See below….73

Bill Priakos - W5SJ

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STRONG GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: A strong geomagnetic storm watch is in effect following yesterday's Earth-directed solar flare, described below. A halo CME is expected to hit Earth during the late hours of Sept. 1st, sparking a G3-class geomagnetic storm that could persist through Sept. 2nd. During such storms, auroras may be photographed in US states as far south as Virginia, Missouri and Colorado. CME impact alerts: SMS Text

A CME IS HEADING FOR EARTH: The sun is a tricky star. While we were watching giant sunspot 4197, a different, much smaller sunspot erupted. On Aug 30th at 20:02 UTC, sunspot 4204 produced a long duration M2.7-class solar flare:

Although the flare was not very intense, it lasted for 3 hours, long enough to lift a CME out of the sun's atmosphere. Indeed, data from SOHO coronagraphs confirm that a halo CME is heading straight for Earth. Here it is.

A NASA model of the CME predicts it will strike our planet late on Sept. 1st. The impact could spark a strong G3-class geomagnetic storm spilling into Sept. 2nd. During such storms, auroras may be photographed in US states as far south as Virginia, Missouri and Colorado. Stay tuned for updates as the CME approaches. CME impact alerts: SMS Text

Solar wind
speed: 423.3 km/sec
density: 2.66 protons/cm³
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 0601 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C3 1358 UT Aug31
24-hr: M2 2002 UT Aug30
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1805 UT

Daily Sun: 31 Aug 25
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Sunspot 4197 has a 'beta-gamma-delta' magnetic field that harbors energy for X-class solar flares. Credit: NASA/SDO

Sunspot number: 183
What is the sunspot number?
Updated 31 Aug 2025

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