Minor C8.0 solar flare erupts at 11:29 UTC on August 20, 2026

A minor C8.0 solar flare erupted at 11:29 UTC on August 20, 2026.

Today’s flares include a minor M1.8 solar flare from region 4513, peaking at 08:05 UTC, along with several minor C-class flares: C1.7 at 00:49 UTC (4513), C2.0 at 01:04 UTC (4513), C1.5 at 03:43 UTC (4513), C3.3 at 04:08 UTC (4507), C3.1 at 04:49 UTC (4513), C1.5 at 06:31 UTC (4507), and C2.4 at 10:19 UTC (4507).

In 24 hours to 00:30 UTC on August 20, solar activity reached moderate levels. Region 4513 produced an M1.0 (R1 – Minor) flare as it rotated around the east limb. The remaining spotted regions on the visible disk were mostly stable or in gradual decay.

Solar activity is expected to continue at low levels from August 20 to 22, with a chance for moderate M-class flares (R1 – Minor to R2 – Moderate).

Active sunspot regions presently observed on the Earth-facing solar disk include AR 4506 (N12W86 – Beta), AR 4507 (N04W69 – Beta-Gamma-Delta), AR 4508 (N08W37 – Beta), AR 4510 (N12W95 – Beta), and AR 4513 (N03E81 – Beta).

Over the past 24 hours, the greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit remained at normal to moderate levels. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux stayed at background levels. There is a chance the greater than 2 MeV electron flux reaches high levels on August 20, with high levels likely on August 21-22 due to coronal hole high speed stream influences. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux is expected to remain at background levels through August 22.

Solar wind parameters reflected continued influence of a negative polarity coronal hole high speed stream. Total magnetic field strength ranged from 2 to 9 nT. The Bz component reached a maximum southward deflection of -7 nT. Solar wind speeds were measured between 530 and 630 km/s, and the phi angle was predominantly oriented in the negative solar sector. Solar wind parameters are likely to continue reflecting waning influence of this negative polarity coronal hole through August 22.

The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to G1 – Minor storm levels. The geomagnetic field is likely to reach active levels from August 20 to 22 during the waning phase of the coronal hole high speed stream.