G1 Geomagnetic storm in progress

A Minor Geomagnetic Storm (Kp=5) is now in progress at high latitudes. This is due to a south tilting component of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) combined with an elevated solar wind speed. An incoming CME shock swept past our planet at 03:25 UTC. A geomagnetic sudden impulse of 31 nT was detected by the Boulder, Colorado magnetometer. The ACE Spacecraft did show a solar wind increase to near 400 km/s. Only minor geomagnetic activity resulted at very high latitudes earlier. Be on the lookout for Aurora if it is dark outside. (SolarHam)

The solar disk is peppered with large sunspots, yet none of them is actively flaring. Sunspot 1462 is now heading for the southwest limb. A new sunspot may be hiding on the southeast limb and will soon rotate into direct Earth view.

CURRENT CONDITIONS:

The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 148 sfu

Solar wind
speed: 365.9 km/sec
density: 0.5 protons/cm³

Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 5 storm
24-hr max: Kp= 5 storm

Interplanetary Mag. Field
B_total: 14.8 nT
B_z: 13.6 nT south 

3-day Solar-Geophysical Forecast issued Apr 22 22:00 UTC

Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is expected to be low through the period (23 – 25 April) with a chance for an isolated M-class flare.

Geophysical Activity Forecast: Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels during days 1 – 2 (23 – 24 April) with a chance for active levels due mainly to a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream. Weak CME-passage effects are also possible on day 1 from the partial-halo CME observed on 19 April. Field activity is expected to decrease to mostly quiet levels on day 3 (25 April).