Solar Terrestrial Activity Report

Activity chart

Last major update issued on October 12, 2025 at 08:05 UT.

Charts (* = updated daily) Data and archive
  Solar wind (*) Solar and geomagnetic data - last month (*)
  Electron fluence (*) Archived daily reports and monthly data since 2003.01 (October 1, 2025)
Solar cycle Solar cycles 23-25 (October 1, 2025) Historical solar and geomagnetic data charts 1954-2006 (April 5, 2007)
  Cycle 24-25 progress (October 1, 2025) Noon SDO sunspot count 1K image / 4K (*)
  Solar cycles 1-24 (August 1, 2020) POES auroral activity level [October 2009 - December 2012]
  Comparison of cycles 21-25 (October 1, 2025) 3rd SSN Workshop, Tucson, 2013
  Comparison of cycles 12-14, 16, 24-25 (October 1, 2025) 4th SSN Workshop, Locarno, 2014
  Solar polar fields vs. solar cycles (August 17, 2025) Cycle 25 initial spots (final update December 25, 2019)
  Solar cycles 24-25 transition using 365d smoothing  

Recent activity

The geomagnetic field was at quiet to active levels on October 11 under the influence of effects associated with CH1322. Solar wind speed at SOHO ranged between 362 and 598 km/sec, averaging 437 km/sec (+61 km/sec compared to the previous day). The high latitude magnetometer at Andenes recorded quiet to minor storm levels. The above 10 MeV proton flux was at background levels all day.

Solar flux density measured at 20h UT on 2.8 GHz was 131.2 - increasing 9.1 over the previous solar rotation.
The 365 day average solar flux at 1 AU was 165.55 (183 days ago). The 81 day average solar flux at 1 AU was 154.9 (41 days ago, this is 54.3% of the total SC25 solar flux range from the max 81 day average peak on September 4, 2024 at 227.3 and an average 81 day flux of 69 at solar minimum). SC25 365d peak: 195.9 on October 13, 2024.

The Potsdam WDC planetary A index was 16 (STAR Ap - based on the average of three hour interval ap indices: 16.0). Three hour interval K indices: 24432233 (planetary), 14432333 (Boulder), 33223435 (Andenes).

The background x-ray flux is at the class B6 level (GOES 19).

At the time of counting spots (see image time), spots were observed in 13 active regions using 2K resolution (SN: 278) and in 9 active regions using 1K resolution (SN: 177) SDO/HMI images.

AR 14243 [N19W49] decayed slowly and quietly.
AR 14244 [S21W16] was quiet and stable.
AR 14246 [N23W01] developed further and is a compact region with polarity intermixing and an east-west inversion line. An M flare is possible. C1 flares: C1.5 @ 10:41, C1.3 @ 17:36 UT
AR 14247 [S11W37] developed slowly and produced a few low level C flares. C1 flares: C1.7 @ 12:04, C1.1 @ 12:39 UT
AR 14248 [N07E35] was mostly quiet and stable. C1 flares: C1.1 @ 05:42 UT
AR 14249 [S18E37] was quiet and stable.
New AR 14250 [N07E27] emerged on October 9 and was numbered by SWPC 2 days later as the region developed quickly. An M class flare is possible.

Spotted regions not observed (or interpreted differently) by SWPC/USAF:
S11498 [S16W78] decayed slowly and was mostly quiet. C1 flares: C1.0 @ 08:02 UT
S11503 [S01W63] reemerged with a tiny spot.
S11513 [N04W21] was quiet and stable.
S11514 [N18E52] was quiet and stable.
New AR S11516 [S17E05] emerged with tiny spots.
New AR S11517 [S13E79] rotated into view with a large, mature spot.

C2+ flares

Magnitude Peak time (UT) Location Source Recorded by Comment
C2.7 19:15   14247 GOES18  

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs)

October 9-10: No obviously Earth directed CMEs observed in available coronagraph imagery.
October 11: A faint and slow CME originating from near AR 14246 was observed early in the day. The CME could reach Earth late on October 14.

