[Balding_Eagle]

Right now, the sun is in the most active part of this cycle: we're expecting lots of spots and lots of flares in the coming months.

So she says. They've said that for several years now.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

It may very well be true, i.e. most active part of this relatively inactive cycle.

Would be nice if they gave us the whole picture, especially if this involves very difficult science such as predicting solar flares.

[kidd]

We are indeed at the peak of the present 11-year cycle.

What isn’t mentioned is that it is the smallest peak since the Dalton Minimum (1790-1830), when it was so cold that you could walk across Long Island sound. In 1816, there was the ‘year without a summer’ (when lakes and rivers in Pennsylvania had ice in July and August)