Fast Solar Solar Wind & First Sunspot of a New Cycle: Storm Forecast 01-20-17

Solar activity picks up this week after a lull, bringing some fast solar wind that is causing a mild solar storm. Aurora has been seen at high latitudes and sporadically at mid-latitudes, but effects are mild. These mild conditions are likely to continue through the weekend. Amateur radio and GPS operators should only experience minor effects. Get an update on the storm, catch up on aurora photos, and see the first sunspot of solar cycle 25 appear!

For daily and often hourly updates (during active times) visit me on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/TamithaSkov

For a more in-depth look at the data and images highlighted in this video see these links below.

Aurora photography:

Steph Edgar, Torquay, Saskatchewan, Canada: https://twitter.com/stephedgar87/status/757491527220203520

SussanSays, Hobart, Tasmania: https://twitter.com/SussanSays/status/821701273233694721

Rayann Elzein, Inari, Finland: http://spaceweathergallery.com/indiv_upload.php?upload_id=132336&PHPSESSID=b9n75imujjtvj5foqpl44go601

Solar Imaging and Analysis:
SDO: http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/data/
Helioviewer: http://www.helioviewer.org/
STEREO-EUVI + SDO-AIA 360° Heliographic Maps: http://tcrb.nrl.navy.mil/~iuu/maps360/284/movietool.html
Flare Analysis: http://www.lmsal.com/solarsoft/latest_events/
Computer Aided CME Tracking CACTUS: http://www.sidc.oma.be/cactus/out/latestCMEs.html
GOES Xray: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/rt_plots/xray_1m.html
SOHO: http://sohodata.nascom.nasa.gov/
Stereo: http://stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov/
NOAA Sunspot Classifications: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpdir/latest/
GONG: http://gong2.nso.edu/dailyimages/
GONG Magnetic Maps: http://gong.nso.edu/data/magmap/
LMSAL Heliophysics Events HEK http://www.lmsal.com/isolsearch

Solar Wind:
NOAA/SWPC: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov
ACE Solar Wind: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ace/ace_rtsw_data.html
Wang-Sheeley-Arge Solar Wind Prediction Model: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ws/
NASA ENLIL SPIRAL: http://iswa.gsfc.nasa.gov:8080/IswaSy...
NOAA ENLIL SPIRAL: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/wsa-enlil/

Magnetosphere, Ionosphere, Atmosphere:
GOES Magnetometer: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/rt_plots/mag_3d.html
Ionosphere D-Region Absorption (DRAP) model: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/drap/
Auroral Oval Ovation Products: http://helios.swpc.noaa.gov/ovation/
POES Auroral Global Maps: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/pmap/
Global 3-hr Kp index: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/rt_plots/kp_3d.html
Wing Kp index prediction: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/wingkp/index.html
USGS Ground Magnetometers: http://geomag.usgs.gov/realtime/
USGS Disturbance Storm-Time (Dst): http://geomag.usgs.gov/realtime/dst/
NAIRAS Radiation Storm Model: http://terra2.spacenvironment.net/~raps_ops/current_files/globeView.html
HAARP Data Meters: http://www.haarp.alaska.edu/haarp/

Multi-Purpose Space Environment Sites:
SOLARHAM: http://www.solarham.net/index.htm
Spaceweather: http://spaceweather.com
SOLARIMG: http://solarimg.org/artis/
iSWA: http://iswa.gsfc.nasa.gov/iswa/iSWA.html

Definition of Geomagnetic Storm, Radiation Storm, and Radio Blackout Levels:
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/NOAAscales/

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/ESA/CSA (most notably the superb SDO, SOHO, ACE, STEREO, CCMC, 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, rice.edu, wisc.edu, sonoma.edu ucalgary.ca, rssi.ru, ohio-state.edu, solen.info, and more. Thanks for making Space Weather part of our every day dialogue.