Solar activity has slightly increased. Several flares were produced since the last message, the largest being an M3.4 from newly numbered active region NOAA 14493 at 22:15 UT yesterday. NOAA 14493 is a newly emerged beta-gamma-delta type region showing significant signs of sunspot dynamism and has produced all 16 flares of the last 24 hours, including two further low M-class events. Elsewhere, NOAA 14492 has developed into a beta-gamma region but has remained relatively quiet. Due to the rapid emergence, significant development, and continued output of NOAA 14493 we will be preemptively issuing a Major Flare Watch at this time with NOAA 14493 as the target region. Further C and M-class activity is likely with a chance for an isolated >M5.0 event in the next 24-48 hours.
The position of NOAA 14493 on 21-July-2026 at 11:30 UT is:
N05E02, (-32", 1")
See http://www.SolarMonitor.org for images and