Space weather today in Bukavu

Space weather in Bukavu today

G1 minor geomagnetic storm forecast (NOAA, 2026-11-06 03:18 UTC). The planetary Kp index is 2 now and forecast to peak at Kp 5 in the next 24 hours. NOAA gives a 35% chance of R1–R2 radio blackouts today, 10% for R3 or stronger, and 5% for a solar radiation storm.

Radio: solar flares only black out HF radio on the half of Earth facing the Sun. The Sun is 5° below the horizon in Bukavu now (5:24 am local time). The biggest flare in the past 24 hours was M3.5 at 8:33 pm local time, while Bukavu was on the night side. HF radio is mainly hit by daytime solar flares (radio blackouts).

GPS and power: Near the magnetic equator, GPS signals can flicker after sunset (equatorial scintillation), most often near solar maximum and around the equinoxes. Power grid effects are very unlikely at this latitude.

Aurora chance tonight in Bukavu

Unlikely tonight (Kp 5 forecast; Bukavu needs an extreme Kp 9 storm). At 4.3° S geomagnetic, Bukavu is far from the auroral oval; only extreme Kp 9 (G5) storms such as May 2024 bring the aurora into view, mostly to cameras.

At the forecast Kp 5, the aurora's visible edge stays about 5,432 km south of Bukavu.

NOAA 3-day space weather forecast

Chances that NOAA issues each level somewhere on Earth. Radio blackouts only affect the sunlit side; geomagnetic storms are global but strongest near the poles.

Strongest solar flares this week

C-class and stronger flares from the past 7 days, local time in Bukavu.

• M3.5 flare peak Thu 8:33 pm, R1 minor radio blackout
• C2.9 flare peak Thu 11:34 pm
• C2.5 flare peak Fri 2:24 am
• C2.2 flare peak Wed 7:34 pm
• C1.3 flare peak Fri 12:31 am
• C1.2 flare peak Fri 12:21 am
• C1.2 flare peak Wed 8:54 am
• C1.1 flare peak Thu 7:00 pm
• C1.1 flare peak Wed 12:39 am
• C1.1 flare peak Sun 2:36 pm

What the scales mean

Space weather is the Sun's effect on Earth. NOAA rates it on three 1–5 scales. R (radio blackouts) comes from solar flares: X-rays reach Earth in 8 minutes and disrupt HF radio on the sunlit side for minutes to hours. S (solar radiation storms) comes from energetic protons a few hours later, a hazard for satellites, polar flights and astronauts. G (geomagnetic storms) comes 1–3 days after a coronal mass ejection or a fast solar-wind stream hits the magnetic field: it drives the aurora and can upset GPS, HF radio and power grids.

The Kp index (0–9) measures geomagnetic activity in 3-hour blocks: Kp 5 is a G1 storm, Kp 6 G2, Kp 7 G3, Kp 8 G4 and Kp 9 G5. Flares are classed A, B, C, M and X by peak X-ray brightness, each class ten times the one before; M1 flares cause R1 blackouts and X1 flares R3.

Space weather for nearby cities

• Space weather Uvira
• Space weather Bujumbura
• Space weather Kigali
• Space weather Geita
• Space weather Kahama
• Space weather Mwanza
• Space weather Bunia
• Space weather Bunamwaya

More sky pages

• Space weather today (worldwide)
• Aurora forecast
• Meteor showers

Guides

• Solar Flares and Geomagnetic Storms Explained: R, S and G Scales
• What Kp Index Do You Need to See the Northern Lights?
• How to See the Northern Lights Tonight: A Practical Guide
• GPS Jamming and Spoofing Explained: How Maps Detect It