Minor C7.4 solar flare erupts at 15:29 UTC on May 1, 2026

A minor C7.4 solar flare erupted at 15:29 UTC on May 1, 2026.

Today’s flares include several C-class events: a C1.5 flare from region 4424 (begin 02:46 UTC, end 02:57 UTC), a C1.8 from region 4420 (begin 04:12 UTC, end 04:22 UTC), a C1.4 from region 4431 (begin 06:54 UTC, end 07:07 UTC), another C1.4 from region 4431 (begin 08:47 UTC, end 08:53 UTC), a C1.9 from region 4420 (begin 09:29 UTC, end 09:40 UTC), and a C1.6 from region 4420 (begin 14:10 UTC, end 14:16 UTC).

In 24 hours to 12:30 UTC on May 1, solar activity was at low levels with isolated to occasional C-class flaring. The largest flare of the period was a C5.1.

Solar activity is expected to remain at low levels with a chance for moderate (R1 – Minor to R2 – Moderate) flare activity from May 1 to May 3. There is a slight chance for X-class flares (R3 – Strong or greater) primarily due to the flare potential of regions 4420 and 4425.

Active sunspot regions presently observed on the Earth-facing solar disk include AR 4420 (N16W69 – Beta-Gamma-Delta), AR 4423 (S10W53 – Beta), AR 4424 (N17W35 – Beta-Gamma), AR 4425 (N05W03 – Beta), AR 4428 (S24W13 – Beta), and AR 4429 (S04E35 – Beta).

Over the past 24 hours, the greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal to moderate levels with a peak of 421 pfu. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux remained at background levels. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is expected to increase to high levels from May 1–2 in response to anticipated negative polarity coronal hole high-speed stream influences, then return to low to moderate levels on May 3. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux is expected to remain at background levels, with a slight chance for S1 – Minor solar radiation storm levels through May 3 due to the complexity and location of region 4420.

Solar wind parameters were enhanced, with wind speeds increasing from around 350 km/s to approximately 500 km/s, total magnetic field strength reaching near 13–14 nT, and the north-south component variable, with several periods of sustained southward orientation. These conditions are consistent with the arrival of a high-speed stream. Enhanced solar wind conditions are expected through May 1 under continued negative polarity coronal hole high-speed stream influences, followed by a gradual return to near nominal levels on May 2, before a new high-speed stream is anticipated to become geoeffective by late May 3.

The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to G1 – Minor geomagnetic storm levels. Unsettled to G1 – Minor conditions are expected through May 1 under continued high-speed stream influences. A return to mostly quiet conditions is anticipated on May 2, with quiet to unsettled conditions expected on May 3 with the onset of a new negative polarity high-speed stream late in the day.