A powerful, non-Earth directed coronal mass ejection (CME) departed the Sun on 28 March, 2025. The CME was associated with an X1 flare (R3; Strong) event from at or just beyond the eastern solar limb (left side of the Sun). While speed estimates ranged widely, there was some consistency of CME analyses that had a speed near 2000 km/s or roughly 4,475,000 mph; meaning if the CME had been Earth-directed it could have arrived at our planet in less than 24 hours. It is quite unusual to have CMEs that fast and this one certainly was quite energetic. While we can’t be certain, it seems likely that the slow-climbing level of solar energetic protons at the 10 MeV level, with S1 (Minor) solar radiation storms eventually reached on March 31st, was a result of the 28 March CME. Energetic protons spiral outward along magnetic field lines emanating from the Sun and the source of the CME; and they don’t normally cross too many of those field lines. However very prolific CMEs can force the issue and this appears to be the case with this CME leading to the eventual S1 level activity here at Earth. We don’t know what this CME would have been like had it arrived at Earth, as no exploratory spacecraft were in position to measure the CME, but this type of activity continues to show that space weather activity is very important to monitor, forecast, and warn about to help protect our critical technological infrastructure, some of which can be susceptible to space weather effects. Our mission remains firm as we continue to safeguard society with actionable space weather information. Please visit our webpage for the latest information and forecasts.