‰  NOW 18 WPM transition file follows‰

A single small sunspot appeared on July 21, then disappeared.
Previous to that, no sunspots appeared since June 26.  The daily
sunspot number on July 21 was 11, which is the minimum non zero
sunspot number.  Because there were no sunspots over the previous
week, average daily sunspot numbers increased from 0 to 1.6, while
average daily solar flux for the week declined from 71.8 to 68.4.
Average daily planetary A index changed from 6.4 to 8.1, and average
daily mid latitude A index, measured in Virginia, increased from 6.1
to 8.  Predicted solar flux is much lower than recently expected.
Expected flux values, based on the July 26 prediction, are 66 on
July 27 through August 2, 67 on August 3, 68 on August 4 to 10, 70
on August 11 to 18, 68 on August 19 through September 6, and 70 on
September 7 to 9.  Predicted planetary A index is 5 on July 27 to
31, 18 and 8 August 1 and 2, 5 on August 3 to 11, 8 on August 12 and
13, 5 on August 14 and 15, then 7, 12, 5, 10, 25 and 15 on August 16
to 21, then 10 on August 22 and 23, 8 on August 24 and 25, 5 on
August 26 through September 7, and 8 on September 8 and 9.  F.K.
Janda, OK1HH sends us this geomagnetic activity forecast for the
period July 27 to August 22, 2018.  Surprisingly, our Sun continues
to stay busy, perhaps it missed the solar minimum memo?  The latest
blast of fast solar wind hitting Earth this week has already caused
us to reach active conditions and we have a few more days under its
influence before things calm back down.  Although not at storm
level, aurora over the past few days has been reported as far south
as Germany in Europe and as far south as Michigan in the USA.
Special thanks to Cornelius B and Martin D for these insider field
reports.  Even though we are getting auroral propagation with this
storm on Earths night side, sustained communication via amateur
radio continues to suffer on Earths dayside.  We will have to wait
nearly another week for a new bright region to rotate into view and
boost the solar flux.  We might see radio propagation improve
slightly at the beginning of next week.  At least GPS/GNSS users
should continue to enjoy decent reception on Earths dayside.
Finally, I want to personally say THANKS for all the wonderful
feedback I have gotten on my Patreon rewards tiers.  I have been
slammed preparing for a trip to Belgium this week and I still have
some emails to write in response to your insightful suggestions and
encouraging comments.  So if you havent yet received a response from
me, it is coming.  By the way, next week I will be doing my forecast
remotely.  This means I have to leave my production camera behind
and go low tech.  Its always an adventure.  Monthly propagation
charts between four USA regions and twelve overseas locations are at
//arrl.org/propagation.  Instructions for starting or ending email
distribution of ARRL bulletins are at //arrl.org/bulletins.  Sunspot
numbers were 0, 0, 11, 0, 0, 0, and 0, with a mean of 1.6.  10.7 cm
flux was 70.5, 70.5, 70, 68.2, 67, 66.9, and 65.8, with a mean of
68.4.  Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 7, 11, 5, 4, 17, and 9,
with a mean of 8.1.  Estimated mid latitude A indices were 4, 7, 10,
5, 4, 16, and 10, with a mean of 8.

‰  END OF 18 WPM transition file ƒ