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April 2, 2001 — The sun continues generating storms and flares, and some have already reached the Earth. According to NOAA's Space Environment Center in Boulder, Colo., two X-flares occurred today at 5:04 a.m. EDT and again at 5:58 a.m. EDT., X being the highest category of flares possible. Forecasters are predicting up to a moderate geomagnetic storm (G-2 on the NOAA Space Weather Scales) and a minor solar radiation storm (S-1 on the NOAA Space Weather Scales) as a result of these events. NOAA space weather forecaster Gary Heckman says that the solar radiation event should last less than a day. (Click image from NASA's SOHO satellite for larger view.)

According to Heckman, the sun remains very active. "Yesterday morning the sun produced a huge explosion with a full halo Coronal Mass Ejection, but a good bit of it was hidden behind the sun itself. Most of the material ejected by the sun went off into space. However, that area of the sun will be rotating towards Earth in another day or so, and forecasters will certainly be watching to see if any additional storming occurs."

The huge sunspot group that was the most active over the last few days has moved slightly to the side of the sun but could still produce storms that would impact Earth. NOAA space weather forecasters are keeping a close eye on it as well. "It was a slam dunk to forecast when it was facing us directly, but the forecast is trickier now that the region has shifted slightly to the side. We could still experience some significant storming from that area of the sun," Heckman said.

NOAA's Space Environment Center is the nation's official source of space weather alerts and warnings and continually monitors and forecasts Earth's space environment.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA's Space Environment Center — Click "Space Weather Now" for the latest information on solar activity.

NOAA's Space Weather Scales

NOAA Space Weather Advisories

Today's Space Weather Forecast — Includes the latest image of the sun from Earth-based telescopes positioned around the world.

Real-time images of the Sun from NASA's SOHO Satellite

SPACE WEATHER - WHAT IS IT AND WHY DO WE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT?

NEW NOAA SPACE WEATHER SCALES MAKE SOLAR MAX EFFECTS MORE PREDICTABLE

Media Contact:
Barbara McGehan, NOAA Space Environment Center, Boulder, Colo., at (303) 497-6288