Viewing archive of Monday, 16 February 2026

Daily bulletin on solar and geomagnetic activity from the SIDC

Issued: 2026 Feb 16 1353 UTC

SIDC Forecast

Solar flares

C-class flares expected, (probability >=50%)

Geomagnetism

Minor storm expected (A>=30 or K=5)

Solar protons

Quiet

	10cm flux	Ap
16 Feb 2026	121	007
17 Feb 2026	120	031
18 Feb 2026	120	010

Solar Active Regions and flaring

Solar flaring activity was moderate over the past 24 hours, with 1 C-class flare and 1 M-class flare identified. The largest flare was a M2.4 flare (SIDC Flare 7037, S09 E89) peaking on February 16 at 04:35 UTC, which was produced by an unnumbered active region on the E limb. A total of 6 numbered sunspot groups were identified on the disk over the past 24 hours. SIDC Sunspot Group 795 (NOAA Active Region 4377) is the most complex region with its Beta-Delta magnetic configuration, and it was growing over the past 24 hours. Solar flaring activity is expected to be low to moderate over the next 24 hours, with C-class flares expected and a chance for M-class flares.

Coronal mass ejections

A partial halo coronal mass ejection (CME) was first observed in SOHO/LASCO-C2 images on 04:24 UTC on Feb 16. It was associated with a M2.4 flare (SIDC Flare 7037, S09 E89) peaking on February 16 at 04:35 UTC, which was produced by an unnumbered active region on the E limb. It has a projected speed of about 1600 km/s and a projected width of about 180 degrees. First analysis of this CME shows that a glancing blow is possible at Earth on Feb 17. No other Earth-directed CME were detected in the available coronagraph observations during last 24 hours.

Solar wind

Earth is still inside a fast solar wind stream, with the continuous arrival of high speed streams (HSSs) associated with SIDC Coronal Hole 146 (elongated, positive polarity). The solar wind speed ranged from 480 to 722 km/s. The total interplanetary magnetic field ranged from 2 to 9 nT, with the North-South component (Bz) reaching a minimum of -7 nT. In the next 24 hours, solar wind conditions are expected to remain enhanced with the further arrival of HSSs, and also possibly with a glancing blow associated with a coronal mass ejection (CME) that was observed lifting from the Sun on Feb 16.

Geomagnetism

Geomagnetic conditions were globally at unsettled to active conditions (NOAA Kp 3 to 4), and locally over Belgium at quiet to active conditions (K BEL 2 to 4) during the past 24 hours. In the next 24 hours, we expect unsettled to minor storm conditions (K 3 to 5) possibly with the further arrival of HSSs from the SIDC Coronal Hole 146 (elongated, positive polarity), and also possibly with a glancing blow associated with a coronal mass ejection (CME) that was observed lifting from the Sun on Feb 16.

Proton flux levels

The greater than 10 MeV GOES proton flux was below the threshold level over the past 24 hours and it is expected to remain so for the next 24 hours.

Electron fluxes at geostationary orbit

The 2 MeV electron flux, as measured by GOES-18 and GOES-19 satellites, was below the threshold level in the last 24 hours. It may exceed the threshold level in the coming 24 hours. The 24h electron fluence was at nominal levels and is expected to remain so.

Today's estimated international sunspot number (ISN): 076, based on 08 stations.

Solar indices for 15 Feb 2026

Wolf number Catania	///
10cm solar flux	118
AK Chambon La Forêt	035
AK Wingst	028
Estimated Ap	029
Estimated international sunspot number	073 - Based on 23 stations

Noticeable events summary

Provided by the Solar Influences Data analysis Center© - SIDC - Processed by SpaceWeatherLive

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