Solar Terrestrial Activity Report

Activity chart

Last major update issued on June 21, 2026 at 09:10 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 (June 1, 2026)
Solar cycle Solar cycles 23-25 (June 1, 2026) Historical solar and geomagnetic data charts 1954-2006 (April 5, 2007)
  Cycle 24-25 progress (June 1, 2026) 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 (June 1, 2026) 3rd SSN Workshop, Tucson, 2013
  Comparison of cycles 12-14, 16, 24-25 (June 1, 2026) 4th SSN Workshop, Locarno, 2014
  Solar polar fields vs. solar cycles (December 21, 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 unsettled levels, weakly under the influence of effects associated with CH1376. Solar wind speed at SOHO ranged between 368 and 446 km/sec, averaging 381 km/sec (-7 km/sec compared to the previous day). The high latitude magnetometer at Andenes was at quiet to active 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 112.5 - decreasing 20.3 over the previous solar rotation.

The 365 day average solar flux at 1 AU was 139.57 (183 days ago). The 81 day average solar flux at 1 AU was 126.1 (41 days ago, this is 36.1% 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 7 (STAR Ap - based on the average of three hour interval ap indices: 6.6). Three hour interval K indices: 32212221 (planetary), 33223322 (Boulder), 33123324 (Andenes).

The background x-ray flux is at the class B5 level (GOES 19).

At the time of counting spots (see image time), spots were observed in 10 active regions using 2K resolution (SN: 174) and in 11 active regions using 1K resolution (SN: 141) SDO/HMI images.

AR 14470 [N07E15] decayed slowly and was mostly quiet. C1 flares: C1.4 @ 03:07 UT
AR 14471 [N19W15] decayed slowly and quietly.
AR 14472 [S13E56] gained a few small and tiny spots and was the source of the largest M flare of the day.
New AR 14473 [S08E67] rotated into view on June 19 and developed into a compact spot group with a magnetic delta configuration. The region produced an M2.6 flare at 02:46 UT on June 21. Further M class flaring is possible. Note that SWPC is mistakenly including the leader spot of AR S12162 in this AR. C1 flares: C1.9 @ 12:20, C1.3 @ 23:06 UT

Spotted regions not observed (or interpreted differently) by SWPC/USAF:
AR S12141 [S04W25] was quiet and stable.
AR S12147 [N19E03] was quiet and stable.
AR S12156 [N12W60] was first observed with spots on June 18, then became spotless on June 19. On June 20 new flux emerged and a few spots formed.
New AR S12161 [N04W49] emerged with several spots before noon, then decayed slowly.
New AR S12162 [S08E75] rotated into view with a large leader spot trailing AR 14473. C1 flares: C1.1 @ 01:33, C1.0 @ 12:12 UT
New AR S12163 [N13E03] emerged with tiny spots.

A C1.3 flare at 11:36 UT had its source at or just behind the southeast limb.

C2+ flares

Magnitude Peak time (UT) Location Source Recorded by Comment
M1.3 01:51 S12E70 (SDO AIA) 14472 GOES18  
C2.0 11:27   S12162 GOES18  
M1.0 15:00 S09E90 (SDO AIA) S12162? GOES18 uncertain if origin in trailing spot section, or in another trailing AR
C4.8 21:45 S07E68 14473 GOES18  

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs)

June 18-20: No obviously Earth directed CMEs were observed in available coronagraph imagery.

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 southern hemisphere negative polarity coronal hole (CH1377) will rotate across the central meridian on June 21-23. A recurrent trans equatorial negative polarity coronal hole (CH1378) will likely become Earth facing on June 23-24.

Forecast

The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet levels on June 21-23. Effects associated with CH1377 could cause quiet to active conditions on June 24-25. CH1378 could cause quiet to minor storm conditions on June 26-27.

