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
Slight enhancement to geomagnetic activity is expected through 29 Aug and easing into 30 Aug (UTC), due to a mixture of coronal hole fast winds and possible CME (coronal mass ejection) arrivals. This is may bring aurora viewings to higher latitudes, with a chance of sightings from northern Scotland and similar magnetic latitudes during the limited hours of darkness.
Southern Hemisphere
Slight enhancement to geomagnetic activity is expected through 29 Aug and easing into 30 Aug (UTC), due to a mixture of coronal hole fast winds and possible coronal mass ejection (CME) arrivals. This may bring aurora viewings to higher latitudes, with a chance of sightings from southern New Zealand and similar magnetic latitudes.
Issued at: 18:05 (GMT) on Sat 29 Aug 2026
Forecast overview
Space Weather Forecast Headline: Chance of G1/Minor Geomagnetic Storm and slight chance of G2/Moderate Storm Day 1 (29 Aug). Slight chance of M-class flares.
Analysis of Space Weather Activity over past 24 hours
Solar Activity: Solar activity has been Very Low. There are five regions on the visible disc. A moderately sized group in the northwest has historically been the most complex, but continues to reduce in size and complexity. The largest region on the disc is also in the northwest and has seen some slight development in recent hours. The remaining spots are smaller and magnetically simple.
No significant Earth directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) were observed in available imagery over the last 24 hours.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: Solar winds, as measured at L1 by SOLAR-1, were initially indicative of a slow wind. Solar wind speeds were at background levels, below 300km/s, before increasing early in the period to around 400-430km/s in a weak high speed stream. Interplanetary Magnetic Field was mainly Moderate. The north-south component varied moderately for much of the period, favouring a southwards direction. Geomagnetic activity was Unsettled to Active
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: The count rate of energetic particles (high energy protons) was near background, with no Solar Radiation Storms observed.
Four-Day Space Weather Forecast Summary
Solar Activity: Activity is expected to remain Low to Very Low, with a slight but increasing chance of isolated M-class flares over the coming days.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: At least two CMEs from 25 Aug may reach Earth, along with a third, much lower confidence CME. The first two are currently late, but may still arrive along with the third during Day 1 (29 Aug). The Earth looks to have connected with coronal hole fast winds, albeit fairly weakly so far, with effects from this potentially combining with any CME arrivals, and possibly continuing into Day 2 (30 Aug).
Geomagnetic activity is expected to be Unsettled to Active (Kp3-4) on Day 1 (29 Aug) due to fast solar winds, with occasional G1/Minor Storm (Kp5) intervals likely. There is a Slight Chance of G2/Moderate storm (Kp6) intervals if any of the forecast CMEs also arrive. Enhanced activity may continue into Day 2 (30 Aug) before waning Days 3 and 4 (31 Aug - 01 Sep).
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: The count rate of energetic particles (high energy protons) is most expected to continue at background levels.
Issued at: 12:23 (GMT) on Sat 29 Aug 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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