Minor C7.8 solar flare erupts at 10:17 UTC on April 3, 2026

A minor C7.8 solar flare erupted at 10:17 UTC on April 3, 2026.

Today’s flares include a C7.0 event from 00:59 to 01:18 UTC from Region 4409, a C2.3 flare from 03:24 to 03:34 UTC from Region 4409, a C6.0 flare from 05:20 to 05:45 UTC, an M1.3 flare from 07:45 to 07:58 UTC from Region 4409, and a C1.5 flare from 09:03 to 09:16 UTC.

In 24 hours to 00:30 UTC on April 3, solar activity reached moderate levels due to an M3.5 flare that peaked at 18:15 UTC on April 2. A narrow CME to the northwest was observed after 18:48 UTC on April 2, with modeling ongoing. Region 4409 continued to develop, while other active regions remained mostly stable or in gradual decay.

Solar activity is likely to reach moderate (R1/R2 – Minor/Moderate) levels, with a slight chance for X-class (R3 – Strong) flares through April 5, primarily due to flare potential from Regions 4404, 4405, and 4409.

Active sunspot regions presently observed on the Earth-facing solar disk include AR 4399 (S16W78 – Alpha), AR 4401 (N25W83 – Alpha), AR 4402 (N18W70 – Alpha), AR 4403 (N15W39 – Alpha), AR 4404 (N13W21 – Beta), AR 4405 (S27W07 – Beta), AR 4406 (N07W15 – Alpha), AR 4408 (N08E11 – Alpha), AR 4409 (N02E13 – Beta-Gamma), and AR 4410 (N10W88 – Beta).

Over the past 24 hours, the greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal to moderate levels. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux remained below S1 – Minor thresholds but continued a gradual increase, likely related to a filament eruption on April 1. There is a likelihood for greater than 2 MeV electron flux to reach high levels on April 3 and 4 due to high-speed stream influence. There is also a chance for greater than 10 MeV proton flux to exceed S1 – Minor solar radiation storm levels from April 3 to 5, mainly due to a CME linked to the filament eruption on April 1.

Solar wind parameters over the previous 24 hours suggest a transition from CME-related influence to that of a negative polarity coronal hole. The total magnetic field peaked at 17 nT and settled near 5 to 6 nT by the end of the UT day. The Bz component was mainly southward, reaching a negative peak of -16 nT. Solar wind speed rose from around 435 km/s to 700 km/s, with predominantly negative phi. Solar wind parameters are expected to remain enhanced under high-speed stream conditions through April 5, with possible further increases from a glancing blow of the April 1 CME late on April 3 to early April 4.

The geomagnetic field ranged from active to G2 – Moderate geomagnetic storm levels during the past 24 hours. G1 – Minor to G2 – Moderate geomagnetic storm levels are predicted on April 3 due to ongoing coronal hole high-speed stream activity. G1 – Minor to G2 – Moderate, with a chance for G3 – Strong, are likely from late on April 3 and through April 4 due to expected effects from a CME that left the Sun on April 1. Storm activity should decrease to active levels as solar wind enhancements subside by April 5.