Viewing archive of Wednesday, 22 July 2026

Daily bulletin on solar and geomagnetic activity from the SIDC

Issued: 2026 Jul 22 1235 UTC

SIDC Forecast

Solar flares

M-class flares expected (probability >=50%)

Geomagnetism

Active conditions expected (A>=20 or K=4)

Solar protons

Quiet

	10cm flux	Ap
22 Jul 2026	154	010
23 Jul 2026	158	018
24 Jul 2026	162	014

Solar Active Regions and flaring

Solar flaring activity was at moderate levels over the past 24 hours with 2 M-class flares identified. A total of 6 numbered sunspot groups were identified on the visible solar disk. The strongest activity was a M3.6 flare (SIDC Flare 8244) peaking on July 22 at 06:35 UTC, produced by SIDC Sunspot Group 920 (NOAA Active Region 4493). This region is classified as magnetic type beta-gamma-delta and remained the largest and most complex sunspot group on the visible disk, responsible for most of the observed flaring activity, including an M1.9 flare (SIDC Flare 8238) peaking on July 21 at 17:27 UTC. SIDC Sunspot Group 919 (NOAA Active Region 4492) currently located at N16E45 was re-evaluated and identified to be the returning SIDC Sunspot Group 860. It is now classified as magnetic type beta and has not produced any notable activity. SIDC Sunspot Group 886 (NOAA Active Region 4494, magnetic type beta) has shown some decline, remaining inactive. The remaining regions are magnetically simple and have been quiet. The solar flaring activity is expected to be at moderate levels over the next 24 hours with likely M-class flaring.

Coronal mass ejections

No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) have been identified in the available coronagraph imagery over the past 24 hours.

Solar wind

Over the past 24 hours the solar wind parameters (as measured by ACE at L1) have registered enhancements most probably related to a weak connection to the negative polarity SIDC Coronal Hole 149 without registering a typical high-speed stream arrival. The solar wind speed increased to 484 km/s. The interplanetary magnetic field (B) was enhanced reaching a maximum magnitude of 17.13 nT with a minimum north-south (Bz) component of - 12.9 nT. The B field phi angle was predominantly in the negative sector (directed towards the Sun) reflecting the polarity of the geo-effective coronal hole. The solar wind parameters are expected to remain enhanced under the mild influence of SIDC Coronal Hole 149. The solar wind speed is expected on increase over the next 24 hours and remain enhanced with an anticipated connection to SIDC Coronal Hole 142 later on July 23.

Geomagnetism

The geomagnetic conditions over the past 24 hours have been quiet to unsettled. Quiet to active conditions are expected over the next 24 hours with chances for isolated minor storms pending an anticipated high-speed stream arrival related to SIDC coronal hole149. Similar conditions might be expected later on July 23 to early UTC on July 24 with an anticipated high speed stream arrival related to SIDC coronal hole 142. Gradual decline towards unsettled and quiet conditions is expected for late July 24 to July 25.

Proton flux levels

Over the past 24 hours the greater than 10 MeV GOES proton flux was at nominal levels and is expected to remain so over the 24 hours.

Electron fluxes at geostationary orbit

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux as measured by GOES 18 and GOES 19 was below the 1000 pfu threshold over the past 24 hours and is expected to remain so over the next 24 hours. The 24-hour electron fluence was at nominal levels and is expected to remain at nominal levels over the 48 hours.

Today's estimated international sunspot number (ISN): 094, based on 18 stations.

Solar indices for 21 Jul 2026

Wolf number Catania	149
10cm solar flux	///
AK Chambon La Forêt	020
AK Wingst	016
Estimated Ap	016
Estimated international sunspot number	094 - Based on 34 stations

Noticeable events summary

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

All times in UTC

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