Major X1.0 solar flare erupts at 11:28 UTC on June 3, 2026

A major X1.0 solar flare erupted at 11:28 UTC on June 3, 2026.

This flare, which peaked at 11:28 UTC, was recorded on June 3, 2026. The event began at 11:19 UTC and ended at 11:35 UTC. The X1.0 flare is listed without a specific source region in the events file. Today’s flares include an X1.0 event peaking at 11:28 UTC, a strong M9.3 event peaking at 01:36 UTC from region 4455, and an M7.7 event peaking at 07:00 UTC from region 4455, among several C-class events.

In the 24 hours to 12:30 UTC on June 3, solar activity reached high levels, with two R2 – Moderate solar flares and one R3 – Strong solar flare recorded. These flares consisted of an M9.3 event at 01:36 UTC, an M7.7 event at 07:00 UTC, and an X1.0 event at 11:28 UTC.

Solar activity is expected to be at moderate levels through June 5, with M-class flaring likely and a slight chance for an additional X-class event, primarily originating from regions 4455, 4458, 4461, and 4462.

Active sunspot regions presently observed on the Earth-facing solar disk include AR 4444 (S22W85 – Alpha), AR 4446 (S15W60 – Beta), AR 4452 (N10W0 – Beta), AR 4455 (N13W05 – Beta), AR 4457 (S08W40 – Beta), AR 4458 (S04E07 – Beta), AR 4459 (N14E21 – Beta), AR 4460 (N22W59 – Beta), AR 4461 (S20E72 – Beta), and AR 4462 (N17E75 – Beta).

Over the past 24 hours, the greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at low to moderate levels, while the greater than 10 MeV proton flux remained at background levels. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is expected to remain at low to moderate levels through June 5. Proton flux is anticipated to remain at background levels during this period, as the recent M-class flares occurred in locations that are not highly geoeffective for particle events.

Solar wind parameters reflected slightly elevated background conditions, with the total magnetic field averaging around 6 nT and peaking at 10 nT after a solar sector boundary crossing at approximately 07:55 UTC. Solar wind speed averaged just under 400 km/s before the crossing and about 425 km/s afterwards, with the phi angle predominantly in the negative sector. Solar wind parameters may become mildly enhanced on June 3 from possible glancing effects of the 30 May CME, with more significant enhancements anticipated late on June 3 or early on June 4 due to a co-rotating interaction region ahead of a positive polarity coronal hole high-speed stream. These elevated conditions are expected to last through June 5.

The geomagnetic field was mostly quiet over the past 24 hours, with only an isolated period of unsettled activity. Quiet to unsettled geomagnetic field conditions are forecast for June 3, with a small chance for isolated active intervals due to potential low-confidence CME influences and co-rotating interaction region effects. On June 4-5, unsettled to active conditions are anticipated, with periods of G1 – Minor geomagnetic storming possible due to influences from the coronal hole high-speed stream and the possible arrival of a transient associated with the recent M3.3 flare, for which signatures in available imagery may have been obscured.