Propagation News – 7 June 2026

Compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on 4 June.

We are awaiting the arrival of solar material as a result of three coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, that erupted off the Sun.

These were sparked by three solar flares. These, coupled with a high-speed solar wind stream from an Earth-facing coronal hole, threaten to initiate a geomagnetic storm.

A strong G3 geomagnetic storm has been predicted, which could push the Kp index up to 6 or 7, and push maximum usable frequencies down, perhaps lasting through the weekend and affecting RSGB National Field Day.

Meanwhile, the solar flux index has crept up and stood at 147 on Thursday, 4 June. This has meant that the ionosphere has been playing ball, with lots of reports of DX being worked, either through F-region propagation or Sporadic E.

The 10m band has been sounding like 20m at times, especially around the FT8 frequency of 28.074MHz.

DX to be worked this week includes 5Z4/MM0ZBH in Kenya, 8Q7ML in the Maldives, VJ2L on Lord Howe Island, 5H1KB in Tanzania and 9X5KM operating from Rwanda.

We are now heading for midsummer, which means the 20m band may be open 24 hours a day.

In general, F-region maximum usable frequencies, or MUFs, will be lower than in the winter or spring. However, Sporadic-E makes up for that with strong signals on the higher HF bands out to 1,500km on a single hop, with occasional multi-hop openings.

Next week NOAA predicts that the solar flux index will decline, perhaps into the 120 to 135 range. After the recent geomagnetic upset clears, conditions are predicted to stabilise, with the Kp index forecast to be around 2 for the beginning of the coming week.

Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are then forecast from Thursday 11 to Sunday, 14 June with the potential for the Kp index to hit between 4 and 6, with a corresponding drop in the MUF.

VHF and up propagation news

Compiled by G3YLA and G4BAO

The unsettled weather has brought some heavy rain and a few chances of rain scatter for the GHz bands but it also tends to limit the chances of tropo.

However, it is the UK that retains the unsettled weather, whereas the continent is still enjoying relatively higher pressure.

So perhaps stations in southern Britain may be able to gain some occasional tropo advantage.

There are options for meteor scatter from the Arietids, which peak early this coming week. Some predict that it will be a strong shower this year.

Since it’s a daytime meteor shower it can be very useful for Sporadic-E, which makes use of the ionisation they leave behind.

The Kp index has been gently disturbed at times, but not enough to generate any exciting radio aurora.

However, it has possibly been disturbed enough to subdue Sporadic-E at times, as this depends on a stable and low Kp index to be most effective.

Sporadic-E itself has provided some reasonable European openings and a few longer multi-hop paths for the digital modes.

This unsettled weather produces strong jet streams, for summer, and should continue to be useful for providing the turbulence needed as part of the process for making Sporadic-E.

The placement of the jet streams may however be confined to the northwestern fringe of Europe and perhaps prompting a focus on Scandinavia and northern Europe for any resulting Sporadic-E.

EME now, and after last week’s low declination and apogee, this week sees Moon declination increasing again and path losses falling. The 144MHz sky temperature is low all week.

Category: GB2RS Propagation News