M1.1 solar flare

Tuesday, 20 April 2021 18:26 UTC

Associated with the M1.1 solar flare (R1-minor) were Type II and Type IV radio emissions which indicates the launch of a coronal mass ejection. SOHO/LASCO (see the tweet below) confirms the launch of a slow and narrow plasma cloud which shows up as a partial halo going to the east on these images as seen from Earth's point of view. While sunspot region 2816 was just east of the Sun's central meridian, based on the images from SOHO we do think it is unlikely that the plasma cloud will arrive at Earth.

The M1.1 solar flare from sunspot region 2816 was associated with a narrow and slow coronal mass ejection that is not expected to arrive at Earth.

Sunspot region 2817 is at the moment the most likely candidate to produce M-class activity after strong spot development today. pic.twitter.com/94zzLKzn9Z

— SpaceWeatherLive (@_SpaceWeather_) April 20, 2021

While it was sunspot region 2816 that gave us the M-class solar flare, it is sunspot region 2817 that seen the most significant growth during the past few hours and it is this region that is the most likely candidate to produce C or perhaps even a low-level M-class solar flares in the next 24 hours. Sunspot region 2817 has also been the source today of numerous B-class solar flares. Good to see some Solar Cycle 25 action after this long period with hardly any solar activity at all!