May 17 2012 Class M5 & Class C2 Solar Flare Stir Radio Blackout & Radiat...

 
Although region 1476 is quiet and in decay for days nevertheless produced a class M5 solar flare and a class C2 flare producing energetic solar protons swirling around Earth. Also, a very impulsive R2 (Moderate) Radio Blackout at 0147UTC on May 17 (9:47 p.m. EDT May 16). The region, now in the solar western hemisphere and magnetically well-connected to earth, also caused a very fast S2 Solar Radiation Storm with this eruption, which means it is a moderate event capable of confusing spacecraft imaging systems and causing single event upset' in orbiting electronics. Odds are the Radiation Storm has peaked. If a CME was launched, it is likely to be off-line with earth given the far western site of the event.
SDO/NASA
NOAA/Spaceweather