Bruised Ionosphere

Conditions should improve by late tomorrow.

We are experiencing the impact of a major solar event that began on January 19, 2026.

While solar flux is high (generally good for DX), the atmosphere is extremely “noisy” and unstable due to a direct hit from a fast-moving Coronal Mass Ejection (CME).

Impact on Ham Radio Operations

HF Bands (160m – 10m): Poor to Blackout

The G4 Geomagnetic Storm is a problem. When the K-index hits 8, the ionosphere becomes “bruised.”

• Signal Fading: Expect rapid, deep fading (QSB) and a “watery” or fluttery sound on signals.
• Absorption: The D-region of the ionosphere is highly charged, meaning many HF signals are being absorbed rather than refracted back to Earth.
• Polar Paths: If you are trying to work DX over the poles (e.g., North America to Central Asia), expect a total blackout due to the S4 Solar Radiation Storm currently in progress.⁷

Opportunities

While HF suffers, VHF enthusiasts should stay alert:

• Aurora Propagation: With a G4 storm, the “Auroral Oval” has pushed very far south (into the mid-latitudes of the US and Europe).⁸
• VHF DX: Operators on 6 meters and 2 meters may be able to bounce signals off the aurora. Point your beams North to look for “auroral buzz” on CW or SSB signals.

Noise Floors

Expect a significantly higher noise floor across all bands. The “static” you hear isn’t just local interference; it’s the Earth’s magnetic field literally ringing from the solar wind impact.

---

Forecast

The storm is reportedly beginning to subside, but “reverberations” will continue through the day. Conditions should improve significantly by late tomorrow.