Moderate M1.0 solar flare erupts at 23:04 UTC on April 4, 2026

A moderate M1.0 solar flare erupted at 23:04 UTC on April 4, 2026.

Today’s flares include a strong M7.5 event peaking at 01:17 UTC from region 4409, a moderate M1.7 flare at 07:58 UTC from the same region, and a moderate M1.2 flare at 12:11 UTC, alongside multiple minor C-class events.

In 24 hours to 12:30 UTC on April 4, solar activity reached high levels. Region 4409 produced a strong M7.5 flare at 01:17 UTC, an M1.7 event at 07:58 UTC, and other regions remained mostly stable or in gradual decay. No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections were detected in available imagery.

Solar activity is likely to reach moderate levels, with a slight chance for X-class flares through April 6, primarily due to the continued activity potential of region 4409.

Active sunspot regions presently observed on the Earth-facing solar disk include AR 4399 (S16W92 – Alpha), AR 4401 (N25W97 – Alpha), AR 4403 (N15W53 – Beta), AR 4404 (N13W34 – Beta), AR 4405 (S27W20 – Beta), AR 4406 (N07W29 – Alpha), AR 4408 (N08W02 – Alpha), AR 4409 (N02W01 – Beta-Gamma), AR 4410 (N10W0* – Beta), and AR 4411 (S05E46 – Alpha).

Over the past 24 hours, the greater than 2 MeV electron flux reached high levels with a peak of 4 470 pfu observed. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux was elevated but remained below S1 – Minor solar radiation storm thresholds. The electron flux is expected to remain high through April 6, with a slight chance for S1 – Minor storm levels in the proton flux during this period.

Solar wind conditions over the past 24 hours showed an influence from a negative polarity coronal hole high speed stream, followed by a shock from a coronal mass ejection originating April 1. The total magnetic field peaked at 14 nT, with solar wind speed increasing to about 800 km/s and gradually decreasing to around 600 km/s by the end of the period. The solar wind is expected to remain enhanced through April 6 due to waning CME and coronal hole influences.

The geomagnetic field reached G3 – Strong geomagnetic storm levels following CME arrival. G1 – Minor storm levels are expected on April 4, with periods of G2 – Moderate activity likely as CME effects persist and coronal hole influence continues. Conditions should return to quiet to unsettled levels by April 6 as these influences wane.