Period: 04.04.2026 – 10.04.2026 · Calendar Week: 14/2026 · SFI: 136 · SSN: 106 · A: 49 · K: 3 · X-Ray: M1.6
Summary
The week starts with turbulence: A geomagnetic storm has pushed the A-index to 49 – well above normal. Solar wind is racing past at 618 km/s, and the geomagnetic field is unsettled. This morning (April 4, 07:58 UTC) an M1.7 flare was recorded, marking the second M-class event this week.
The Solar Flux Index sits at 136 with a sunspot number of 106 – solid values that nonetheless show a noticeable decline from last week (SFI 158). The 27-day forecast suggests a further drop to around 110-120 in the coming days, before a recovery is expected from April 20 onwards.
For DX enthusiasts: The low bands (80-40m) are suffering from the high A-index and strong solar wind. Absorption and noise are significantly elevated. The mid bands (30-20m) remain solid and continue to offer reliable DX opportunities. The higher bands (17-15m) benefit from the still adequate SFI and show good daytime openings.
Easter Holiday Outlook
For those planning to operate over Easter: After the current disturbance, conditions should calm down by Easter Sunday (April 6) – the forecast Ap drops to 10, promising usable conditions across all bands. Caution: Around April 9/10, another geomagnetic storm is expected (Ap up to 40), which will likely degrade conditions again. The second half of the week could be challenging.
Band Forecast
| Band | Day | Night | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 160m | Poor | Poor | A=49 makes 160m virtually unusable |
| 80m | Poor | Fair | High absorption from solar wind, short evening windows |
| 40m | Poor | Fair | Elevated noise S2-S3, better at night |
| 30m | Good | Good | Robust, good balance between absorption and MUF |
| 20m | Good | Good | Best DX band this week, worldwide openings |
| 17m | Good | Good | Solid DX paths, benefits from SFI 136 |
| 15m | Good | Fair | Good daytime openings to AS/SA |
| 12m | Fair | Poor | Sporadic openings possible |
| 10m | Fair | Poor | E-skip Europe: High MUF — short-range possible |
27-Day Outlook
- April 9/10: Geomagnetic storm expected (Ap 25-40). Low-band DX severely limited.
- April 14–17: Quiet phase with Ap 4-7 – ideal DX window on all bands.
- April 18/19: Another storm (Ap 48!) – potentially the strongest this month.
- From April 22: SFI rises back to 150+, conditions improve significantly.
VHF Conditions
VHF is currently quiet: Aurora propagation is closed, E-skip on 6m and 4m likewise. Only E-skip on 2m shows “High MUF” for Europe – sporadic short-range openings may develop in the coming days.
Live Data
| Band | Tag ☀ | Nacht ☾ |
|---|---|---|
| 160m | Schlecht | Schlecht |
| 80–40m | Schlecht | Mäßig |
| 30–20m | Gut | Gut |
| 17–15m | Gut | Gut |
| 12–10m | Mäßig | Schlecht |
Links
- prop.kc2g.com – Real-time MUF maps
- NOAA Space Weather – Official space weather data
- HamQSL Solar – Amateur radio propagation data
- DXHeat DX Cluster – Current DX spots
- SolarHam – Solar activity and space weather
73 de OERadio DX Weather Desk
This report was generated with AI assistance based on current data from NOAA SWPC and HamQSL.com. The live data above updates automatically every 3 hours.
