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X-class solar flares expected within 1–2 days
Scientists say solar activity is rising fast, with about 20 flares in the past 24 hours and possible X-class events ahead.
Image: iXBT
Solar activity is climbing sharply again. According to specialists, the Sun produced about 20 flares in the past 24 hours, up from just one or two per day on average only three days ago.
All of the recent events are occurring in geo-effective active regions of the Sun, meaning areas where ejections could potentially affect Earth. Researchers say the main driver of space weather remains a large coronal hole, which is keeping the probability of weak to moderate geomagnetic storms elevated. Geomagnetic indices are already up.
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Scientists expect solar activity to keep rising. Over the next one to two days, they forecast X-class flares, the most powerful category of solar flare.
Specialists also stress that the current surge appears to be local in nature and is tied to the emergence of a large isolated sunspot group No. 4493.
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via iXBT
