Moderate M4.3 solar flare erupts at 08:48 UTC on April 23, 2026

A moderate M4.3 solar flare erupted at 08:48 UTC on April 23, 2026.

Today’s flares include a C4.4 at 01:17 UTC, a C1.9 at 02:23 UTC, an M1.6 at 04:35 UTC, an M1.2 from AR 4420 at 04:59 UTC, a C4.5 from AR 4420 at 07:57 UTC, and a C5.6 from AR 4420 at 08:11 UTC. The available event list does not report an M4.3 flare at 08:48 UTC.

In 24 hours to 00:30 UTC on April 23, solar activity remained at low levels, with the largest flare of the reporting period being a C3.7.

There is a 75% chance solar activity will remain at low levels, with a 10% chance for isolated M-class flares from April 23 to 25.

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 values. Electron flux is expected to remain at moderate to high levels on April 23 to 25, with proton flux continuing at background.

Solar wind parameters reflected waning coronal hole high speed stream influences. Total magnetic field averaged near 5 nT, with Bz varying between +/- 5 nT. Wind speed gradually decreased from about 525 km/s to 450–460 km/s, with sector polarity frequently fluctuating. Mildly enhanced solar wind conditions are anticipated from April 23 to 25 as the current high speed stream effects diminish and another high speed stream is expected to arrive around April 24.

The geomagnetic field was at quiet levels over the past 24 hours. Mostly quiet to unsettled conditions are forecast for April 23 to 25, with isolated active intervals possible due to changing high speed stream influences.