Geomagnetic storm in progress (April 6, 2011)

The solar wind is blowing past earth at elevated levels today and combined with a south tilting Bz, is stirring up geomagnetic storming at high latitudes. C-Class flare activity is now taking place towards the new sunspot regions just to the east of Sunspot 1185. Keep an eye on this area as it looks like the sunspots are emerging quickly.

Solar activity remains at very low levels. Only B-Class activity has taken place. Shrinking sunspot 1183 and sunspot 1184 persist in the northern hemisphere. Sunspot 1185 which is also located in the northern hemisphere looks to have stopped growing and is not magnetically complex. Old region 1175 has rotated back into view on the eastern limb and has a few tiny spots within the group. http://www.solarham.com/

Solar wind
speed: 500.1 km/sec
density: 0.1 protons/cm³

Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 3 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 6 storm

Interplanetary Mag. Field
B_total: 5.3 nT
B_z: 1.5 nT north