[ETL]

I believe that a new sunspot cycle technically begins when the magnetic polarity of appearing sunspot pairs reverses. The ‘spots’ are the cross sections of twisted magnetic field lines which poke, or ‘loop’, out of the Sun’s surface. They are dark because they are comparatively cooler than the surrounding solar surface. Their main effect on Earth climate is an indirect one involving charged particles from deep space [galactic cosmic rays] and the sun’s ability to repel them. The sun’s ability various with its fluctuating magnetic cycle.

[Jack of all Trades]

Here's the current magnetic field butterfly diagram from the same website referenced in the original above. Not sure what we can make of it except the poles have not yet reversed from cycle 22. The current conditions don't look very atypical to my untrained eye.

[ETL]

The sunspot polarity reversal has already occurred - a year or two ago