Sunspot region 3663, X1 solar flare

Saturday, 4 May 2024 07:24 UTC

The X1.6 solar flare peaked yesterday at 2:22 UTC and was rather impulsive. The solar flare nonetheless launched a coronal mass ejection into space. While not the most spectacular coronal mass ejection ever observed by mankind, part of the plasma cloud is expected to arrive as a glancing blow late tomorrow, 5 May. The bulk of the coronal mass ejection is heading well north of our planet but a glancing blow should not be ruled out. Storm conditions up the minor G1 geomagnetic storm level will be possible late on 5 May and Monday, 6 May.

A coronal mass ejection launched by an impulsive X1.6 solar flare that occurred yesterday is expected to arrive as a glancing blow late tomorrow, 5 May. The bulk of the coronal mass ejection is heading well north of our planet but a glancing blow should not be ruled out. Storm… pic.twitter.com/QcAadbPx5d

— SpaceWeatherLive (@_SpaceWeather_) May 4, 2024

M9.1 solar flare

Another significant solar flare took place not too long ago. An M9.1 solar flare peaked today at 6:19 UTC. However, it is still too early to tell if the eruption launched a coronal mass ejection and if there is a chance for it to arrive at our planet.