[Ips-dsgr] ASWFC Daily Report - 02 April 26 issued 0010 UT on 03 Apr 2026 [SEC=OFFICIAL]

Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre aswfc at bom.gov.au
Fri Apr 3 11:10:09 AEDT 2026


SUBJ: ASWFC DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 2330UT/02 APRIL 2026
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE WEATHER FORECASTING CENTRE
SUMMARY FOR 02 APRIL AND FORECAST FOR 03 APRIL - 05 APRIL
STATUS INDICATORS SOL:** YELLOW **   MAG:** RED **     ION: ** YELLOW **
ASWAS SCALE DESCRIPTION: https://bit.ly/3lmaMBx
Reissued due to additional remark on the solar proton flux.
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1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity 02 Apr:  R1

Flares    Max     Fadeout    Freq.  Sectors
  M3.5    1816UT  possible   lower  East Pacific/
                                    North American

Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 02 Apr: 140/94


1B. SOLAR FORECAST
             03 Apr             04 Apr             05 Apr
Activity     R0-R1              R0-R1              R0-R1
Fadeouts     Possible           Possible           Possible
10.7cm/SSN   140/94             135/89             140/94

COMMENT: Solar flare activity on UT day 02-Apr was R1 due to 
an M3.5 flare from solar region AR4404 (N17W17, beta). This region 
is showing decay in the number of small spots surrounding its 
larger main spot. Recent region of interest AR4405 (S26W05, beta) 
continues to slowly decay. Solar region AR4409 (N03E17, beta-gamma) 
continues to slowly develop. There are currently ten Active Regions 
on the solar disk. All other sunspot regions are either stable 
or in decay. A C6.1 flare near region AR4403 (N15W36, beta) with 
an associated solar filament eruption located at N17W23 was observed 
from 01/2229UT in SDO 304 imagery. A small section of filament 
located at N08W15 partially erupted at 01/1404UT in GONG imagery 
between solar regions AR4406 (N09W17, beta) and AR4404. Another 
larger filament eruption was observed from 02/1802UT located 
at N10W20 in association with the M3.5 flare from AR4404. Solar 
activity is expected to be R0-R1 over 03-05-Apr. A CME has been 
observed with an Earth directed component. A fast northwest CME 
was observed from 01/2324UT following the filament eruption at 
01/2229UT. Modelling of this event shows the bulk of the CME 
passing ahead and above the Earth with a glancing blow arrival 
at 03/1400UT +/- 12 hours. A more minor northwest CME was observed 
from 02/1418UT, which may be associated with the smaller filament 
eruption at 01/1404UT. This minor CME was modelled as an Earth 
miss. Another northwest CME was observed from 02/1848UT and has 
been paired with the M3.5 flare/filament activity. Modelling 
of the CME was conducted with limited imagery and results showed 
a low density CME passing in front and above the Earth. S0 solar 
radiation storm conditions were observed on UT day 02-Apr, though 
the solar proton flux has been steadily rising and is currently 
at 4PFU. S0, chance S1 conditions are possible on 03-Apr. S0 
solar radiation storm conditions are expected over 04-05-Apr. 
The solar origin of the increase in solar proton flux is not 
clear. An isolated coronal hole is visible in the south west 
solar quadrant just south of the solar equator. Following yesterdays 
weak shock arrival the solar wind gradually decreased before 
steadily increasing. The solar wind toward/away Phi angle, which 
indicates the direction of the interplanetary magnetic field 
in the ecliptic plane, suggests the Earth entered the coronal 
hole wind stream from the hole now in the southwest solar quadrant 
a day earlier than expected, with the Phi angle swinging from 
"away/+ve" to "towards/-ve" at 01/2000UT (matching the holes 
-ve magnetic polarity), the solar wind speed then steadily increased 
and the density steadily decreased. The solar wind speed may 
have increased earlier than expected due to the increase in coronal 
hole area on this rotation. The solar wind ranged from 427 to 
702 km/s and is currently at 690 km/s. The peak total interplanetary 
field strength (IMF, Bt) was 17 nT and the north-south IMF component 
range (Bz) was +12 to -16nT.The solar wind speed is expected 
to remain strong over 03-04 Apr.

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2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY

Geomagnetic field for Australian Region 02 Apr: G1

Estimated Indices 02 Apr : A   K           
   Australian Region      25   33444543
      Cocos Island        16   32333442
      Darwin              26   33444544
      Townsville          25   33444543
      Learmonth            -   --------
      Alice Springs       25   33444543
      Gingin              29   43444553
      Canberra            26   23544543
      Kennaook Cape Grim  33   33554553
      Hobart              32   32555543    

Estimated Antarctic Regional K Indices 02 Apr :
      Macquarie Island    59   24666753
      Casey               29   35444543
      Mawson              83   55774675

Observed Regional daily pc3 Indices 02 Apr : 
      Darwin               4   (Quiet)
      Townsville           0   (Quiet)
      Learmonth           NA
      Alice Springs        0   (Quiet)
      Gingin              14   (Quiet)
      Canberra            49   (Unsettled)
      Hobart             108   (Major storm)

Pc3 pulsations are high frequency (10-45 second period) variations 
of the Earths magnetic field. Daily pc3-indices are the daily sum 
of 20 minute pc3-indices for that station and have been shown to be
well correlated with rejection of high resolution aeromagnetic
survey flight-line data. 

