[OKDXA] Solar Flux 85

[N5PA]

The Solar Flux is at 85 this morning even though the A-Index is 22 and the
K-Index is 4.  Propagation is better but with more geomagnetic noise.  At
least it gets the 20 through 10 meter band conditions from Poor to Fair.  It
should be interesting this weekend with the WPX contest.  They are
predicting that the A-Index will drop to 15 today, 10 tomorrow, and 8 on
Sunday.  The K-Index will also drop to 3 today and 2 for tomorrow and
Sunday.  The Solar Flux should stay steady at 85 through the weekend.
Sunday should be the best day for DX over the next three days with lower
geomagnetic noise.

 

I notice that Bernie McClenny, W3UR was stating this morning that there were
three sunspots traversing the sun but that they were Cycle 23 sunspots and
not Cycle 24 sunspots because of the polarity of the sunspots.  So it
appears that we have yet to officially start Cycle 24.  So far Cycle 23 has
been almost 12 years in the making.  It looks as though the scientists are
hedging their bets on Cycle 24 with half saying we will only get to a
Smoothed Sunspot Number of 90 while the other half says we will get up
around 140.  We have been able to work some great DX at the bottom of the
solar cycle but I for one will be glad to see the Solar Flux above 100 and
rising again.

 

Anyone contesting this weekend in WPX?

 

73,

Alan, N5PA