Space Weather
Space Weather Dashboard Card Explained
The space weather card summarizes public solar and geomagnetic conditions such as Kp and flare-risk context.
Quick answer / What to check next
Quick answer
The space weather card summarizes public solar and geomagnetic conditions such as Kp and flare-risk context.
What this signal means
Space weather can matter for specialized communications, GPS, aviation, satellites, and grid operators, but impacts vary widely by technology and location.
What to check on HazardNow
Kp level, flare risk, SWPC summaries, active Sun imagery, threshold labels, and source update time.
Verify with official source
NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center
Quick read
- Useful for
- Space weather can matter for specialized communications, GPS, aviation, satellites, and grid operators, but impacts vary widely by technology and location.
- Watch
- Kp level, flare risk, SWPC summaries, active Sun imagery, threshold labels, and source update time.
- Confirm with
- NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center
- Remember
- Kp is a broad planetary index and not a local impact forecast.
What the card summarizes
The Space Weather card condenses NOAA SWPC-style solar and geomagnetic context into a dashboard status. It helps users notice when non-terrestrial conditions may be relevant to infrastructure awareness.
Read the card as a specialized context layer. Most users should verify significant activity through SWPC before inferring practical impacts.
Visible metrics and current dashboard thresholds
- Main rating: Calm, Minor, Moderate, Severe, or Extreme based on the current Kp display thresholds.
- Kp: a 0–9 planetary geomagnetic disturbance index; higher values mean more geomagnetic disturbance.
- Current thresholds: Minor at Kp 5.0 or above, Moderate at 6.0 or above, Severe at 7.0 or above, and Extreme at 8.0 or above in the dashboard display logic.
- Flare risk: separate solar-flare and radio-blackout potential, normalized from None through Extreme when possible; it is not the same as current geomagnetic storm intensity at Earth.
- Main rating text: a short explanation of likely operational impact for the displayed bucket.
- Active Sun image: optional public solar imagery with its source label and caption when available.
- NOAA SWPC source: the authoritative source family for Kp, flare, and space-weather alert context.
What can make this status change?
- Kp rises or falls as geomagnetic conditions change.
- NOAA SWPC watch, warning, or alert context changes.
- Solar-flare probability or an observed flare class changes.
- Solar imagery becomes unavailable or a new source image is published.
Limitations and official verification
- Space-weather impacts are uneven and often technical.
- A high-level card cannot replace SWPC alerts or operator guidance.
- Verify aviation, radio, satellite, GPS, or grid concerns with SWPC and the relevant operator or agency.
Sources and update behavior
Space-weather readings come from NOAA SWPC public data. Observations can update frequently, while forecasts, alerts, and imagery follow their own source cadences.
Visual reference
Space weather card signal map
Read the signal as one layer in a larger source stack, not as a standalone instruction.
Official sources to verify
Use these links to verify current source text, update timing, and agency caveats.
Last reviewed: . This page explains general preparedness information and does not replace official instructions.
FAQ
Does Kp tell me exactly what will fail?
No. Kp is a broad geomagnetic severity indicator. Specific impacts depend on technology, latitude, operator mitigation, and official SWPC guidance.
Related terms
Check the live HazardNow dashboard
Use this page to understand Space weather card. Use the live dashboard to see current alerts, infrastructure stress, weather, wildfire, travel, public-health, supply-chain, and stability indicators in one place. Focus on Space weather, Internet/Cyber, Aviation delays in the live view.