NOTE: Indices may have been generated from data obtained in 
cooperation with the following organisations: Geoscience Australia, 
University of Newcastle Space Physics Group, Australian Government 
Antarctic Division and International Center for Space Weather 
Science and Education, Japan.


Estimated AFr/Ap Indices 02 Apr : A 
           Fredericksburg        31
           Planetary             48                         

Observed AFr/Ap Indices 01 Apr :  A   K
           Fredericksburg         8
           Planetary              9   3112 3222     


2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST 
Date      Ap    Conditions
03 Apr    35    G1-G2
04 Apr    22    G1
05 Apr    12    G0

COMMENT: ASWFC Geomagnetic Warning 24 was issued on 2 April and 
is current for 3-4 Apr. G1 geomagnetic conditions were observed 
in the Australian region on UT day 02-Apr. G1-G3 geomagnetic 
conditions were observed in the Antarctic region. G2 planetary 
conditions were observed. The increase in geomagnetic activity 
was due to the Earth entering an coronal hole wind stream a day 
earlier than expected. G1-G2 geomagnetic conditions are expected 
on 03-Apr due to the current influence of the coronal hole wind 
stream and an anticipated glancing blow CME arrival during the 
second half of the UT day. G1 conditions expected for 04-Apr 
due to ongoing effects of the coronal hole wind stream.

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3A. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION SUMMARY
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
02 Apr      Normal         Normal-fair    Fair-poor      

PCA Event : No event.

3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST
	            Latitude Band
Date        Low            Middle         High 
03 Apr      Normal         Poor-fair      Poor
04 Apr      Normal         Fair-normal    Poor-fair
05 Apr      Normal         Normal         Normal-fair

COMMENT: HF radio propagation conditions on UT day 02-Apr were 
normal to poor, with fair to poor conditions at middle to high 
latitudes due to earlier than expected onset of geomagnetic activity 
from a coronal hole wind stream. Fair to poor HF conditions are 
expected at middle to high latitudes on 03-Apr and generally 
fair conditions are expected for 04-Apr with poor conditions 
at times at higher latitudes. Isolated minor fadeouts are possible.

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4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY


Date   T index
02 Apr   118

Observed Australian Regional MUFs
   Cocos Island Region:
      Near predicted monthly values.
   Niue Island Region:
      Enhanced by 50% during local day.
      Enhanced by 50% during local night.
      Enhanced by 25% after local dawn.
   Northern Australian Region:
      Enhanced by 15% during local day.
      Enhanced by 20% during local night.
   Southern Australian Region:
      Enhanced by 20% during local day.
      Enhanced by 25% during local night.
      Depressed by 30% after local dawn.
   Antarctic Region (Casey/Davis/Mawson):
      Near predicted monthly values over the UT day.

Monthly T index:
Month  T index
Mar      92
Apr      83
May      81

4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST
Date   T index  MUFs
03 Apr    50    Depressed 20 to 30%/near predicted monthly values
04 Apr    70    Depressed 10 to 15%/near predicted monthly values
05 Apr    90    Near predicted monthly values

COMMENT: ASWFC HF Communications Warning 32 was issued on 2 April 
and is current for 3 Apr only. Maximum usable frequencies (MUFs) 
in the Australian region on UT day 02-Apr were enhanced by 15-20% 
in the northern Australian region. MUFs in the southern Australian 
region were enhanced during the local day and night by 20-25%, 
then becoming 30% depressed after local dawn this morning following 
overnight geomagnetic activity induced by a coronal hole wind 
stream. Southern Australian region MUFs are expected to be depressed 
by 30% during the local day today. Northern Australian region 
MUFs are expected to remain near predicted monthly values on 
03-Apr. Southern Australian region MUFs are expected to be depressed 
by to up 15% on 04-Apr. Isolated minor short wave fadeouts are 
possible.

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5. SPACE ENVIRONMENT SUMMARY

GOES satellite data for 01 Apr
       Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV:   2.1E+07
       Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV:  2.3E+04
       Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 6.70E+07   (normal fluence)
Electron Fluence Daily Deep Dielectric Discharge Probability: 8%
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.
       X-ray background: B5.6

DSCOVR Satellite Solar Wind Day Averaged Data for 01 Apr
Speed: 398 km/sec  Density:    4.2 p/cc  Temp:    76100 K  Bz:   0 nT

(Courtesy Space Weather Prediction Center, Boulder USA)
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Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
ASWFC at bom.gov.au
www.bom.gov.au | www.sws.bom.gov.au



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