Major X6.3 solar flare erupts from Region 3590

A major X6.3 solar flare erupted from Active Region 3590 at 22:34 UTC on February 22, 2024. The event started at 22:08 UTC and ended at 22:43.

This is now the second X-class solar flare of the day (UTC), the third in 24 hours, the strongest solar flare of Solar Cycle 25, and the 26^th strongest since 1996.

It follows X1.8 at 23:07 UTC on February 21 and X1.7 at 06:32 UTC on February 22, 2024.

A 10cm Radio Burst lasting 11 minutes and with peak flux of 240 sfu was associated with the event. A 10cm radio burst indicates that the electromagnetic burst associated with a solar flare at the 10cm wavelength was double or greater than the initial 10cm radio background. This can be indicative of significant radio noise in association with a solar flare. This noise is generally short-lived but can cause interference for sensitive receivers including radar, GPS, and satellite communications.

It appears a coronal mass ejection (CME) was produced but we are still waiting for reports of radio emissions that would confirm it.

Radio frequencies were forecast to be most degraded over the Pacific Ocean at the time of the flare.

Analysis of this event is still in progress.

Featured image credit: NASA SDO/AIA 131, The Watchers