Coronal holes

[Coronal hole history (since October 2002)]
[Compare today's report to the situation one solar rotation ago: 28 days ago 27 days ago 26 days ago]

A recurrent negative polarity trans equatorial coronal hole (CH1322) rotated across the central meridian on October 7-10.

Forecast

The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet to minor storm levels on October 12-13 due to effects associated with CH1322. Quiet to unsettled is likely on October 14 until the arrival of the October 11 CME after which unsettled to minor storm levels are likely.

Coronal holes (1) Coronal mass ejections (2) M and X class flares (3)
     

1) Effects from a coronal hole could reach Earth within the next 5 days. When the high speed stream has arrived the color changes to green.
2) Effects from a CME are likely to be observed at Earth within 96 hours.
3) There is a possibility of either M or X class flares within the next 48 hours.

Green: 0-30% probability, Yellow: 30-70% probability, Red: 70-100% probability.

Active solar regions



(Click on image for 2K resolution). 4K resolution. Compare to the previous day's image.
0.5K image

When available the active region map has a coronal hole polarity overlay where red (pink) is negative and blue is positive.

Data for all officially numbered solar regions according to the Solar Region Summary provided by NOAA/SWPC, all other regions are numbered sequentially as they emerge using the STAR spot number. Comments are my own, as is the STAR spot count (spots observed at or inside a few hours before midnight) and data for regions not numbered by SWPC or where SWPC has observed no spots. SWPC active region numbers in the table below and in the active region map above are the historic SWPC/USAF numbers. SWPC data considered to be not sufficiently precise (location, area, classification) are colored red.

Active region SWPC date numbered
STAR detected
Spot count Location at midnight Area Classification SDO / HMI 4K continuum
image with magnetic polarity overlays
Comment
SWPC/
USAF
STAR SWPC STAR Current Previous
2K 1K
14240 2025.09.29
2025.09.30
      N17W88           was AR S11480

location: N15W72

14241 2025.09.30
2025.10.01
      N12W86           was AR S11484

rotated out of view

actual location: N12W94

14245 2025.10.02
2025.10.06
3     S10W94 0010 BXO     was AR S11491

rotated out of view

14243 2025.10.02
2025.10.03
  2   N19W58 0002   AXX was AR S11492

location: N19W49

14242 2025.10.02
2025.10.03
1     S16W78 0010 AXX    

was AR S11494

spotless

real location: S09W78

SWPC has moved AR 14242
to the location of AR S11498

S11498 2025.10.03   2   S16W78 0002   BXO  
14244 2025.10.04
2025.10.05
  4   S21W22 0006   BXO was AR S11500

location: S21W16

S11502 2025.10.04       N15W58            
S11503 2025.10.04   1   S01W63 0001   AXX    
14246 2025.10.05
2025.10.06
12 43 28 N22W03 0050 DAI DAC beta-gamma

was AR S11505

area: 0300

location: N23W01

14247 2025.10.05
2025.10.07
6 28 18 S12W38 0030 CRO DRI

was AR S11506

area: 0110

location: S11W37

14249 2025.10.08
2025.10.09
1 10 2 S20E35 0010 AXX BXO was AR S11508

area: 0030

location: S18E37

S11509 2025.10.08       N30E07            
S11510 2025.10.08       S02W30            
14248 2025.10.09
2025.10.10
7 14 8 N07E29 0050 DSO DAO area: 0100

location: N07E35

SWPC location  was N08E47 on 2025.10.10 and is way off one day later

14250 2025.10.09
2025.10.10
8 32 25 N07E31 0070 DAI DAC beta-delta

was AR S11511

area: 0280

location: N07E27

S11512 2025.10.09       S02W30            
S11513 2025.10.10   3 1 N04W21 0006   BXO  
S11514 2025.10.10   4 2 N18E52 0012   CRO  
S11515 2025.10.10       N15E18          
S11516 2025.10.11   4 2 S17E05 0010   BXO    
S11517 2025.10.11   1 1 S13E79 0330   HHX    
Total spot count: 38 148 87  
Sunspot number: 108 278 177  (total spot count + 10 * number of spotted regions)
Weighted SN: 56 179 118  (Sum of total spot count + classification weighting for each AR. Classification weighting: X=0, R=3, A/S=5, H/K=10)
Relative sunspot number (Wolf number): 119 153 142  

