:Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2016 Mar 28 0122 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC contact on the Web
# http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html
#
# Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
21 - 27 March 2016

Solar activity was at predominately very low levels with an isolated
C1 x-ray event observed on 23/0354 UTC from Region 2524 (N15, L=277,
class/area Eho/340 on 19 Mar). No Earth-directed coronal mass
ejections were observed in coronagraph imagery.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at
normal levels on 23 March, high levels on 22 March and moderate
levels on 21 and 24-27 March.

Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to unsettled levels
with an isolated active interval observed early on 23 March. The
period began with quiet conditions, but increased to quiet to
unsettled levels late on 21 March due to the onset of a weak,
positive polarity coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS).
Predominately quiet to unsettled conditions persisted through early
on 24 March under the influence of the positive poarity CH HSS. Wind
speeds averaged about 425 km/s through midday on 23 March. A gradual
increase was then observed to a peak of near 565 km/s early on 25
March before decreasing to about 350 km/s late on 26 March. From
21-25 March, total field (Bt) ranged between 1-10 nT while the Bz
component varied between +9 nT to -5 nT.

Quiet conditions persisted from late on the 25th through 26 March.
Predominately unsettled levels were observed on 27 March due to the
onset of a co-rotating interaction region in advance of another
positive polarity CH HSS. On 27 March, wind speeds increased to near
440 km/s, Bt reached a maximum value of 12 nT while the Bz component
rotated between +8 nT to -9 nT.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
28 March - 23 April 2016

Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels with a slight
chance for C-class flares through the outlook period.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is
expected to be at moderate levels on 28 March and on 01-03, 07-11
and 17-23 April. High levels are expected on 29-31 March, 04-06 and
12-16 April.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be reach G1 (Minor) storm
levels on 02-03 and 11-13 April with G2 (Moderate) storm levels
expected on 02 and 11 April due to the influence of recurrent,
negative polarity CH HSSs. Quiet to unsettled levels are expected on
28-29 March, 04, 08, 14 and 23 April, with isolated active levels
expected on 28 March and 23 April, all due to various CH HSSs.
Mostly quiet condtions are expected for the remainder of the outlook
period.