= NOW 18 WPM transition file follows =

Rising solar activity over the past reporting week, July 7 to 13,
was reflected in increased sunspot numbers and solar flux, and
rising geomagnetic activity as well.  Average daily sunspot numbers
increased from 62.6 to 102.1, with the peak value at 134 on Monday,
July 11.  Average daily solar flux rose from 103.5 to 147.4, with
peak values at 164.9 and 164.8 on Tuesday and Wednesday.  A new
sunspot emerged on July 7, another on July 10, and one more on July
11.  Total sunspot area peaked on July 11.  Planetary A index
averaged out at 12.4, up from 9.8 last week, while the middle
latitude A index went from 9.7 to 10.6.  Toward the end of the UTC
day on July 7, Alaskas college A index was 46, a very high value,
while the last four K index readings of the day and the next two
were 6, 6, 7, 5, 5 and 5.  This was caused by a co rotating
interaction region, sparking a G 1 class geomagnetic storm.  The
Thursday night prediction from USAF shows improvement from the
Wednesday outlook, with solar flux at 170 on July 15 and 16, 165 on
July 17 and 18, 160 on July 19 and 20, then 155 and 145 on July 21
and 22, 135 on July 23 and 24, then 138 and 148 on July 25 and 26,
150 on July 27 to 29, 160 on July 30 clear out to August 7, then
155, 145 and 135 on August 8 to 10, 138 on August 11 and 12, then
128 and 125 on August 13 and 14, then 130 on August 15 to 17, and
135 on August 18 to 20.  Predicted planetary A index is 8 on July 15
to 21, then 10, 20 and 12 on July 22 to 24, 8 again on July 25
through August 2, then 12 and 10 on August 3 and 4, and 8 on August
5 to 7, then 15, 28 and 12 on August 8 to 10, 8 on August 11 to 17,
then 15, 20 and 12 on August 18 to 20, and 8 on August 21 through
the end of the month.  Signals were strong, and he noted that his
antenna was non directional, and on his car parked on the street.
The opening lasted from 0200 to 0400 UTC, but by 0430 the opening
was over.  One improbable and amazing night.  KS7T in Montana, who I
worked recently on 17 meter FT8, sent me this in an email, which I
edited, I accidentally came across condx on 15 meter CW during the
IARU contest that I havent experienced there since the ARRL CW
contest back in February 2000 when I was working Europe from Montana
at 2 am local MST.  20 started showing some signs of fading to EU
right before 11 a.m.  local and when that happens my instinct
usually switches me to 40 but not this time.  My subconscious was
begging me to check out 15.  So I did.  First I heard a B4, China,
so tuned around expecting to hear JAs.  There were none, but what I
did hear was many headquarters signals from all over EU.  Had been
on 15 earlier in the daytime and heard and worked two of those plus
CR3DX, but that was it.  Next week I hope to get to reports from
N2CG about his WM2XCS 8 meter, 49 MHz, beacon.  More information on
co rotating interaction regions as well as Dr.  Tamitha Skovs latest
report can be found in packet and digital versions of Propagation
Forecast Bulletin ARLP028.  For more information concerning
shortwave radio propagation, see //www.arrl.org/propagation and the
ARRL Technical Information Service.  More good information and
tutorials on propagation are at //k9la.us/ Instructions for starting
or ending email distribution of ARRL bulletins are at
//arrl.org/bulletins.  Sunspot numbers were 80, 81, 89, 113, 134,
117, and 101, with a mean of 102.1.  10.7 cm flux was 121.3, 129.6,
136.9, 153, 161, 164.9, and 164.8, with a mean of 147.4.  Estimated
planetary A indices were 20, 19, 6, 7, 12, 18, and 5, with a mean of
12.4.  Middle latitude A index was 15, 14, 6, 8, 10, 16, and 5, with
a mean of 10.6.

= END OF 18 WPM transition file <