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
14465 2026.06.07
2026.06.08
2     N08W90 0060 CSO    

was AR S12125

rotated out of view

14469 2026.06.10       S16W50         was AR S12134

location: S16W45

14468 2026.06.13
2026.06.14
      N11W45           was AR S12138

location: N11W40

S12141 2026.06.13   13 3 S04W25 0030   BXO  
14471 2026.06.14
2026.06.18
1 8 4 N19W17 0010 AXX BXO was AR S12144

area: 0020

location: N19W15

S12145 2026.06.14       N04W41            
S12146 2026.06.14       S27W52            
S12147 2026.06.14   3 1 N19E03 0005   BXO  
S12148 2026.06.14       S14W24            
14470 2026.06.15
2026.06.16
4 9 7 N08E14 0090 DAO DAO was AR S12149

area: 0060

location: N07E15

S12151 2026.06.16       S17W31            
S12152 2026.06.16       N13W13          
S12154 2026.06.17       N11E04            
S12155 2026.06.18       N16W33          
S12156 2026.06.18   4 3 N12W60 0020   CRO    
14472 2026.06.18
2026.06.19
7 11 7 S14E54 0100 DAO CAI was AR S12157

area: 0150

location: S13E56

S12158 2026.06.18       S14E19            
S12159 2026.06.18       S02W12            
14473 2026.06.19
2026.06.20
9 12 8 S08E69 0270 EKO DAC beta-delta

was AR S12160

SWPC includes the leader spots of AR S12162

area: 0140

location: S08E67

S12161 2026.06.20   5 2 N04W49 0010   BXO    
S12162 2026.06.20   7 4 S08E75 0310   CKO   beta-gamma
S12163 2026.06.20   2 2 N13E03 0007   BXO    
Total spot count: 23 74 41  
Sunspot number: 73 174 141  (total spot count + 10 * number of spotted regions)
Weighted SN: 48 102 69  (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): 80 96 113  

Monthly solar cycle data

Month Average solar flux International sunspot number
(WDC-SILSO)
Smoothed sunspot number (4) Average ap
(3)
Measured 1 AU
2024.05 187.7 191.9 172.1 149.1 (+4.6) 23.56
(SC25 peak)
2024.08  246.1
(SC25 peak)
252.2 216.0  (SC25 peak) 156.8 (+1.8) 15.96
2024.10 221.0 219.6 165.8 160.9 (+1.5) (SC25 solar max) 18.99
2025.03 163.7 162.1 134.2 135.9 (-3.9) 15.96
2025.04 162.5 163.6 141.4 133.3 (-2.6) 17.62
2025.05 135.3 138.3 78.5 128.6 (-4.7) 17.26
2025.06 131.3 135.4 114.6 124.7 (-3.9) 21.43
2025.07 137.8 142.3 125.9 122.4 (-2.3) 11.80
2025.08 154.9 158.7 133.7 118.2 (-4.2) 9.97
2025.09 154.4 156.0 129.7 112.9 (-5.3) 14.02
2025.10 139.5 138.6 114.6 108.3 (-4.6) 15.64
2025.11 140.3 137.3 91.7 106.7 (-1.6) 21.01
2025.12 160.8 155.8 124.0 (106.4 projected, -0.3) 13.35
2026.01 148.7 144.0 112.6 (102.7 projected, -3.7) 22.47
2026.02 136.4 133.1 78.2 (98.5 projected, -4.2) 12.88
2026.03 131.0 129.7 85.9 (93.9 projected, -4.6) 15.44
2026.04  120.0 120.9 79.3 (90.0 projected, -3.9) 12.10
2026.05 125.4 128.2 101.4 (88.7 projected, -1.3) 9.80
2026.06 127.0 (1)   65.7 (2A) / 98.6 (2B) / 125.5 (2C)
ISN preliminary average: 104.7
At this level SSN for December 2025
will become 107.3
(86.6 projected, -2.1) (9.9)
2026.07       (82.2 projected, -4.4)  
2026.08       (80.1 projected, -2.1)  
2026.09       (79.1 projected, -1.0)  
2026.10       (77.1 projected, -2.0)  
2026.11       (74.3 projected, -2.8)  

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 March 2026

Solar activity appears to have exited the solar max phase as of February 2026 with a strong decrease in the number of sunspots observed. The northern polar field has weakened considerably over the last months, and although there is a chance the the field could recover over the next 1-2 years, there is an increasing chance that solar cycle 26 will be very weak. The southern polar field is not impressive either, however, a southern polar coronal hole has formed early in 2026 and appears to be growing.

All 365 day smoothed sunspot numbers reached a maximum on October 11-12, 2024
. This became the peak of SC25 (365 day smoothed peaks: STAR 1K: 236.1, STAR 2K: 364.3, NOAA SN: 156.0, ISN: 163.9), while 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.