[Ips-dsgr] ASWFC Daily Report - 26 March 26 issued 2330 UT on 26 Mar 2026 [SEC=OFFICIAL]
Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre
aswfc at bom.gov.au
Fri Mar 27 10:30:44 AEDT 2026
SUBJ: ASWFC DAILY SOLAR AND GEOPHYSICAL REPORT
ISSUED AT 2330UT/26 MARCH 2026
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE WEATHER FORECASTING CENTRE
SUMMARY FOR 26 MARCH AND FORECAST FOR 27 MARCH - 29 MARCH
STATUS INDICATORS SOL:** YELLOW ** MAG:** YELLOW ** ION: GREEN
ASWAS SCALE DESCRIPTION: https://bit.ly/3lmaMBx
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1A. SOLAR SUMMARY
Activity 26 Mar: R1
Flares Max Fadeout Freq. Sectors
M3.9 0623UT possible lower Mid East/Indian
Observed 10.7 cm flux/Equivalent Sunspot Number for 26 Mar: 152/107
1B. SOLAR FORECAST
27 Mar 28 Mar 29 Mar
Activity R0-R1 R0-R1 R0-R1
Fadeouts Possible Possible Possible
10.7cm/SSN 157/111 160/114 158/112
COMMENT: Solar activity on UT day 26-Mar was R1, with an isolated
M3.9 solar flare from active region (AR) 4403 (N17E43, beta).
There are currently seven numbered sunspot regions on the solar
disk. AR 4401 (N24E15, beta-gamma) has continued to grow rapidly,
however the trailing region may be developing into a separate
sunspot. AR4400 (S13W78, beta) has shown some minor growth but
is about to rotate away from sight. All other sunspot regions
are either stable or in decay. Solar activity is expected to
be R0-R1 over 17-19 Mar.
A coronal mass ejection (CME) was observed in association with
the M3.9 flare, directed out to the solar northeast. This CME has
been analysed not to be geoeffective. No other frontside CMEs were
observed today.
S0 solar radiation storm conditions were observed on UT day 26-Mar.
S0 solar radiation storm conditions are expected over 27-29 Mar.
The solar wind environment on UT day 26-Mar was near background
levels most of the day, with a small increase to wind speed towards
the end, likely a weak passing by transient rather than early connection
to a coronal hole. The solar wind ranged from 430 to 500 km/s.
The peak total interplanetary field strength (IMF, Bt) was 6
nT and the north-south IMF component range (Bz) was +4 to -5
nT. The solar wind environment is expected to be near background
levels on 27-Mar, but may become enhanced over 28-29 Mar due
to connection with a coronal hole.
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2A. MAGNETIC SUMMARY
Geomagnetic field for Australian Region 26 Mar: G0
Estimated Indices 26 Mar : A K
Australian Region 9 11233411
Cocos Island 6 11212321
Darwin 9 21223412
Townsville 10 21233412
Learmonth 12 21234421
Alice Springs 10 12233411
Gingin 10 21233421
Canberra 9 11233411
Kennaook Cape Grim 10 11333411
Hobart 10 11333411
Estimated Antarctic Regional K Indices 26 Mar :
Macquarie Island 21 11355511
Casey 11 34322222
Mawson 18 34323434
Observed Regional daily pc3 Indices 26 Mar :
Darwin 2 (Quiet)
Townsville 0 (Quiet)
Learmonth 0 (Quiet)
Alice Springs 0 (Quiet)
Gingin 8 (Quiet)
Canberra 15 (Quiet)
Hobart 20 (Quiet)
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 26 Mar : A
Fredericksburg 12
Planetary 14
Observed AFr/Ap Indices 25 Mar : A K
Fredericksburg 12
Planetary 17 3354 213-
2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST
Date Ap Conditions
27 Mar 8 G0
28 Mar 14 G0-G1
29 Mar 18 G0-G1
COMMENT: G0 geomagnetic conditions were observed in the Australian
region on UT day 26-Mar. G0-G1 geomagnetic conditions were observed
in the Antarctic region. G0 geomagnetic conditions are expected
on 27-Mar. Due to connection with a new coronal hole, periods
of G1 are possible over 28-29 Mar.
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3A. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION SUMMARY
Latitude Band
Date Low Middle High
26 Mar Normal-fair Normal-fair Fair
PCA Event : No event.
3B. GLOBAL HF PROPAGATION FORECAST
Latitude Band
Date Low Middle High
27 Mar Normal Normal Normal-fair
28 Mar Normal-fair Normal-fair Normal-fair
29 Mar Normal-fair Normal-fair Normal-fair
COMMENT: HF radio propagation on UT day 26-Mar was mildly degraded,
particularly in the southern hemisphere. HF radio propagation
conditions are expected to recover and be mostly normal on 27-Mar.
Conditions may become mildly degraded towards the end fo 28-Mar
due to onset of a coronal hole, carrying into 29-Mar.
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4A. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC SUMMARY
Date T index
26 Mar 74
Observed Australian Regional MUFs
Cocos Island Region:
Near predicted monthly values during local day.
Depressed by 15% during local night.
Niue Island Region:
Enhanced by 30% during local day.
Near predicted monthly values during local night.
Northern Australian Region:
Near predicted monthly values.
Southern Australian Region:
Depressed by 25% during local day.
Depressed by 20% during local night.
Antarctic Region (Casey/Davis/Mawson):
Near predicted monthly values over the UT day.
Monthly T index:
Month T index
Feb 98
Mar 87
Apr 85
4B. AUSTRALIAN REGION IONOSPHERIC FORECAST
Date T index MUFs
27 Mar 90 Near predicted monthly values
28 Mar 100 Near predicted monthly values
29 Mar 90 Near predicted monthly values to 15% depressed
COMMENT: ASWFC SWF HF Communications Warning 29 was issued on
26 March and is current for 26-27 Mar. Maximum usable frequencies
(MUFs) in the Australian region were near predicted values to
25% depressed. Sporadic-E was observed along the east coast of
Australia during local night hours. Scintillation was observed
in Weipa from 1324 to 1340 UT. MUFs in the Australian region
are expected to recover over 27-28 Mar, and then possibly become
depressed by 29-Mar due to coronal hole activity.
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5. SPACE ENVIRONMENT SUMMARY
GOES satellite data for 25 Mar
Daily Proton Fluence >1 MeV: 1.2E+06
Daily Proton Fluence >10 MeV: 1.8E+04
Daily Electron Fluence >2 MeV: 4.70E+08 (moderate fluence)
Electron Fluence Daily Deep Dielectric Discharge Probability:23%
Fluence (flux accumulation over 24hrs)/ cm2-ster-day.
X-ray background: B8.3
DSCOVR Satellite Solar Wind Day Averaged Data for 25 Mar
Speed: 537 km/sec Density: 0.3 p/cc Temp: 91800 K Bz: 2 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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