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
The auroral oval is expected to be mainly at or near background levels in the coming days. Some brief, minor enhancements from solar fast winds or glancing slow Coronal Mass Ejections could lead to some high latitude sightings, however, limited hours of darkness at this time of year is likely to inhibit visibility of aurora.
Southern Hemisphere
The auroral oval is expected to be mainly at or near background levels in the coming days. Some brief, minor enhancements from solar fast winds or glancing slow Coronal Mass Ejections could lead to some high latitude sightings.
Issued at: 08:12 (GMT) on Fri 29 May 2026
Forecast overview
Space Weather Forecast Headline: Chance of Moderate-class X-ray flares, otherwise no significant Space Weather expected.
Analysis of Space Weather Activity over past 24 hours
Solar Activity: Solar activity has reached Moderate levels following a Moderate-class flare at 29/0704UTC from a region in the far northeast disc.
There are currently eleven sunspot regions on the visible disc. A small to moderately sized region in the northwest underwent some initial growth, with waxing/waning of its small mixed polarity spots evident in recent imagery. The region exhibits an uncommon, reversed polarity magnetic configuration (Anti-Hale) for its hemisphere during this Solar Cycle. Clusters of sunspots regions in southwest and southeast quadrants evolved slowly, with limited magnetic complexity and flaring observed. A large, mature region rotated into view in the far northeast. This produced the Moderate flare mentioned earlier. All other regions on the facing-disc continued either in slow decay or remained stable.
No Earth-directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) were observed leaving the Sun during the past 24 hours.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: Solar winds indicated the influence of a coronal hole fast wind, located in the southwest disc. Wind speeds erratically increased from around 380km/s, up to 400-460km/s (slightly elevated), peak 490km/s. The Interplanetary Magnetic Field was Weak to Moderate. The north-south component varied, mostly weakly, but becoming briefly Moderate at times. There was a tendency for more prolonged southward directed periods. Geomagnetic activity was Quiet to Active (Kp 1-4).
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: Solar radiation levels were at normal background values.
Four-Day Space Weather Forecast Summary
Solar Activity: Generally Low but with a chance of further isolated Moderate-class flares.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: No Earth-directed CMEs currently feature in the forecast. However, some weak ejecta from minor events over the past couple of days could cause temporary, slight solar wind enhancements at Earth from Day 2 (30 May) onwards.
Solar winds are currently at slightly elevated levels following the onset of the fast wind from a coronal hole. This enhancement is expected to continue at similar speeds until Day 2 (30 May) before easing. Thereafter, a second, minor fast wind enhancement appears likely between Days 3 and 4 (31 May and 01 June). Both fast wind enhancements are unlikely to lead to a significant geomagnetic response at Earth.
Generally Quiet to Unsettled geomagnetic activity is expected, but with a chance of isolated Active periods, mainly early on Day 1 (29 May), or in response to any potential weak CME or coronal hole influences on subsequent days.
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: Solar Radiation counts are at normal background levels. Solar Radiation storms are considered very unlikely to occur during the forecast period.
Issued at: 12:10 (GMT) on Fri 29 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.
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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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