A moderately strong solar flare measuring M4.7 at its peak erupted from geoeffective Active Region 2860 at 06:15 UTC on August 28, 2021. The event started at 05:39 and ended at 06:23 UTC.

The flare event follows increased solar activity with numerous c-class flares over the past 2 days and a C3 flare from AR2859 with an associated partial-halo coronal mass ejection (CME) on August 26. The impact from this event is expected on August 29, possibly causing G1 – Minor geomagnetic storms.

The eruption also caused a massive ‘solar tsunami’ — a wave of hot plasma and magnetism. “Based on the time it took to reach the next sunspot, halfway around the Sun, the tsunami was traveling faster than 177 000 km/h (110 000 mph),” said Dr. Tony Phillips of SpaceWeather.com.

Today’s m-class flare was associated with a Type II radio emission (estimated velocity 276 km/s) at 06:04 UTC. Type II emissions occur in association with eruptions on the sun and typically indicate a coronal mass ejection is associated with a flare event.

Additionally, a Type IV Radio Emission was registered at 06:15 UTC, indicating a major eruption on the Sun. Type IV emissions are typically associated with strong CMEs and solar radiation storms.

Region 2860 has Beta-Gamma magnetic configuration and is capable of producing more moderate to strong eruptions on the Sun.

Its current location favors Earth-directed CMEs.