X4.5 solar flare with a fast coronal mass ejection

Saturday, 14 September 2024 22:22 UTC

X4.5 solar flare with a fast coronal mass ejection

Sunspot region 3825 which is close to the east limb and slowly rotating into an earth-facing position has produced a long-duration X4.5 class solar flare (R3-strong) today that peaked at 15:29 UTC. This is the fifth largest solar flare of the current Solar Cycle.

The solar flare was highly eruptive. A fast coronal mass ejection was launched and the bulk of it is heading east of our planet, but there is a faint full halo outline visible on LASCO coronagraph imagery. We expect a glancing blow during the second half of 16 September (Monday) with solar wind speeds between 700km/s and 800km/s at arrival. A strong G3 geomagnetic storm watch is in effect on Monday, 16 September.

This is the same region which produced a couple of major coronal mass ejections in the far side so it looks like there is more gas in the tank for this region. It will rotate into an even more favorable earth-facing position in the days ahead. Keep an eye on this Active Region!

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