Expected impact of an incoming solar wind stream

NOAA forecasters estimate a 25% chance of polar geomagnetic activity today in response to the expected impact of an incoming solar wind stream.

Solar activity is at very low levels and there is currently no chance for strong solar flares on the earth facing side of the Sun. Sunspot 1271 has rotated onto the western limb and out of direct earth view.

At the same time, a new Sunspot rotated into view on the southeast limb and was numbered 1281 on Sunday.

In the latest Lasco C2 movie, you can see a pair of Coronal Mass Ejections blasting away from the northwest limb of the Sun. One of these explosions resembles a light bulb and is pictured below.

New Region 1281 (S21E64) produced occasional optical subflares during the period, two of which were associated with B-class x-ray flares. No significant activity was noted in the remaining spot groups.

A weak Type II radio sweep occurred at 28/0420Z, likely associated with a filament disappearance from beyond the west limb. There were no Earth-directed CMEs observed during the period. (SolarHam)

Solar activity is expected to be very low during the period (29 – 31 August) with a chance for an isolated C-class flare.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels on day 1 (29 August). Quiet geomagnetic conditions are expected during days 2 – 3 (30 – 31 August). (NOAA SWPC Solar Report)

LASCO/C2	LASCO/C3	EIT 304A
60M	68M	68M
1/4 Resolution 14M	1/4 Resolution 15M	1/4 Resolution 5.5M
EIT 195A	EIT 171A	EIT 284A
24M	21M	24M
1/4 Resolution 6.2M	1/4 Resolution 5.6M	1/4 Resolution 6.2M

These GIF movies are courtesy of the LASCO/NRL SOHO team.