Solar activity was moderate during the last 24 hours. Region 537 (N05E37) produced back-to-back M-class flares, an M1 at 0122 UTC followed immediately by an M3 at 0144 UTC. The x-ray events were associated with a narrow CME erupting off the southeast solar limb. Region 537 continues to have a delta configuration and is growing slowly, The spots appeared to be rotating slightly in a counter-clockwise direction. Region 536 (S12W28) is still the largest group on the disk and is undergoing a net loss of total spot area. However, there is some opposite polarity flux emerging just to the east of the region, and the spot group did produce occasional small flares throughout the day.

Solar activity is expected to be predominantly moderate. There continues to be a slight chance for major flare activity from Region 536 and from Region 537.

The geomagnetic field was at unsettled to minor storm levels during the past 24 hours. An initially unsettled geomagnetic field became more disturbed after 0600 UTC, with one minor storm period from 0600-0900 UTC, followed by unsettled to active conditions for the rest of the day. The increase was likely due to an observed change in the character of the solar wind around 0500 UTC. ACE solar wind data showed a slow rise in velocity, temperature, and density, as well as an increase in the total magnetic field intensity for about 4.5 hours accompanied by moderately southward Bz. The spiral angle also went through a reversal from away to towards just after 0600 Z and back from towards to away around 1000Z. This may be indicative of passage through an interplanetary current sheet. After 1000Z, velocity and speed continued to rise along with temperature, possibly suggestive of the onset of a co-rotating interaction region. The greater than 2 MeV electron fluxes were at high levels during the past 24 hours.

The geomagnetic field is expected to be unsettled with occasional active periods over the next three days. The main driver for this enhanced activity is expected to be the continued presence of high speed solar wind originating from a solar coronal hole.

  Observed       09 Jan 118
  Predicted   10 Jan-12 Jan  120/125/125
  90 Day Mean        09 Jan 137

  Observed Afr/Ap 08 Jan  004/009
  Estimated     Afr/Ap 09 Jan  020/025
  Predicted    Afr/Ap 10 Jan-12 Jan  015/015-015/015-015/020