MAJOR SOLAR FLARE ALERT – ISSUED: 11:30 UTC, 29 MARCH 2001

A major class X1.71/1N solar flare erupted at 10:15 UTC from Region
9393. This major flare was associated with a Type IV radio sweep and other
radio emissions (data still incoming).

A confirmed full halo CME is in-progress at the time of this alert. No
velocity estimates are currently available. An Earth-directed CME impact from
this disturbance is expected (based on VERY preliminary data) to occur
sometime on 31 March or 01 April. A more refined estimate will be possible
later.

We expect to see protons begin increasing from this event over the next
12 hours. Protons at greater than 10 MeV are expected to reach or exceed
event levels of 10 pfu during the interval.