Multiple M-class solar flares and CMEs, possible CME impact on December 27
Image credit: NASA/ESA LASCO C3, The Watchers
Multiple M-class solar flares and CMEs were recorded on December 24, 2023. Forecasts indicate potential geomagnetic disturbances with a grazing blow expected late on December 27, 2023.
Solar activity has increased to moderate levels, marked by several M-class flares over the last 24 hours leading up to 00:30 UTC on December 25, 2023.
The flares erupted mainly from Region 3529, including an M2.9 flare at 11:18 UTC on December 24 and an M2.6 flare at 16:49 UTC. Another notable M1.1 flare was detected from a region just beyond the southeast limb. Despite the flaring, most spot groups remained stable, with Region 3530 showing signs of growth.
Additionally, an approximately 22-degree filament eruption centered near N48W35 began lifting at 09:20 UTC on December 24, leading to a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) observed in SOHO/LASCO coronagraph imagery by 12:24 UTC. Initial analyses suggest a possible grazing impact from this CME by late on December 27. Another CME of interest, resulting from a filament eruption near S20E48 at 14:38 UTC, was observed off the southwest limb. Analysis of this event is still in progress.
In terms of solar radiation, the greater than 2 MeV electron flux maintained normal to moderate levels, with the greater than 10 MeV proton flux remaining at background levels. These conditions are expected to persist through December 27.
Solar wind parameters were mildly disturbed over the past 24 hours. Wind speeds fluctuated between 364 – 468 km/s, while total magnetic field strength and the Bz component varied within typical ranges. Mostly positive phi angles were recorded.
Looking ahead, nominal solar wind conditions are anticipated for December 25-26, with late December 27 potentially seeing effects from the December 24 CME. As for the geomagnetic field, quiet to unsettled conditions will dominate until late December 27, when the expected CME could stir unsettled to active periods.
References:
1 Forecast Discussion – Issued: 2023 Dec 25 0030 UTC – Prepared by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
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.
Published in the last 24 hours
- A meteorite blew a crater beside a village near Lake Titicaca in 2007, and dozens of villagers who went to see it got headaches and nausea, though tests found nothing the rock had added to the water Epicenter
- The people who pay closest attention to the weather are the ones storms have already cost the most, a study of 946 students found, with one damaging storm making little difference to how much attention a student paid, but two or more making a clear one Epicenter
- The sea is falling in Juneau, Alaska, because land freed from melted glaciers is rising about 0.6 inches a year Epicenter
- A dam above Los Angeles collapsed just before midnight on March 12, 1928, and the flood killed more than 400 people, hours after the engineer who built it had spent two hours looking at a new leak and decided there was no danger Epicenter
