CO-ROTATING INTERACTION REGION: A co-rotating interation region (CIR) hit Earth today, June 15th, briefly opening a crack in our planet's magnetic field and sparking a minor G1-class geomagnetic storm. CIRs are transition zones between slow- and fast-moving solar wind streams. Solar wind plasma piles up in these regions, producing shock-like structures that mimick CMEs.

Solar wind
speed: 607.5 km/sec
density: 0.18 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 0707 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C2 1324 UT Jun16
24-hr: M1 1038 UT Jun16
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1910 UT

CIR SPARKS G2-CLASS GEOMAGNETIC STORM: Last night, Earth lit up like a Christmas tree with auroras at both poles. The reason: A co-rotating interaction region (CIR) hit our planet's magnetic field. "The display in New Zealand was one for the ages," reports Ian Griffin from Hoopers Inlet on the Otago Peninsula: https://spaceweather.com/images2023/16jun23/nz_strip.jpg

Solar wind
speed: 450.8 km/sec
density: 8.33 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 0535 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: M1 1214 UT Jun19
24-hr: M1 0350 UT Jun19
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1740 UT

A GLANCING-BLOW CME IS COMING (UPDATED): Sunspot AR3335 exploded on June 18th, producing an M2.5-class solar flare (new movie) and a minor shortwave radio blackout over the Atlantic Ocean (map). The explosion lasted long enough to lift a CME out of the sun's atmosphere. NOAA has modeled the CME and determined that it could deliver a glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field on June 21-22.

Solar wind
speed: 413.2 km/sec
density: 3.78 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 0257 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: M1 1121 UT Jun22
24-hr: M1 1121 UT Jun22
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1500 UT

GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: NOAA forecasters say there is a chance of minor G1-class geomagnetic storms on June 23rd when a CME might hit Earth's magnetic field. This is the same CME hurled into space by an X1-class solar flare on June 20th. At first it appeared the CME would miss Earth; however, additional modeling suggests a glancing blow might be possible.

Solar wind
speed: 402.2 km/sec
density: 3.39 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 0307 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C2 1004 UT Jun23
24-hr: M4 2344 UT Jun22
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1510 UT

ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT SOLAR FLARE: Active sunspot AR3341, which produced an X-flare on June 20th, exploded again on June 22nd: movie. This time it's an M4.5-class flare. The eruption hurled a CME into space but we do not yet know if it has an Earth-directed component. https://spaceweather.com/images2023/22jun23/m4p5_anim_strip.gif

Solar wind
speed: 463.1 km/sec
density: 7.87 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 0517 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: M1 1217 UT Jun24
24-hr: M1 1217 UT Jun24
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1720 UT

POSSIBLE GLANCING-BLOW CME: Minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are possible on June 27th if, as NOAA models suggest, a CME might graze Earth's magnetic field. The slow moving CME was hurled into space on June 22nd by an M4.8-class solar flare.

Solar wind
speed: 553.9 km/sec
density: 1.52 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 0347 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C7 1225 UT Jun26
24-hr: C7 1225 UT Jun26
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1550 UT

CHANCE OF FLARES TODAY: Growing sunspot AR3340 has developed a 'delta-class' magnetic field that harbors energy for strong solar flares. NOAA forecasters estimate a 40% chance of M-class flares and a 10% chance of X-flares on June 26th.

Solar wind
speed: 481.6 km/sec
density: 1.63 protons/cm3
Updated: Today at 0533 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: M1 1514 UT Jun27
24-hr: M1 1514 UT Jun27
Updated: Today at: 1740 UT