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

Enhancements to the auroral oval are not anticipated during the period with little chance of visible aurora at most magnetic latitudes. Also, the short hours of darkness limit any potential viewings.

Southern Hemisphere

Enhancements to the auroral oval are not anticipated during the period with little chance of visible aurora at most magnetic latitudes.

Issued at: 21:13 (GMT) on Fri 17 Jul 2026

Forecast overview

Space Weather Forecast Headline: Increasing Chance of Moderate solar activity.

Analysis of Space Weather Activity over past 24 hours

Solar Activity: Solar activity has been Low, with the maximum flare peaking at 17/0002 UTC, from a region beyond the eastern limb. There are three sunspot regions visible on the solar disc.

No Earth-directed CMEs (Coronal Mass Ejections) were observed in the past 24 hours. 

Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: Solar winds started the period at slightly elevated levels are now Low. Total Interplanetary Magnetic Field was Weak. The north-south component was also Weak, favouring a generally negative (southward) orientation. Geomagnetic activity was Quiet.

Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: The count rate of energetic particles (high energy protons) was at background levels. 

Four-Day Space Weather Forecast Summary

Solar Activity: Low or Very Low solar activity is expected to continue, with a slight chance of isolated Moderate-class flares. The flare risk increases slightly through the period, with Solar Orbiter suggesting at least one probable new region soon rotating onto the visible disc.

Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity:  There are no Earth directed CMEs in the forecast. Solar winds are expected to remain mostly at Low levels through this period, with perhaps some minor enhancements from a small coronal hole just west of centre disc.

Geomagnetic activity is forecast to be Quiet, with a chance of Unsettled intervals and a slight chance of Active intervals.

Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: The count rate of energetic particles (high energy protons) is expected to remain at background levels.

Issued at: 00:20 (GMT) on Sat 18 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.

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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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