Moderate M1.2 solar flare erupts at 04:59 UTC on April 23, 2026

A moderate M1.2 solar flare erupted at 04:59 UTC on April 23, 2026.

Today’s flares include a C4.4 event that peaked at 01:17 UTC and a C1.9 event at 02:23 UTC.

In 24 hours to 00:30 UTC on April 23, solar activity remained at low levels, with the largest flare of the period recorded as a C3.7 at 17:14 UTC on April 22. No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections were observed during this period.

There is a 75% chance that solar activity will remain at low levels, with a slight (10%) chance for isolated M-class flares from April 23 to April 25, mainly due to the flare potential from active limb regions.

Active sunspot regions presently observed on the Earth-facing solar disk include AR 4419 (N15W50 – Beta), AR 4420 (N16E38 – Beta-Gamma), AR 4421 (S10E58 – Beta), and AR 4422 (N09W44 – Beta).

Over the past 24 hours, the greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels, peaking at 4 920 pfu. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux remained at background levels. Electron flux is expected to be at moderate to high levels on April 23–25, while proton flux is expected to remain at background levels.

In the preceding 24 hours, solar wind parameters showed waning coronal hole high speed stream influences. The total magnetic field averaged near 5 nT, the north-south component varied between +/- 5 nT, and solar wind speed showed a gradual decrease from 525 km/s to a range of 450-460 km/s. Mildly enhanced solar wind conditions are likely April 23–25 as the negative polarity coronal hole high speed stream moves from a geoeffective position, with elevated conditions anticipated on April 24 due to the arrival of a positive polarity high speed stream.

The geomagnetic field was quiet in the past 24 hours. Mostly quiet to unsettled geomagnetic conditions are expected April 23–25, with isolated active intervals possible due to the transition between coronal hole high speed stream effects.