Solar activity was moderate. There were two M-class events during the past 24 hours: an M1 from Region 720 (N13W83) at 1016 UTC, and an M1 from Region 719 (S06W90) at 1355 UTC. Two new regions emerged on the disk today: Region 725 (S04W36) and Region 726 (S02E27).

Solar activity is expected to be moderate. In addition, there is a fair chance for a major flare and/or proton producing event from Region 720 as it rotates off the solar disk.

The geomagnetic field was initially at quiet to unsettled levels until a sudden impulse occurred at 1711 UTC. The sudden impulse was preceded by a strong shock at the ACE spacecraft: solar wind velocity jumped from about 600 km/s to 900-1000 km/s. The sudden impulse at Earth was followed by magnetopause crossings at geosynchronous orbit and severe levels of geomagnetic activity. The shock and subsequent disturbed solar wind were most likely a response to a CME associated with yesterday's X7 event. The greater than 100 MeV proton event that began at 20/0650 UTC continued to decline during the past 24 hours and dropped below threshold at 21/1845 UTC. The greater than 10 MeV proton event that began 16/0210 continues in progress: flux levels continue to decline with current levels at about 50 PFU.

The geomagnetic field is expected to be at minor to major storm levels for the next 12-24 hours (22 January) as the current disturbance persists. Conditions should subside to mostly active levels by day two (23 January). Unsettled to active levels are expected to prevail on the third day (24 January) due to effects from a favorably positioned coronal hole.

  Osservato       21 Jan 114
  Previsto   22 Jan-24 Jan  105/095/090
  Media di 90 Giorni        21 Jan 108

  Osservato Afr/Ap 20 Jan  010/012
  Stimato     Afr/Ap 21 Jan  045/070
  Previsto    Afr/Ap 22 Jan-24 Jan  030/060-020/025-015/015