Friday the 13th – Solar CME Activity Expected

June 12, 2014

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Three X-class flares erupted from the left side of the sun June 10-11, 2014. These images are from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory and show light in a blend of two ultraviolet wavelengths: 171 and 131 angstroms. The former is colorized in yellow; the latter, in red. Image Credit: NASA/SDO

Solar Activity Increases

THUNDER BAY – The NASA Space Weather Prediction Center reports, “On June 11, 2014, the sun erupted with its third X-class flare in two days. The flare was classified as an X1.0 and it peaked at 5:06 a.m. EDT. Images of the flare were captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory. All three flares originated from an active region on the sun that recently rotated into view over the left limb of the sun”.

After producing a pair of R3 (Strong) Radio Blackouts in quick succession yesterday morning (10/1142 and 10/1252 UTC), active Region 2087 produced yet another R3 event today at 11/0906 UTC.

Impacts from this activity were short lived and affected HF communications for the daylit side of Earth at the time of the flare.

Continuing chances for more events R3 or greater events exists.

Unlike yesterday, a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) is not believed to be associated with this latest impulsive event.

Glancing Blow to Earth on Friday the 13th

A CME assoicated with the activity yesterday morning has been observed moving at a flank from Earth and a glancing blow to Earth from this event is expected on June 13. An outside chance of at most G1 (Minor) Geomagnetic storms remains in the forecast.

To see how this event may affect Earth, please visit NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center at http://spaceweather.gov, the U.S. government’s official source for space weather forecasts, alerts, watches and warnings.