flares.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: Two weak, slow, and faint CMEs may deliver glancing blows to Earth late on Day 1 or early on Day 2 (29–30 July), and again late on Day 3 (31 July). However, both CMEs are considered more likely to pass Earth without significant impact.
Earth is currently under the influence of a weak magnetic cloud. CH82/+ may produce a modest enhancement in solar wind speeds to slightly elevated levels (400–500 km/s) on Day 1, before conditions ease back towards ambient levels by Day 3.
Geomagnetic activity is forecast to remain predominantly Quiet to Unsettled. Activity may increase with glancing CME or peripheral fast wind influence to give a chance of an isolated Active interval and just a slight chance of G1/Minor Storms at times throughout much of this period.
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: The count rate of energetic particles (high energy protons) is most likely to remain at background levels.
Issued at: 00:08 (GMT) on Wed 29 Jul 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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