Product: 3-Day Forecast
- Issued: 2026 Jan 02 1230 UTC
Prepared by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center.
The greatest observed 3 hr Kp over the past 24 hours was 4 (below NOAA
Scale levels).
The greatest expected 3 hr Kp for Jan 02-Jan 04 2026 is 6.00 (NOAA Scale
G2).
| Jan 02 | Jan 03 | Jan 04 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00-03UT | 3.00 | 5.00 (G1) | 3.67 |
| 03-06UT | 4.00 | 6.00 (G2) | 3.33 |
| 06-09UT | 3.33 | 6.00 (G2) | 2.00 |
| 09-12UT | 2.33 | 4.67 (G1) | 3.00 |
| 12-15UT | 2.00 | 4.00 | 3.00 |
| 15-18UT | 2.00 | 3.00 | 2.00 |
| 18-21UT | 2.33 | 3.00 | 3.33 |
| 21-00UT | 4.67 (G1) | 4.33 | 3.33 |
Rationale: G1 (Minor) storming levels are likely on 02 Jan due to the combination of HSS activity and potential glancing blows from the 28-30 Dec CMEs. By late on 02 Jan to early on 03 Jan, the arrival of the 31 Dec CME is expected to cause likely G1-G2 (Minor-Moderate) storming. Additional geomagnetic storming is anticipated on 04 Jan with the possible impact of the 02 Jan CME.
Solar radiation, as observed by NOAA GOES-18 over the past 24 hours, was below S-scale storm level thresholds.
| Jan 02 | Jan 03 | Jan 04 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 or greater | 10% | 10% | 10% |
Rationale: There is a slight chance for a greater than 10 MeV proton event today through 04 Jan.
No radio blackouts were observed over the past 24 hours.
| Jan 02 | Jan 03 | Jan 04 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| R1-R2 | 55% | 50% | 45% |
| R3 or greater | 10% | 10% | 10% |
Rationale: R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) radio blackouts are likely, with a slight chance for R3 (Strong) events on 02 Jan. Levels are likely to decrease to a chance for R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) radio blackout activity and a slight chance for an isolated R3 (Strong) event on 03-04 Jan as most regions on the visible disk continue to decay.
| eit 171 | eit 195 | eit 284 | eit 304 |
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Images: From left to right: EIT 171, EIT 195, EIT 284, EIT 304 EIT (Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Telescope) images the solar atmosphere at several wavelengths, and therefore, shows solar material at different temperatures. In the images taken at 304 Angstrom the bright material is at 60,000 to 80,000 degrees Kelvin. In those taken at 171 Angstrom, at 1 million degrees. 195 Angstrom images correspond to about 1.5 million Kelvin, 284 Angstrom to 2 million degrees. The hotter the temperature, the higher you look in the solar atmosphere. | |||
| SDO/HMI Continuum |
SDO/HMI Magnetogram |
LASCO C2 | LASCO C3 |
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The MDI (Michelson Doppler Imager) images shown here are taken in the continuum near the Ni I 6768 Angstrom line.
The most prominent features are the sun spots. |
LASCO (Large Angle Spectrometric Coronagraph) is able to take images of the solar corona by blocking the light coming directly from the Sun with an occulter disk, creating an artificial eclipse within the instrument itself. |
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for more information | |||
Bigger versions of this page in a new window: New regular size page, New 1280×1024 window, and New 1600×1200 window. |
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| Sunspot numbers | F10.7CM Radio flux | AP |
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for more information | ||
The Solar Cycle is observed by counting the frequency and placement of sunspots visible on the Sun. Solar minimum occurred in December, 2008. Solar maximum in May, 2013. | ||
| Solar wind | Satellite impact | Xray flux |
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for more information | for more information | for more information |
On the left: Real-Time Solar Wind data broadcast from NASA's ACE satellite. Middle: The Satellite Environment Plot combines satellite and ground-based data to provide an overview of the current geosynchronous satellite environment. Right: 3-days of 5-minute solar x-ray flux values measured on the SWPC primary and secondary GOES satellites. | ||
| Northern Auroral map | Southern Auroral map |
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Conditions on the Sun and in the solar wind, magnetosphere, ionosphere and thermosphere that can influence the performance and reliability of space-borne and ground-based technological systems and can endanger human life or health. This introduction movie in the English language will open on a new tab/window when you click on the image below.
Also in Quicktime format: Large (269M) and Small ( 60M).
Losts of interesting information
Space Weather Images and Information (excluded from copyright) courtesy of:
NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center,
Mauna Loa Solar Observatory (HAO/NCAR),
and SOHO (ESA & NASA).