December Solar Activity

Seems like we've heard this before? Say it enough times, some day they will be right. Let's wait and see.
Interesting definition of "flurry".

From Space Weather.com for Dec 27
SOLAR ACTIVITY INTENSIFIES: 2009 is ending with a flurry of sunspots. The latest is sunspot 1039, which formed yesterday and is now crackling with low-level solar flares.
So far, 65% of the days in December have brought sunspots--a sharp increase in percentages compared to earlier months of 2009 when sunspots were surpassingly rare. All six of December's sunspot groups have been members of new Solar Cycle 24. These numbers could herald the sun's awakening from the deepest solar minimum in nearly a century and a livelier sun in 2010. Stay tuned.

A few of many reminders
From SpaceWeather.com June 23, 2009
"No one knows exactly how the sun's deep jet streams boost the sunspot count, but they do. As a result, this week's sunspot activity might herald more to come. Stay tuned for updates".

June 17, 2009
The jet stream is now, finally, reaching the critical latitude, heralding a return of solar activity in the months and years ahead."

July 5
The most active sunspot of the year so far is emerging in the sun's southern hemisphere.

We could keep going:
NASA May 20, 2003
Hathaway predicts cycle 24 to begin Dec 2006