Solar Cycle 25 Exceeds Predictions: Has Solar Maximum Already Peaked?

The sun's current solar cycle, Cycle 25, has surpassed initial predictions, reaching a smoothed monthly sunspot value of 156.7 in August 2024. This exceeds the NOAA's original forecast of 101.8 to 125.2, expected around July 2025. While the August 2024 sunspot total was 216, subsequent months have seen lower totals. An experimental NOAA prediction suggests the solar maximum may have occurred between August and November 2024. However, historical solar cycles have exhibited double peaks, leaving open the possibility of a later peak in 2025. Despite uncertainty around the precise timing, strong solar activity is expected to continue for the next year or two.