via the RSGB: Propagation News – 28 May 2023

The Sun currently has an equal number of spots in both its Northern and Southern hemispheres.

The Solar Flux Index was consistently in the 150 to 160s range last week, with a total of eight M-class flares. We had unsettled geomagnetic conditions on the 21 and 22 May when the Kp index hit six, but things then settled down again to a more manageable two to three.

There are times when the F-layer critical frequency is lower than the E-layer critical frequency due to Sporadic-E. This means that HF signals can’t reach the F2-layer, basically blocking off DX, but leaving Sporadic-E short skip available. So, make the most of these short-skip contacts to the continent and multi-hop Sporadic-E skips to further afield. Conditions in the F2-layer will improve in the autumn, so don’t worry!