Major X5.1 solar flare erupts from Region 4274, producing large CME

This is the fifth X-class (the strongest) since November 4 and the fourth — and strongest — from Region 4274 since X1.8 at 17:34 UTC on November 4, X1.7 at 07:35 UTC on November 9, and X1.2 at 09:19 UTC on November 10.

The flare was associated with a Type II Radio Emission with an estimated velocity of 1 350 km/s, suggesting a coronal mass ejection (CME) was produced. Due to the source region’s location, an Earth-directed CME is very likely, with impact on November 13.

Image credit: SWPC

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

Proton flux counts sharply rose during the flare, quickly reaching S1 – Minor Solar Radiation Storm levels.

Image credit: SWPC

Image credit: SWPC

Solar activity was already at high levels over the past 24 hours due to a long-duration X1.2 solar flare at 09:19 UTC on November 10 from the same region.

The eruption produced a Type II radio sweep with an estimated velocity of 1 321 km/s (821 miles/s), a Type IV emission, and an asymmetric halo coronal mass ejection (CME). The event was also accompanied by an F10.7 cm radio burst of 860 solar flux units and a Castelli-U radio burst, driving S1 – Minor Solar Radiation storming.

The CME associated with the X1.2 flare is expected to arrive early on November 12, following an earlier CME from the X1.7 flare on November 9 that is forecast to arrive late on November 11. Together, these events are expected to produce enhanced solar wind conditions with speeds likely to exceed 700 km/s.

SWPC forecasts G2 – Moderate geomagnetic storm levels by late November 11, increasing to G3 – Strong levels on November 12.

Geomagnetic storms of G3 intensity can induce voltage irregularities in power systems, cause intermittent high-frequency radio navigation problems, and produce auroras visible at mid-latitudes. During similar events, aurora has been observed as far south as Oregon, Pennsylvania and Iowa, depending on the orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bz component and local viewing conditions.

Image credit: SWPC

Sunspots on November 11, 2025. Credit: NASA SDO/HMI

Region 4274 continues to evolve magnetically, showing a ‘beta-gamma-delta’ configuration with evidence of rotation and shearing within its southern sector. The region retains potential for additional X-class flares through November 13.