Minor C8.1 solar flare erupts at 19:58 UTC on April 1, 2026

A minor C8.1 solar flare erupted at 19:58 UTC on April 1, 2026.

Today’s flares include C1.2 at 06:51 UTC from region 4409, C1.3 at 11:05 UTC from region 4409, C5.3 at 13:48 UTC from region 4409, and C1.5 at 17:45 UTC from region 4401.

In 24 hours to 12:30 UTC on April 1, solar activity remained at very low to low levels. Several low-level C-class flares were detected, with the largest being a C1.2 event at 06:51 UTC.

Solar activity is likely to reach moderate levels with R1 – Minor to R2 – Moderate flaring possible. There is a slight chance for X-class flares through April 3, mainly due to the flare potential of region 4405.

Active sunspot regions presently observed on the Earth-facing solar disk include AR 4399 (S16W52 – Alpha), AR 4401 (N25W57 – Alpha), AR 4402 (N19W41 – Alpha), AR 4403 (N15W12 – Alpha), AR 4404 (N15E06 – Beta), AR 4405 (S27E18 – Beta-Gamma), AR 4406 (N08E12 – Alpha), AR 4407 (N17E17 – Alpha), AR 4408 (N08E38 – Alpha), and AR 4409 (N02E39 – Beta).

Over the past 24 hours, electrons greater than 2 MeV at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels, peaking at 1 380 pfu. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux remained at background levels. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is likely to remain high on April 1 and 2, returning to moderate to normal levels on April 3. There is a slight chance for the greater than 10 MeV proton flux to exceed S1 – Minor solar radiation storm levels through April 3.

Solar wind parameters were mostly nominal until an interplanetary shock was detected at 11:30 UTC, indicating a delayed CME arrival from March 30. Solar wind speed increased from around 400 km/s to near 500 km/s, with the total field climbing to 14 nT. The Bz component ranged between +/-5 nT and the phi angle remained predominantly positive. Weaker CME influence is expected for the rest of April 1, with more enhancements in solar wind conditions anticipated by midday April 2 as a negative polarity coronal hole high speed stream is expected to become geoeffective. High speed stream activity is expected to continue into April 3.

The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled. The geomagnetic field is expected to be at unsettled to active levels through the rest of April 1, with G1 – Minor to G2 – Moderate storming possible as CME effects persist. Active to G1 – Minor storm levels are likely on April 2 with the onset of a negative polarity coronal hole high speed stream. Unsettled to active conditions are expected through April 3.