Major X1.1 solar flare from sunspot region 2192

Sunspot region 2192 produced a major X1.10 solar flare (R3-strong radio blackout) at 05:03 UTC. This was the first X-class solar flare since 10 September 2014 and the 28th strongest solar flare of the current solar cycle.

Coronagraph imagery is not yet available to confirm the launch of a coronal mass ejection but the lack of any significant coronal dimming (traces in the solar corona of ejected material) suggest there might not be a major coronal mass ejection associated with this event despite the long duration of the solar flare. This sunspot region is also not yet in a great position for any eruptions to be earth-directed but we need to wait for coronagraph imagery from SOHO to confirm if there was an eruption and it's exact trajectory.

SUMMARY: X-ray Event exceeded X1
Begin Time: 2014 Oct 19 0417 UTC
Maximum Time: 2014 Oct 19 0503 UTC
End Time: 2014 Oct 19 0548 UTC
X-ray Class: X1.1
Location: S15E55
NOAA Scale: R3 - Strong
Potential Impacts: Area of impact consists of large portions of the sunlit side of Earth, strongest at the sub-solar point.
Radio - Wide area blackout of HF (high frequency) radio communication for about an hour.