Strong M5.7 solar flare erupts at 13:39 UTC on May 10, 2026

A strong M5.7 solar flare erupted at 13:39 UTC on May 10, 2026.

The event began at 13:19 UTC, reached maximum at 13:39 UTC, and ended at 14:02 UTC, originating from sunspot region 4436. Today’s flares include multiple C-class events and this M5.7 flare, with the strongest event coming from region 4436.

In 24 hours to 12:30 UTC on May 10, solar activity remained at low levels with numerous C-class flares. Most activity occurred in sunspot region 4432, with no Earth-directed coronal mass ejections detected.

Solar activity is predicted to stay mainly low during May 10 to May 12, with a chance for M-class (R1 – Minor to R2 – Moderate) solar flares and a slight chance of X-class (R3 – Strong or greater) events.

Active sunspot regions presently observed on the Earth-facing solar disk include AR 4431 (S16W61 – Alpha), AR 4432 (N14W42 – Beta), AR 4433 (S17W10 – Beta), AR 4435 (N23W01 – Alpha), and AR 4436 (N18E69 – Beta).

Over the past 24 hours, the greater than 2 MeV electron flux was at normal to moderate levels, and the greater than 10 MeV proton flux remained at background levels. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is expected to remain at moderate levels on May 10 to May 12, while proton flux stays at background values.

The solar wind environment remained slightly enhanced due to continual, but weakening, influences from a positive polarity coronal hole high speed stream. Total magnetic field strength was generally 2–4 nT and the Bz component stayed near neutral. Solar wind speed declined from near 500 km/s to around 400 km/s by the end of the period. Solar wind parameters are forecast to stay mildly enhanced through May 12 under weak positive polarity CH HSS influences.

The geomagnetic field was quiet during the past 24 hours. The geomagnetic field is expected to stay at quiet to unsettled levels from May 10 to May 12 as weak coronal hole high speed stream effects persist.