Major X2.0 solar flare erupts from Region 3234 – CME produced, S1 – Minor Solar Radiation Storm warning

A major solar flare measuring X2.0 erupted from Active Region 3234 at 17:52 UTC on March 3, 2023.

A Type II (estimated velocity of 247 km/s) and Type IV radio emissions were registered at 17:53 UTC, suggesting a strong coronal mass ejection (CME) and solar radiation storm were produced.

In addition, a 10cm Radio Burst (Tenflare), with a peak flux of 710 sfu, was registered from 17:49 to 18:03 UTC.

Region 3234 (Beta-Gamma-Delta) is located at the NW limb and will soon begin its farside rotation.

While the location of this region does not favor Earth-directed CMEs, it’s possible at least part of this CME will be Earth-directed.

Radio frequencies were forecast to be most degraded over the United States, Central America, and entire South America at the time of the flare.

S1 – Minor Solar Radiation Storm warning was issued at 18:47 UTC. Potential impacts: Radio – Minor impacts on polar HF (high frequency) radio propagation resulting in fades at lower frequencies.

Teo Blašković

Teo Blašković founded The Watchers in 2011 and edited it until 2026, covering seismic and volcanic activity, extreme weather, space weather and near-Earth objects. Articles on this page are his archive.

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