Strong solar flare measuring M6.1 erupts from Region 2222

A long duration solar flare measuring M6.1 (R2-Moderate) at its peak time erupted on December 4, 2014 from Region 2222. The event started at 18:05, peaked at 18:25 and ended at 18:56 UTC.

This is a second M-class solar flare today from 'beta-gamma' classified Region 2222 which is still in favorable position for Earth directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CME). It is unclear at this time if CME was produced.

The same region produced an M1.2 flare at 08:10 UTC and a C5 flare at 08:56 UTC. Earth directed CMEs were not observed from those events.

A small filament appeared to erupt between 02:00 – 06:00 UTC south of Region 2225, based on movie loops of GONG H-Alpha and SDO/AIA 193 imagery. Further analysis will be accomplished once coronagraph imagery has been received.

Space Weather Message Code: SUMXM5
Serial Number: 130
Issue Time: 2014 Dec 04 1902 UTC

SUMMARY: X-ray Event exceeded M5
Begin Time: 2014 Dec 04 1805 UTC
Maximum Time: 2014 Dec 04 1825 UTC
End Time: 2014 Dec 04 1856 UTC
X-ray Class: M6.1
Location: S20W31
NOAA Scale: R2 - Moderate

Potential Impacts: Area of impact centered primarily on sub-solar point on the sunlit side of Earth.
Radio - Limited blackout of HF (high frequency) radio communication for tens of minutes.

Sunspots

There are currently 7 numbered sunspot regions on the Earth side of the Sun. The intermediate and trailing portions of Region 2222 decayed today. New flux emergence was noted near N09W05 and is being monitored. The remaining regions are stable or decaying.

Sunspots on December 4, 2014. Image credit: NASA SDO/HMI

2217 – Beta-Gamma
2218 – Alpha
2221 – Beta
2222 – Beta-Gamma
2225 – Beta
2226 – Beta
2227 – Alpha

Solar activity is expected to be at low levels with a chance for another M-class flare (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate) from December 4 to 6, particularly from Region 2222.

Featured image: NASA SDO/AIA 131 on December 4, 2014 at 18:22 UTC.