CW 13 / 2026 | March 24–30 | SFI 158 | SSN 125 | A 12 | K 3 | X-Ray M3.9
Summary
Calendar week 13 was eventful: A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm on March 22/23 with Kp values up to 7 produced aurora visible at mid-latitudes – but dealt a blow to HF operations, especially on higher bands and polar paths. Conditions recovered by mid-week before another G1 storm on March 25 caused brief disruption.
The Solar Flux Index at 158 and a Sunspot Number of 125 confirm we remain in a phase of high solar activity. With nine visible active regions (AR4399 through AR4408), the Sun remains busy. The strongest flare of the week was an M3.9 from AR4403 on March 26, causing a brief R1 radio blackout.
Band Forecast
| Band | Day | Night | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 160m | Poor | Fair | Residual geomagnetic noise |
| 80m | Fair | Good | Good European paths in the evening |
| 40m | Good | Good | Reliable, slight absorption during G1 periods |
| 30m | Good | Good | Excellent all-round band |
| 20m | Excellent | Good | Best DX band – open worldwide |
| 17m | Good | Fair | Good daytime DX paths |
| 15m | Good | Poor | Openings to all continents during daylight |
| 12m | Fair | Poor | Sporadic openings with SFI 158 |
| 10m | Fair | Poor | Occasional F2-layer openings possible |
Recommendations
- 20 metres remains the workhorse – open worldwide with reliable DX at all times of day.
- 15 metres is particularly rewarding during daylight – intercontinental QSOs well possible with SFI 158.
- 10/12 metres: Always worth a look! With SFI above 150, sporadic F2-layer openings are on the table.
- Avoid polar paths on March 30 due to G1 disturbance. Clear again from March 31.
- Watch AR4405 – rotating into Earth-facing position with M/X-class flare potential.
Live Data
| Band | Tag ☀ | Nacht ☾ |
|---|---|---|
| 160m | Schlecht | Mäßig |
| 80–40m | Mäßig | Gut |
| 30–20m | Gut | Gut |
| 17–15m | Mäßig | Mäßig |
| 12–10m | Schlecht | Schlecht |
Useful Links
- MUF Maps (prop.kc2g.com)
- NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center
- HamQSL Solar Dashboard
- DXHeat DX Cluster
- SolarHam
Transparency Notice
This article was researched and written with the assistance of AI (Claude, Anthropic). All content has been reviewed by the oeradio.at editorial team. If you find any errors or would like to suggest additions, we welcome your feedback.
