Week 26 / 2026 | June 22 – 28 | SFI ~130 (forecast) | SSN 73 | A 7 | K 1 | X-Ray B9.2 | as of June 21
Summary
The flux is back. After last week’s calm mid-range, the Solar Flux picks up noticeably in week 26: NOAA expects a rise from the current 113 to as high as ~140 by mid-week (Wed–Fri) before easing to ~118 over the weekend. On average the week sits around SFI 130 — a solid to good level for the upper bands.
The geomagnetic field stays mostly quiet, with one exception: on Tuesday (June 23) NOAA forecasts a brief active phase (Kp 4, Ap 12) — likely from a fast solar wind stream. It dampens the upper bands briefly but is no storm. From Wednesday the field calms down again (Kp 2).
The real highlight of the week is on the calendar: from June 26 to 28 the 49th HAM RADIO in Friedrichshafen takes place — Europe’s largest amateur radio convention. And over it all, the Sporadic-E peak season continues: daily Es openings on 6 m, 10 m and 4 m remain very likely, with multi-hop beyond 3,000 km. The downside: on the low bands (160/80 m) the DX window stays tiny during the short summer nights.
Band Forecast
With SFI up to ~140 mid-week the upper bands improve over last week — 15 m and 12 m benefit noticeably around midday. Daytime operation continues to ride the combination of F2 and strong Sporadic-E. The low bands suffer from the shortest nights of the year and high thunderstorm QRN.
| Band | Day | Night | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 160m | Poor | Poor | Summer break — shortest nights of the year, high QRN |
| 80m | Poor | Fair | EU-only in the brief darkness, heavy storm QRN |
| 40m | Fair | Good | Reliable EU/DX at dusk, NA from ~21 UTC |
| 30m | Good | Good | Stable all-rounder, FT8/CW constant |
| 20m | Very good | Good | Main band — long daylight opening, worldwide DX |
| 17m | Good to very good | Fair | Daytime DX to JA, VK, NA — open late into the evening |
| 15m | Good (flux peak!) | Poor | SFI up to 140 helps — solid midday F2, Es boost |
| 12m | Fair to good (F2 + Es) | Poor | Benefits from the flux rise, plus daily Es |
| 10m | Good (Es!) | Poor | Carried by Sporadic-E — daily openings likely |
| 6m | Very good (Es) | Poor | Magic Band in peak season — daily openings, multi-hop |
Geomagnetic Forecast
Mostly quiet with an active insert on Tuesday. The brief Kp-4 peak on June 23 is the only notable disturbance — afterwards the field stabilizes right in time for the flux maximum and HAM RADIO.
| Day | Kp expected | SFI forecast | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, June 22 | 3 | 112 | Subdued start — slightly unsettled, Es on 6 m |
| Tue, June 23 | 4 | 135 | Most active phase — upper bands briefly dampened |
| Wed, June 24 | 2 | 136 | Calming — flux rising, stable DX |
| Thu, June 25 | 2 | 138 | Very quiet — best conditions 40–10 m |
| Fri, June 26 | 2 | 140 | Flux maximum — HAM RADIO opens, top DX |
| Sat, June 27 | 3 | 135 | Good — slightly unsettled, excellent Es weekend |
| Sun, June 28 | 3 | 118 | Flux falling — solid end to the week |
Recommendations for the Coming Week
- HAM RADIO Friedrichshafen (June 26–28): The highlight of the week. The 49th HAM RADIO is Europe’s largest amateur radio convention — if you go, plan talks and the flea market early. Those staying home should watch the clusters for special event stations.
- Use the flux peak Wed–Fri: With SFI up to ~140, 15 m and 12 m are worth a try around midday — the best F2 windows of the week run June 24–26.
- 6 meters stays the band of the week: The Sporadic-E season is in full swing. Watch beacons and FT8 (50.313 MHz), then switch to SSB/CW. With a Yagi even weaker multi-hop signals are workable.
- 20 m remains the DX workhorse: Long daylight opening, usable worldwide, the band for North America in the evening. Very reliable once Kp settles from Wednesday.
- Keep an eye on Tuesday: The Kp-4 insert on June 23 can briefly dampen the upper bands and bring aurora hints to high latitudes — no storm, but noticeable.
- Low bands = early risers: 40/80 m DX only in the narrow twilight window. The shortest nights of the year leave little room — but grey-line is all the more rewarding.
Review of Week 25 and Outlook
Week 25 went as forecast — calm: a stable geomagnetic field and a Solar Flux settling in the moderate mid-range around 113–128. Around the solstice the summer Sporadic-E reached its statistical peak — 6 m and 4 m delivered daily openings.
For week 26 the picture shifts slightly: more flux (rising to ~140 mid-week), but a brief active geo insert on Tuesday. On balance the better mix for the upper bands — and with HAM RADIO as the social highlight. Cycle 25 stays active on its declining slope; larger flares remain possible at any time.
The VHF focus remains: the Sporadic-E season holds its summer maximum well into July. If you’re QRV on 6 m or 4 m, tune in daily — the best openings often come unannounced in the late morning and early evening.
Live Data
| Band | Tag ☀ | Nacht ☾ |
|---|---|---|
| 160m | Schlecht | Mäßig |
| 80–40m | Mäßig | Gut |
| 30–20m | Gut | Gut |
| 17–15m | Mäßig | Mäßig |
| 12–10m | Schlecht | Schlecht |
Further Links
- MUF maps (prop.kc2g.com)
- NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center
- HamQSL Solar Dashboard
- DXHeat DX Cluster
- PSK Reporter (Es openings live)
Transparency Notice
This weather report was created with the assistance of AI (Claude, Anthropic) based on current data from NOAA/SWPC and HamQSL. All content has been reviewed by the oeradio.at editorial team. Errors or additions: please email [email protected].
