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.

Image courtesy of NASA/SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams

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Aurora forecasts

Northern Hemisphere

Some slight auroral enhancements are possible over the next few days. However, any visibility is expected to be mainly restricted to the highest geomagnetic latitudes, with only a small chance of reaching as far south as northern parts of the UK Thursday night into Friday. Viewing opportunities will also be limited by the short hours of darkness at this time of year.

Southern Hemisphere

Some slight auroral enhancements are possible over the next few days. However, any visibility is expected to be mainly restricted to Antartica, with only a small chance of reaching the southernmost parts of New Zealand Thursday night into Friday.

Issued at: 02:21 (GMT) on Wed 24 Jun 2026

Forecast overview

Space Weather Forecast Headline: Chance of M-class flares

Analysis of Space Weather Activity over past 24 hours

Solar Activity: Very Low with all solar flares remaining below Common-class. There are six regions visible on the Earth-facing disc, most of which are small and magnetically simple. The largest region is located in the southeastern quadrant. It consists of a relatively large leading spot with a well-defined umbra and penumbra, followed by several smaller pores that continue to wax and wane, although its overall magnetic configuration remains simple. 

No Earth-directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) have been observed in available imagery. 

Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: Solar wind parameters may indicate the onset of a Coronal Hole high speed stream. Solar wind speeds initially remained steady at around 340–360 km/s, before increasing to 380–400 km/s towards the end of the period. Total Interplanetary Magnetic Field was Weak during the first half of the period but became Moderate afterwards. The important north-south component, which was unremarkable initially, became largely negative around the same time before recovering later. Geomagnetic activity increased from Quiet to Unsettled at times (Kp1-3).

Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: The count rate of energetic particles (high energy protons) has persisted at Background with no Solar Radiation Storms occurring

Four-Day Space Weather Forecast Summary

Solar Activity: Low to Very Low activity, but with a chance of rising to Moderate, primarily associated with any incoming region rotating onto the eastern limb.

Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: There are no Earth-directed CMEs. 

Earth is expected to become increasingly influenced by coronal hole high-speed streams, with solar wind speeds likely reaching Elevated to Strong levels (500–600 km/s) by Day 3 (26 June). Geomagnetic activity is expected to remain Quiet to Unsettled initially, before increasing to Unsettled to Active conditions, with a chance of isolated G1 (Minor) storm intervals late on Day 2 and into Day 3 (25–26 June), associated with the enhancement from CH70.

Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: The count rate of energetic particles (high energy protons) is expected to persist at Background with no Solar Radiation Storms occurring

Issued at: 23:22 (GMT) on Tue 23 Jun 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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