Monthly solar cycle data

Month Average solar flux International sunspot number
(WDC-SILSO)
Smoothed sunspot number (4) Average ap
(3)
Measured 1 AU
2024.04 161.3 162.6 137.0 144.5 (+3.1) 9.69
2024.05 187.7 191.9 172.1 149.1 (+4.6) 23.56
(SC25 peak)
2024.06 184.3 190.2 164.1 152.8 (+3.7) 10.24
2024.07 196.6 203.0 196.8 155.0 (+2.3) 7.13
2024.08  246.1
(cycle peak)
252.2 216.0  (SC25 peak) 156.8 (+1.8) 15.96
2024.09 195.7 197.8 141.1 159.4 (+1.6) 15.36
2024.10 221.0 219.6 165.8 160.9 (+1.5) (SC25 solar max) 18.99
2024.11 199.6 195.3 154.1 157.1 (-3.8) 9.33
2024.12 197.3 191.2 154.6 151.3 (-5.8) 8.42
2025.01 190.3 184.2 137.0 146.3 (-5.0) 13.17
2025.02  184.2 179.7 155.7 139.9 (-6.4) 14.42
2025.03 163.7 162.1 134.2 136.0 (-3.9) 15.96
2025.04 162.5 163.6 140.6 (133.7 projected, -2.3) 17.62
2025.05  135.3 138.3 79.2 (130.1 projected, -3.6) 17.26
2025.06 131.3 135.4 116.3 (126.3 projected, -3.8) 21.43
2025.07 137.8 142.3 125.6 (123.0 projected, -3.3) 11.80
2025.08 154.9 158.7 133.6 (119.4 projected, -3.6) 9.97
2025.09 154.4 156.0 129.6 (115.5 projected, -3.9) 14.1
2025.10 143.1 (1)   42.7 (2A) / 120.4 (2B) / 157.3 (2C) (111.5 projected, -4.0) (18.7)
2025.11       (109.3 projected, -2.2)  
2025.12       (107.6 projected, -1.7)  
2026.01       (103.5 projected, -4.1)  
2026.02       (99.4 projected, -4.1)  
2026.03       (95.0 projected, -4.4)  

1) Running average based on the daily 20:00 UTC observed solar flux value at 2800 MHz and any corrections applied to that measurement.
2A) Current impact on the monthly sunspot number based on the Boulder (NOAA/SWPC) sunspot number (accumulated daily sunspots / month days).
2B) Boulder SN current month average to date.
2C) STAR SDO 1K Wolf number 27 day average.
3) Running average based on the quicklook and definitive Potsdam WDC ap indices. Values in red are based on the definitive international GFZ Potsdam WDC ap indices.
4) Source: WDC-SILSO, Royal Observatory Of Belgium, Brussels

Solar cycles 24-25

Smoothed SF and sunspot numbers

Update on the progress of solar cycle 25 as of June 23, 2025

Sunspot activity has been on a decreasing trend since September 2024 (using the average solar flux over 3 solar rotations as a proxy). Compared to the peak of SC25 solar flux has been at a low level in both May and June 2025. Taking a closer look at the 81 day (3 solar rotations) average solar flux proxy, its peak was in early September 2024 and had on May 12 decreased to less than half of the solar cycle flux range. Subtracting the 81 day average of approximately 69 at solar cycle minimum from all measurements, the SC25 range is 0 - 158.3.

All 365 day smoothed sunspot numbers peaked on October 11-12, 2024
, very likely making this the peak of SC25 (365 day smoothed peaks: STAR 1K: 236.1, STAR 2K: 364.3, NOAA SN: 156.0, ISN: 163.9). The 365d smoothed solar flux peaked on October 13, 2024, just 1.7% below the SC23 peak, and 62.6% above the SC24 peak.

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This report has been prepared by Jan Alvestad. It is based on the analysis of data from whichever sources are available at the time the report is prepared. All time references are to Universal Time. Comments and suggestions are always welcome.

SDO images are courtesy of NASA/SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams.