Last major update issued on May 6, 2013 at 04:40 UTC.
The geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled on May 5. Solar wind speed at SOHO ranged between 321 and 458 km/s. Wind speed increased after noon, likely due to a high speed stream from CH568. The interplanetary magnetic field was northwards after 18h UTC.
Solar flux measured at 20h UTC on 2.8 GHz was 137.1 (decreasing 2.1 over the last solar rotation). The Potsdam WDC planetary A index was 7 (STAR Ap - based on the mean of three hour interval ap indices: 6.9). Three hour interval K indices: 22212321 (planetary), 22212421 (Boulder).
Region 11731 [N09W77] decayed retaining only a few spots with rudimentary penumbra.
Region 11732 [S18W33] was quiet and stable.
Region 11734 [S18W09] was quiet. Interestingly a thin, elongated negative polarity patch emerged within the northwest sector of the major penumbral structure containing a tiny spot. C and M flares are possible.
Region 11737 [N22E13] was quiet and stable.
Region 11738 [N17E37] developed penumbra on a trailing spot while slow decay was observed in the leading spot section.
Region 11739 [N12E43] has 2 small magnetic delta structures. Further C and M flares are possible. C5+ flares: C8.0 at 00:49, C8.4 at 06:44, M1.4 at 17:56, C8.3/1N at 20:02 UTC.
Region 11740 [S20E53] was quiet and stable.
S2392 [N23W13] was quiet and stable.
New region S2398 [S19E75] rotated into view.
New region S2399 [N13W29] emerged with a penumbra spot.
May 3-5: No obviously Earth directed CMEs were observed in LASCO and STEREO imagery.
A recurrent trans equatorial coronal hole (CH568) was Earth facing on May 2-3.
The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet with a chance of unsettled intervals on May 6 due to effects from CH568. Quiet conditions are likely on May 7-8.