Current Space Weather Update: Solar Flares, Auroras, and Cosmic Rays as Solar Cycle 25 Intensifies

SpaceWeather.com provides news and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, and near-Earth asteroids.

### Current Solar Conditions
– **Solar Wind Speed:** 401.5 km/sec
– **Density:** 4.85 protons/cm³
– **More Data:** ACE, DSCOVR
– **Last Updated:** Today at 0136 UT

### X-ray Solar Flares
– **6-hour Maximum:** C1 at 0028 UT on June 24
– **24-hour Maximum:** C5 at 1223 UT on June 23
– **Last Updated:** Today at 0140 UT

### Daily Sun Information
– **Sunspot Number:** 80
– **Spotless Days:**
– **Current Stretch:** 0 days
– **2025 Total:** 0 days (0%)
– **2024 Total:** 0 days (0%)
– **2023 Total:** 0 days (0%)
– **2022 Total:** 1 day (<1%) - **2021 Total:** 64 days (18%) - **2020 Total:** 208 days (57%) - **2019 Total:** 281 days (77%) - **2018 Total:** 221 days (61%) - **2017 Total:** 104 days (28%) - **2016 Total:** 32 days (9%) - **2015 Total:** 0 days (0%) - **2014 Total:** 1 day (<1%) - **2013 Total:** 0 days (0%) - **2012 Total:** 0 days (0%) - **2011 Total:** 2 days (<1%) - **2010 Total:** 51 days (14%) - **2009 Total:** 260 days (71%) - **2008 Total:** 268 days (73%) - **2007 Total:** 152 days (42%) - **2006 Total:** 70 days (19%)- **Last Updated:** June 23, 2025### Thermosphere Climate Index- **Today:** 20.94 x 10¹⁰ W- **Warm Max:** 49.4 x 10¹⁰ W (Hot in October 1957)- **Min:** 2.05 x 10¹⁰ W (Cold in February 2009)- **Last Updated:** June 22, 2025### Radio Sun- **10.7 cm Flux:** 125 sfu- **Last Updated:** June 23, 2025### Cosmic RaysSolar Cycle 25 is intensifying, reflected in the number of cosmic rays entering Earth's atmosphere. Neutron counts from the University of Oulu's Sodankyla Geophysical Observatory indicate that cosmic rays reaching Earth are slowly declining due to the relationship between the solar cycle and cosmic rays.- **Oulu Neutron Counts Percentages of the Space Age Average:** - **Today:** -8.8% (Very Low) - **48-hour Change:** -0.1% - **Max:** +11.7% (Very High in December 2009) - **Min:** -32.1% (Very Low in June 1991)- **Last Updated:** June 23, 2025### Current Auroral Oval- **Switch to:** Europe, USA, New Zealand, Antarctica- **Credit:** NOAA/Ovation- **Planetary K-index:** - **Now:** Kp= 1.33 (quiet) - **24-hour Max:** Kp= 2.67 (quiet)### Interplanetary Magnetic Field- **Btotal:** 6.53 nT- **Bz:** -1.36 nT (south)- **Last Updated:** Today at 0136 UT### Coronal HolesA solar wind from a peanut-shaped coronal hole is expected to reach Earth on June 26-27.- **Credit:** NASA/SDO### Polar Stratospheric CloudsType II polar stratospheric clouds (PSC) form at temperatures as low as -85°C. NASA's MERRA-2 climate model predicts that conditions for PSC formation are not currently met in the Arctic stratosphere.### Noctilucent CloudsThe northern season for noctilucent clouds has begun, with the first sightings reported in Russia on May 28, 2025. These clouds have since spread to lower latitudes, including a possible sighting in southern Italy on June 3, 2025.- **Photographer's Note:** "The noctilucent clouds were low and due north at about 1 a.m. local time," says Kevan Hubbard from Seaton Carew, England.### Space Weather Forecasts- **Updated:** June 23, 2025, at 2200 UTC- **Flare Forecast:** - **0-24 hr:** Class M 35%, Class X 10% - **24-48 hr:** Class M 35%, Class X 10% - **Geomagnetic Storms:** - **Probabilities for Mid-latitudes:** - **0-24 hr:** Active 30%, Minor 10%, Severe 1% - **24-48 hr:** Active 30%, Minor 35%, Severe 25% - **Probabilities for High latitudes:** - **0-24 hr:** Active 15%, Minor 25%, Severe 40% - **24-48 hr:** Active 5%, Minor 20%, Severe 80%### Space Weather HighlightsA significant coronal hole is currently facing Earth, expected to send a stream of solar wind our way by June 25, potentially resulting in G2-class geomagnetic storms. High-latitude observers are encouraged to watch for auroras, particularly in the southern hemisphere.### Historical Note on AurorasIn 1770, Captain James Cook and his crew aboard the HMS Endeavour witnessed unexpected red auroras near Timor Island during a geomagnetic storm. This event, now known as the "Cook Event," was previously thought to be a rare occurrence, but a recent study suggests it was comparable in strength to the famous Carrington Event of 1859. This discovery was made possible by correlating historical aurora sightings with modern geomagnetic data.### Space Weather Balloon DataSpaceweather.com and students from Earth to Sky Calculus regularly launch balloons to the stratosphere to measure secondary cosmic rays. Recent findings indicate a significant drop in atmospheric radiation, attributed to increased solar activity.For more updates and information, visit SpaceWeather.com.