‰ NOW 18 WPM transition file follows‰ Average daily sunspot numbers dropped from 109.1 on July 2 to 8 to 73.7 in the past week, July 9 to 15. Average daily solar flux dropped from 123.2 to 114.8 over the same two periods. Geomagnetic indices were more active, with average daily planetary A index increasing from 10 to 13.7, and average mid latitude A index going from 8.9 to 12.3. The geomagnetic field was active on July 11 when the mid latitude A index, the high latitude college A index, and planetary A index were 20, 44 and 23. Activity was greater on July 13 when the three indices were 22, 45 and 32. The July 11 activity was a G1 class geomagnetic storm caused by a high speed solar wind stream, and similar events caused the July 13 activity. Currently there is very little chance of solar flares or geomagnetic storms over the next few days. Predicted planetary A index is 8 on July 17 and 18, 10 on July 19 and 20, 5 on July 21 to 30, 18 on July 31, 25 on August 1, and 12 on August 2. On August 3 to 5 the planetary A index is predicted at 5, then 20 and 25 on August 6 and 7, and 8 on August 8 to 10. On August 11 and beyond the planetary A index prediction is 5. Predicted solar flux is 100 on July 17 to 19, 95 on July 20 and 21, 100 on July 22 and 23, 105 on July 24, 110 on July 25, 115 on July 26, 120 on July 27 to 31, and 115 on August 1 to 4. Solar flux is expected to rise to 120 again after August 22. Recently there have been only a few new sunspot groups, one each on July 7, 8, 10 and 12 and two on July 16. F. K. Janda, OK1HH predicts the geomagnetic field will be quiet to unsettled July 17 to 18, quiet to active July 19, quiet to unsettled July 20 and 21, quiet to active July 22, mostly quiet July 23 and 24, quiet July 25 and 26, mostly quiet July 27, quiet July 28 and 29, quiet to active July 30, active to disturbed July 31 through August 1, quiet to active August 2, mostly quiet August 3, quiet August 4, mostly quiet August 5, quiet to active August 6, quiet to unsettled August 7, active to disturbed August 8, quiet to unsettled August 9, and mostly quiet August 10 and 11. OK1HH expects increases in solar wind on July 19 to 26, August 1 to 5, August 8 and August 9 and 10. He believes there is a lower probability of geomagnetic activity increases on July 19, July 26, August 1 to 5, and August 8. Propagation here in the low latitudes seems to be starting to settle into its declining solar cycle funk. 10 meter and 12 meter openings are becoming less common, and 15 meter through 20 meter signals seem to be rather lackadaisical, too. The only bright spot for us is that the mid day blackout is less intense, with signals no longer fading out completely around noon as we are used to, though they are unusably weak. Rare are the days now that the bands seem to be really lively, with strong signals. It would all be rather depressing, were it not for the improving DX conditions on 80 meters and 40 meters. Archives of the NOAA/USAF daily 45 day forecast for solar flux and planetary A index are in downloadable spreadsheet format at //bit.ly/1IBXtnG and //bit.ly/1KQGbRm . Sunspot numbers were 120, 124, 91, 59, 44, 39, and 39, with a mean of 73.7. 10.7 cm flux was 121.9, 129, 120.2, 116, 110.1, 105.2, and 101, with a mean of 114.8. Estimated planetary A indices were 6, 10, 23, 11, 32, 7, and 7, with a mean of 13.7. Estimated mid latitude A indices were 7, 11, 20, 12, 22, 8, and 6, with a mean of 12.3. ‰ END OF 18 WPM transition file ƒ