SFI / F10.7
146
Supports the higher HF bands when it stays elevated.
Telemetry and explanation
Solar Conditions
Read current solar and geomagnetic conditions in practical ham-radio language, with telemetry, trends, and operator context.
Current conditions overview
These are the main solar and geomagnetic values hams usually care about first. The page keeps the operator meaning close to each number so you do not need to translate the telemetry in your head. When you want the operating interpretation next, move into Full Propagation View.
Kp
2.4
Lower values usually mean steadier HF paths.
A index
9
Shows whether the whole day is broadly quiet or disturbed.
Sunspots
138
A rough sign of solar activity, not a direct guarantee of an open band.
Solar wind
428
High wind speed can make geomagnetic conditions more jumpy.
IMF Bz
-2.3
More negative Bz can make geomagnetic conditions deteriorate faster.
GOES X-ray
C2.1
Stronger X-ray levels raise the chance of daytime HF absorption or blackout effects.
Radio impact summary
This summary turns the current telemetry into plain-language operator context.
Likely HF support today
HF is in decent shape today, with 20m likely dependable and 15m worth checking in daylight.
Geomagnetic stability
Geomagnetic conditions are mostly calm, so ordinary HF paths should remain more predictable than on disturbed days.
Flare / absorption concerns
There is no strong flare or blackout warning in the default snapshot, but daytime absorption can still rise quickly if solar activity spikes.
Upper HF status
Upper HF is supported, but 10m still needs more ionospheric headroom before it becomes a routine first choice.
Solar and geomagnetic charts
Each chart keeps one question in focus: is the number improving, stable, or moving the wrong way for HF?
SFI trend
Stable
Kp trend
Stable
Solar wind speed
Stable
Bz
Stable
X-ray flare level
Stable
Sunspot trend
Stable
Radio blackout and absorption context
This section focuses on the part operators usually feel fastest on the air: daytime absorption, flare risk, and whether lower-HF paths are getting noisier or less usable.
Absorption / blackout read
Daytime blackout risk is low in the default snapshot, but D-region absorption can still push lower bands upward when the sunlit side is noisy.
D-region absorption
Daytime absorption tends to hit the lower HF bands first. Even when a path still exists, weak signals can stop sounding practical.
X-ray flare impact
Stronger X-ray bursts can raise absorption quickly on the sunlit side and in severe cases produce short HF blackouts.
Short-term forecast
These forecast reads are written for operators. They are meant to answer what may change soon, not to bury you in raw forecast tables.
Next 24 hours
Expect the normal day/night handoff. Higher HF should improve again after sunrise, while 40m and 80m regain importance after dark.
3-day geomagnetic forecast
If geomagnetic conditions stay quiet, 20m should remain dependable and 15m may keep opening in daylight.
27-day outlook
The longer-range outlook is mixed but workable. Treat 20m as the steady fallback and look for short periods where 15m or 10m improve.
Metric glossary for operators
These are the main terms behind the telemetry on this page. The goal is not solar physics depth. It is to help you understand why a number matters before you choose a band.
SFI / Solar Flux Index
What it measures: A radio-frequency measure of solar emission at 10.7 cm.
Why hams care: It is one of the quickest clues for whether higher HF bands may have enough ionospheric support, especially in daylight.
Kp index
What it measures: A short-term measure of geomagnetic disturbance.
Why hams care: Lower Kp usually means steadier HF paths. Higher Kp can make otherwise-promising bands feel rough, noisy, or unstable.
A index
What it measures: A daily average-style summary of geomagnetic activity.
Why hams care: It helps explain whether the overall day is quiet or disturbed, even if the latest Kp looks calm.
MUF
What it measures: Maximum Usable Frequency for a given path at a given time.
Why hams care: It helps operators judge how high in frequency they can push before the path likely stops refracting reliably.
LUF
What it measures: Lowest Usable Frequency before absorption and noise make the path impractical.
Why hams care: It helps explain when lower bands may still exist physically but no longer sound useful on the air.
Solar wind speed
What it measures: The speed of charged particles arriving from the Sun.
Why hams care: Higher solar wind can drive geomagnetic disturbance, especially when other magnetic conditions line up against HF.
Bz
What it measures: The north-south component of the interplanetary magnetic field.
Why hams care: A sustained negative Bz can make geomagnetic conditions worse more quickly, which can damage HF reliability.
X-ray flux
What it measures: A measure of solar flare intensity seen by GOES X-ray sensors.
Why hams care: Stronger X-ray bursts can raise daytime D-region absorption and in severe cases cause short HF radio blackouts on the sunlit side of Earth.
FAQ
10m usually wants stronger solar support, calmer geomagnetic conditions, and enough MUF headroom. High solar flux helps, but geomagnetic disturbance can still spoil the opening.