Minor C8.4 solar flare erupts at 14:25 UTC on April 26, 2026

A minor C8.4 solar flare erupted at 14:25 UTC on April 26, 2026.

Today’s flare include an M1.3 flare from region 4425, which began at 00:08 UTC, peaked at 00:23 UTC, and ended at 00:35 UTC. Other flares today include C-class events, such as a C2.1 from region 4424 starting at 05:19 UTC, peaking at 05:26 UTC, and ending at 05:31 UTC, and a C3.8 from region 4425 starting at 07:08 UTC, peaking at 07:19 UTC, and ending at 07:26 UTC. An M1.4 flare from region 4420 began at 13:54 UTC, peaked at 14:03 UTC, and ended at 14:08 UTC.

In 24 hours to 12:30 UTC on April 26, solar activity was at moderate levels, with two M-class flares and several low-level C-class flares observed.

Solar activity is expected to be at low levels with M-class flares likely and a slight chance for X-class flares through April 28, 2026.

Active sunspot regions presently observed on the Earth-facing solar disk include AR 4419 (N15W79 – Beta-Gamma-Delta), AR 4420 (N17E10 – Beta-Gamma-Delta), AR 4421 (S11E24 – Alpha), AR 4422 (N08W73 – Alpha), AR 4423 (S05E30 – Beta-Delta), AR 4424 (N17E45 – Beta), and AR 4425 (N06E76 – Beta).

Over the past 24 hours, the greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit ranged from low to moderate values, with a peak of 403 pfu observed. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux remained near background levels. Moderate electron flux levels are anticipated for April 26–27, likely increasing to high levels by April 28. Proton flux is expected to remain near background levels.

Solar wind parameters over the past 24 hours reflected a positive polarity coronal hole high speed stream regime with possible transient influences. Magnetic field strength increased from around 5 nT to a peak of 14 nT, Bz reached up to -13 nT, and wind speed rose to approximately 500 km/s. Further enhancements in solar wind conditions are expected through April 27 due to ongoing coronal hole high speed stream and recent CME influences, with a return to near background levels by April 28.

The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled with a few isolated active periods. Isolated G1 – Minor geomagnetic storm conditions are likely on April 26 in response to solar wind and CME influences, followed by predominantly quiet to unsettled conditions with brief active periods on April 27. A return to mostly quiet geomagnetic activity is anticipated by April 28 unless new CME interactions occur.