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Earth is currently under the influence of a high speed stream from a
negative polarity equatorial coronal hole. Geomagnetic activity at
Quiet to Active levels is expected and at times may reach up to
Minor Storm levels if there are notable southward Bz periods.
INCREASED GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY EXPECTED DUE TO CORONAL HOLE HIGH
SPEED WIND STREAM FROM 20 and 21 APRIL 2018 This link to Space
Weather Live explains the reference to southward Bz periods above
is, //bit.ly/1S6H68D .  Average daily sunspot number over the recent
reporting week, April 12 to 18, rose from 0 to 5.4. Of course, any
non zero sunspot number lower than 11 is imaginary, because of the
arcane method used for calculating sunspot numbers.  Every sunspot
group counts for 10 points, and each sunspot within that group
counts as one point. So one sunspot in one group yields a sunspot
number of 11. Three sunspots in two groups yields a daily sunspot
number of 23. The last time we saw a sunspot number greater than 22
was February 9 to 12 when the numbers were 23, 35, 24 and 26.  So an
average daily sunspot number lower than 11 must include at least one
zero sunspot day. In the past reporting week, only three days had
any sunspots.  Average daily solar flux rose from 67.7 to 69.9.
Average daily planetary A index declined from 9.4 to 6.1, while
average mid latitude A index went from 8.1 to 5.6.  Predicted solar
flux for the next 45 days is 72 on April 20 to 26, 71 on April 27,
69 on April 28 through May 5, 70 on May 6 to 12, 72 on May 13 to 19,
69 on May 20 through June 1, and 70 on June 2 and 3.  Predicted
planetary A index is 15, 12 and 8 on April 20 to 22, 5 on April 23
to 25, 8 on April 26, 5 on April 27 through May 5, 10 on May 6, 15
on May 7 and 8, 10 on May 9 and 10, 5 on May 11 to 15, 12 and 10 on
May 16 and 17, 5 on May 18 through June 1, then 10 and 12 on June 2
and 3.  F.K. Janda, OK1HH of the Czech Propagation Interest Group
brings us his weekly geomagnetic activity forecast for the period
April 20 to May 15, 2018.  But with our quiet Sun, all that is
changing. There is a very good chance that these near invisible
events will continue to cause surprise storms at Earth over the next
decade, disrupting amateur radio, GPS, and causing issues for power
grids with little or no warning of their impact. Solving this
significant problem is exactly why we have assembled here in Bern.
This week I highlight this amazing team of solar and space
physicists, who are helping shape the future of Space Weather
prediction. The forecast is shot in my hotel room so it has more of
a live feel than my usual studio productions.  Hopefully, it not
only gives you a look into the new activity our Sun brings this
week, but also gives you a glimpse into the important part of my
world that is Space Weather research.  Cheers, Tamitha.  A look at
the STEREO image Friday morning shows an active region just beyond
the horizon. It can be seen online at, //stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov/ .
Sunspot numbers were 13, 14, 11, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with a mean of 5.4.
10.7 cm flux was 70, 69.7, 69.5, 70.6, 69.2, 69.3, and 70.8, with a
mean of 69.9. Estimated planetary A indices were 9, 9, 6, 6, 3, 4,
and 6, with a mean of 6.1. Estimated mid latitude A indices were 8,
8, 6, 5, 3, 3, and 6, with a mean of 5.6.

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