Strong M7.5 solar flare erupts at 01:17 UTC on April 4, 2026

A strong M7.5 solar flare erupted at 01:17 UTC on April 4, 2026.

Today’s flares include two impulsive M1.3 flares peaking at 07:56 UTC and 12:50 UTC on April 3, 2026.

In 24 hours to 00:30 UTC on April 4, solar activity was at moderate levels, with the majority of X-ray activity observed from a single active region. Two M1.3 flares were detected within this period.

Solar activity is likely to reach moderate levels with a slight chance for X-class flares over April 4–6, primarily due to active 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 flux of 4 465 pfu, while the greater than 10 MeV proton flux was elevated but remained below S1 – Minor solar radiation storm levels. High electron fluxes are expected to persist through April 6, with a slight chance that proton flux levels may exceed S1 – Minor thresholds.

Solar wind parameters indicated the influence of a negative polarity coronal hole high-speed stream until 15:03 UTC, when an interplanetary shock from a coronal mass ejection was detected. The magnetic field peaked at 14 nT, with Bz reaching -11 nT. Solar wind speeds ranged from approximately 625 km/s to a high of 800 km/s before gradually declining toward 700 km/s by the end of the UT day. The enhanced solar wind environment is expected to continue through April 6 due to lingering coronal mass ejection effects and subsequent coronal hole influences.

The geomagnetic field reached G3 – Strong geomagnetic storm levels following the arrival of a coronal mass ejection. The geomagnetic field is likely to reach G1 – Minor to G2 – Moderate storm levels on April 4, decrease to G1 – Minor conditions on April 5, and return to active levels on April 6 as effects subside.