Propagation News – 13 September 2026

Compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on 10 September 2026.

As we head into September, autumnal HF conditions are fast approaching.

We can expect the maximum useable frequency, or MUF, to climb during the day and DX to become more plentiful.

However, we are not there yet and it may take a few more weeks before we see much of a change in HF propagation.

Meanwhile, solar activity remains quite low, with a solar flux index around 100 to 110. Geomagnetic disturbances are still occurring, but their effects have been minimal.

The Kp index rose to 5 on 8 September, due to the effects of a coronal hole stream. Luckily, this was short-lived and the following day the Kp index was back to being in the 2 to 3 range.

The last four days have seen only minor C-class flares but, with seven sunspot groups visible leading to the risk of solar flares and associated coronal mass ejections, activity remains quite high.

MUFs over a 3,000km path have reached 24.9MHz at times, although the 17 and 15m bands have been more usable. Expect the daytime MUF to climb to perhaps 28 or 29MHz by the end of the month.

Two coronal holes appear to be developing on the Sun and will become Earth-facing today, 13 September, so there could be a coronal high-speed stream hitting us between tomorrow, 14 September, and Wednesday, 16 September.

DX to be worked next week includes RI1FJZ from Franz Josef Land; V47YA and V47RCX on St Kitts and Nevis; KH8WW from American Samoa and S79/DL2SBY from the Seychelles.

Also, look for PJ2/K5SL from Curaçao from 18 September and 8Q7JH in the Maldives 20 September.

Next week the Space Weather Prediction Centre forecasts that the solar flux index may remain in the 105 to 115 range. We can expect unsettled geomagnetic conditions from 14 to 16 September.

This is possibly due to the coronal hole activity mentioned earlier, with a predicted Kp of 4. Otherwise, the rest of the week may remain calm with a Kp index of 2 to 3.

VHF and up propagation news

Compiled by G3YLA and G4BAO

The current spell of changeable autumnal weather looks likely to remain with us for most of the coming week. However, the UK covers a broad span from south to north and some differences will be apparent.

We have seen the arrival of some fronts with rain in the south. These will probably be weaker than in northern Britain and with only occasional patches of rain.

For the rest of the time, look out for weak ridges of high pressure and periods of tropo into the near continent and possibly south across Biscay to Spain.

For the northern half of the country, the weather systems will be more active and tropo will be less likely but you could find some occasional rain scatter opportunities on the GHz bands.

Meteor scatter options are still only available via random activity with no major showers playing a role.

The aurora prospects are probably not zero but recently alerts have been for minor levels of disturbance with a Kp index up to 5 but nothing dramatic on the radio aurora front. However, with it now being autumn, it is always worth monitoring.

As we head towards the autumnal equinox on 23 September, it is a good time of the year for aurora if the triggering solar activity is sufficiently strong.

EME now, and Moon declination continues to fall until its lowest point around Friday, 18 September. Meanwhile, path losses continue to rise until apogee, the Moon’s furthest point from Earth, also on 18 September.

Sky noise remains low and then rises again around Friday, 18 September and Saturday, 19 September, when the Moon is in Sagittarius.

Category: GB2RS Propagation News