Update: 5:55pm Eastern Time

Earthquake watch score: 7. We are less than 7 days until the Mercury/Sun conjunction and an apparently unrestricted coronal hole will be facing earth in the lead-up. We still are sitting on more pressure than average quaking says we should be. If the coronal fields do not block and the power holds we should be at 8.

Solar Notes: The incoming sunspots are the game changers right now, but the departing group is developing dangerously in the center – CMEs won’t be geoeffective but it could be more of the ‘earth-facing quiet’ that we’ve discussed numerous times, presenting as backside and limb flares only.