A Big X-Flare, a Near X, & Three Earth-Directed Storms | Space Weather Spotlight 11 February 2024

This Space Weather News forecast sponsored in part by Millersville University: Our Sun has gotten so busy over the past week that I have had to update this forecast three times before releasing it to the public! This week our Sun has fired no less than seven mid-to-high M-class flares along with an X-class flare and has launched at least three Earth-directed solar storms. This means aurora photographers have something to look forward to, especially near February 12- 14. Aurora photographers clear down to mid-latitudes have a good chance to catch some aurora views during a series of solar storms headed towards Earth. In addition, big solar flares and radio blackouts continue to impact the dayside of Earth. Amateur radio operators and GPS users should remain vigilant this week as the chance for big radio blackouts up to the R3-level is high. Aviators should also take heed since we have an S2-level radiation storm ongoing with a polar cap absorption event that could cause additional trouble for navigation and HF radio communications, especially over the poles. Learn the details of the coming solar storms, see why big radio blackouts remain on the menu, and find out what else our Sun has in store. Want early access to these forecasts, tutorials on Space Weather, & more? Visit: For daily and often hourly updates (during active times) visit me on Twitter: For a more in-depth look at the data and images highlighted in this video see these links below. Solar Imaging and Analysis: SDO: Helioviewer: Flare Analysis: Computer Aided CME Tracking CACTUS: GOES Xray: SOHO: Stereo: GONG magnetic field synoptic movie: GONG magnetic field synoptic charts: LMSAL Heliophysics Events HEK Solar Wind: DISCOVR solar wind: ACE Solar Wind: NASA/CCMC/M2M Enlil Solar Storm Prediction Model: 00:44:00&window=-1&cygnetId=261 NOAA/SWPC Enlil Solar Storm Prediction Model: Magnetosphere, Ionosphere, Atmosphere: GOES Magnetometer: Ionosphere D-Region Absorption (DRAP) model: Radio Propagation: Near-Earth radiation environment: Auroral Oval Ovation Products: Global 3-hr Kp index: GEOCHRON Weather Display: USGS Ground Magnetometers: Multi-Purpose Space Environment Sites: NOAA/SWPC: SOLARHAM: Spaceweather: iSWA: Definition of Geomagnetic Storm, Radiation Storm, and Radio Blackout Levels: None of this would be possible without the hard work and dedication of those who have provided all of this data for public use. Images c/o NASA/NOAA/ESA/CSA (most notably the superb SDO, SOHO, ACE, DSCOVR, STEREO, CCMC, M2M, JPL & DSN teams, amazing professionals, hobbyists, institutions, organizations, agencies and amateurs such as those at the USAF/HAARP, NICT, NOAA, USGS, Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Intellicast, Catatania, , , , , , , and so much more. Thanks for making Space Weather part of our every day dialogue.