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

Space weather notifications

There are currently no active notifications.

Aurora forecasts

Northern Hemisphere

Auroral activity is expected to remain at background levels initially. However, the arrival of the CH73 high-speed stream late on 08 July or during 09 July may lead to an enhancement of the auroral oval. As a result, aurora may become visible from northern Scotland and similar geomagnetic latitudes, although observations are likely to be limited by short hours of darkness and cloud cover.

Southern Hemisphere

Auroral activity is expected to remain at background levels initially. However, the arrival of the CH73 high-speed stream late on 08 July or during 09 July (UTC) may enhance the auroral oval. As a result, aurora may become visible across southern New Zealand and similar geomagnetic latitudes.

Issued at: 12:21 (GMT) on Wed 8 Jul 2026

Forecast overview

Space Weather Forecast Headline: Chance of Moderate solar activity. Chance of G1 Day 2-3 (09-10 Jul). Decreasing slight chance of S1/Minor radiation storms.

Analysis of Space Weather Activity over past 24 hours

Solar Activity: Solar activity has been Moderate over the past 24 hours, with a single, impulsive Moderate flare observed from a large and complex region in the southeast quadrant. 

There are five sunspot regions visible on the solar disc. The largest and most magnetically complex region is located in the southeast. It is dominated by a large leading spot, followed by two smaller trailing spots and shows some moderate complexity. The remaining regions are relatively small and magnetically simple. However, the region near the south-central disc has recently developed numerous small spots, some of which are beginning to develop rudimentary penumbrae.

No Earth directed CMEs were observed during this period. 

Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: Solar wind speeds oscillated between background and slightly elevated levels over the past 24 hours (360-450)km/s, on an erratic declining trend. The number of particles the solar wind is made of was below Average. Total Interplanetary Magnetic Field was weak to moderate. The north-south component started weakly positive (northwards), but rotated weakly negative (southwards) through the period. Geomagnetic activity was Quiet (Kp 0-2). 

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

Four-Day Space Weather Forecast Summary

Solar Activity: Low to Moderate activity is expected to continue with a chance of further Moderate class flares.

Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: No Earth-directed CMEs (coronal mass ejections) feature in the forecast period. The only significant feature during the forecast period is the largest coronal hole in the west of the solar disc This recurrent coronal hole is expected to connect with Earth through Day 2 (09 July), perhaps with an early connection possible late Day 1 (08 Jul), with speeds up to 600 km/s.

Geomagnetic activity is expected to remain mostly Quiet to Unsettled (Kp 0–3) Day 1 (08 July). Activity is then expected to increase on Day 2 (09 July), becoming Unsettled to Active, with a chance of G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm intervals, before activity begins to decline again through Day 3 & 4 (10-11 July). 

Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: The count rate of energetic particles (high energy protons) remained below the S1/Minor radiation storm level. There is a slight chance of proton flux exceeding the S1 (Minor) radiation storm threshold due to the presence of large regions near the western limb, the risk declining progressively.

Issued at: 12:17 (GMT) on Wed 8 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.

Issued at:

Take our short survey