Strong M6.9 solar flare erupts at 10:02 UTC on August 25, 2026

A strong M6.9 solar flare erupted at 10:02 UTC on August 25, 2026.

Today’s flares include M1.9 at 01:26 UTC from region 4513, M1.0 at 04:02 UTC from region 4513, M1.8 at 06:40 UTC from region 4513, and C-class flares including C4.9 at 03:47 UTC, C1.6 at 05:55 UTC, and C6.2 at 07:28 UTC. All observed M-class flares originated from region 4513.

In 24 hours to 00:30 UTC on August 25, solar activity reached moderate levels, primarily due to an M1.7 flare observed at 19:36 UTC on August 24.

Solar activity is expected to be at low levels, with a chance for additional M-class flares and a slight chance for X-class flares from August 25 to August 27.

Active sunspot regions presently observed on the Earth-facing solar disk include AR 4513 (N04E10 – Beta-Gamma-Delta), AR 4515 (S08E23 – Alpha), AR 4516 (N17W55 – Beta), and AR 4517 (N10W03 – Beta).

Over the past 24 hours, the greater than 2 MeV electron flux reached high levels, peaking at 1 640 pfu. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux was elevated but remained below S1 – Minor storm thresholds at 2-4 pfu. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux is expected to remain high from August 24 to 27. There is a chance for the greater than 10 MeV proton flux to reach S1 – Minor storm levels on August 25, decreasing to a slight chance on August 26-27.

Solar wind parameters were nominal, with average solar wind speeds around 365 km/s, total field 4-6 nT, and Bz between +/-4 nT. Phi angle remained predominantly negative. Nominal conditions are forecast to persist through midday on August 27. An increase is anticipated by mid to late August 27 due to the arrival of a positive polarity coronal hole high speed stream, possibly pushing wind speeds to 500-600 km/s.

The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled under nominal solar wind conditions. The geomagnetic field is expected to be mostly quiet through midday on August 27, with unsettled to active levels and a chance for G1 – Minor storm conditions anticipated from mid to late August 27 as high speed stream effects increase.