Moderate M1.2 solar flare erupts at 12:11 UTC on April 4, 2026

A moderate M1.2 solar flare erupted at 12:11 UTC on April 4, 2026.

Today’s flares include an M7.5 event from 01:17 UTC, an M1.7 event peaking at 07:58 UTC, and several C-class events all linked to region 4409. The M7.5 flare began at 01:07 UTC and ended at 01:23 UTC, while the M1.7 flare began at 07:38 UTC and ended at 08:14 UTC.

In 24 hours to 00:30 UTC on April 4, solar activity was at moderate levels with region 4409 producing most X-ray events, including two M1.3 flares on April 3.

Solar activity is likely to reach moderate (R1–R2 / Minor–Moderate) levels with a slight chance for X-class (R3–Strong) flares from April 4 to 6, mainly due to regions 4404, 4405, and 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 4 465 pfu, while the greater than 10 MeV proton flux remained below S1 – Minor solar radiation storm thresholds. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is expected to stay high from April 4 to 6, with a slight chance for the greater than 10 MeV proton flux to exceed S1 – Minor levels.

Solar wind parameters indicated effects from a negative polarity coronal hole high speed stream until 15:03 UTC on April 3, when an interplanetary shock arrived from the April 1 CME. The shock increased magnetic field strength up to 14 nT, and solar wind speeds rose from about 625 km/s to 800 km/s before gradually decreasing to around 700 km/s. The solar wind environment is forecasted to remain enhanced through April 6 due to residual CME effects and further coronal hole high speed stream influence.

The geomagnetic field reached G3 – Strong geomagnetic storm levels following the arrival of the April 1 CME. Geomagnetic activity is likely to reach G1 – Minor to G2 – Moderate storm levels on April 4, decrease to G1 – Minor on April 5, and remain at active levels on April 6 as effects from the coronal hole high speed stream diminish.