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
Earth is currently under the influence of a weak solar wind enhancement, with a further solar wind enhancement expected to arrive through 26th Sept. Despite these solar wind enhancements no significant geomagnetic activity is expected, with just a chance of visible aurora across the north of Scotland, where skies are clear, during the nights of 25th and 26th Sept.
Southern Hemisphere
Earth is currently under the influence of a weak solar wind enhancement, with a further solar wind enhancement expected to arrive through 26th Sept UTC day. Despite these solar wind enhancements no significant geomagnetic activity is expected, with just a chance of visible aurora across the far south of New Zealand and similar latitudes, where skies are clear, during the southern hemisphere night of 26th Sept.
Issued at: 01:24 (GMT) on Fri 25 Sep 2026
Forecast overview
Space Weather Forecast Headline: Chance of Minor Geomagnetic Storming. Slight Chance R1/Radio Blackouts throughout.
Analysis of Space Weather Activity over past 24 hours
Solar Activity: Solar activity has been Low, peaking at 24/0903 UTC. There are currently eight sunspot regions on the visible disc. Most are small and weak, and either stable or showing signs of decay. The exception is a region in the west, which is the largest region on the disc, but still only modestly sized and also stable.
There were no Earth-directed coronal mass ejections observed during the period.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: Solar wind observations were indicative of the arrival of a weak solar wind enhancement. Solar wind speeds were initially slow-ambient, but slowly and erratically increased, reaching Slightly Elevated levels and peaking at 453 km/s at 24/2126 UTC. The solar winds Magnetic Field remained predominantly at Moderate levels. The important north-south component was initially positive, then became frequently weak to moderately negative after 24/0345 UTC. Geomagnetic activity was Quiet to Unsettled, except for a single Active interval 24/0900-1200 UTC.
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: No Solar Radiation Storms were observed.
Four-Day Space Weather Forecast Summary
Solar Activity: Solar activity is expected to be Very Low or Low, with a Slight Chance of becoming Moderate should any isolated Moderate class flares occur.
Solar Wind / Geomagnetic Activity: No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections currently feature in the forecast period.
Earth has now connected to a weak solar wind enhancement from a narrow coronal hole feature in the southwest and is currently at Slightly Elevated levels. Through Day 1 (25 Sept) solar winds may temporarily reach Elevated levels, around 500 km/s. The next solar wind enhancement, with wind speeds peaking around 500-550 km/s, is most likely on Day 2 (26 Sep) from a new coronal whole feature in the northwest. The combined coronal hole influence is expected to maintain Slightly Elevated to Elevated winds throughout the forecast period.
Geomagnetic activity is forecast to be mostly Unsettled to Active, with a chance of Minor storms, during Days 1 and 2 (25 and 26 Sept). Thereafter activity is expected to gradually decline, becoming Quiet to Unsettled.
Energetic Particles / Solar Radiation: No Solar Radiation Storms are expected.
Issued at: 00:11 (GMT) on Fri 25 Sep 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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