Moderate M1.6 solar flare erupts at 04:35 UTC on April 23, 2026

A moderate M1.6 solar flare erupted at 04:35 UTC on April 23, 2026.

Today’s flares include a C4.4 event that began at 01:02 UTC, peaked at 01:17 UTC, and ended at 01:29 UTC, as well as a C1.9 event that began at 02:16 UTC, peaked at 02:23 UTC, and ended at 02:30 UTC. No M- or X-class flares were listed in the current event records.

In 24 hours to 00:30 UTC on April 23, solar activity remained at low levels, with the largest event being a C3.7 flare reported on April 22 at 17:14 UTC. No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections were observed in coronagraph data.

There is a 75% chance for solar activity to remain at low levels, with a 10% chance for isolated M-class flares between April 23 and April 25, primarily due to activity from Region 4420 and 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, with a maximum reading of 4 920 pfu. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux remained at background levels. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is expected to be at moderate to high levels from April 23 to April 25, while the greater than 10 MeV proton flux is forecast to continue at background levels through April 24.

Solar wind parameters reflected waning coronal hole high speed stream influences, with total magnetic field averaging about 5 nT and variable Bz between +/- 5 nT. Wind speeds gradually declined from an average of 525 km/s to the 450–460 km/s range. Mildly enhanced solar wind conditions are anticipated between April 23 and April 25 as changes in coronal hole high speed stream polarity occur.

The geomagnetic field was at quiet levels over the past 24 hours. Mostly quiet to unsettled geomagnetic conditions are expected from April 23 to April 25, with occasional active periods possible as the influence from negative polarity high speed streams diminish and positive polarity streams arrive around April 24.