Tad Cook, K7RA, of Seattle, Washington, reports for this week's ARRL Propagation Bulletin, ARLP049:

Solar activity bounced back in our reporting week, December 1 - 7. With solar flux and sunspot numbers dramatically higher and geomagnetic activity lower, what could be better? Well, even more sunspots, I guess. But this sunspot cycle is already progressing better than the prediction consensus, so I am grateful.

Average daily sunspot numbers increased from 46 to 85, while average daily solar flux rose from 108.3 to 137.5.

Average daily planetary A index dropped from 18.6 to 14.4, while middle latitude numbers declined from 14 to 9.1.

Predicted solar flux for the next few days is high, at 150 on December 8 – 11; 140, 130, 120, and 115 on December 12 – 15; 110 on December 16 – 19; 115 on December 20 – 22; 120 on December 23 – 28; 125, 130 and 135 on December 29 – 31; 140 on January 1 - 6, 2023, and 135 and 130 on January 8 - 9.

The planetary A index prediction is 20 and 8 on December 8 – 9; 5 on December 10 – 16; 10 on December 17 – 18; 5 on December 19 – 21; 20, 15, and 12 on December 22 – 24; 20 on December 25 – 28; 12, 10, 12, and 8 on December 29 – January 1, 2023; 5, 12, 15, and 8 on January 2 - 5, and 5 on January 6 - 12.

Don’t forget the ARRL 10 Meter Contest this weekend; https://www.arrl.org/10-meter. In North America, that starts on Friday evening, and the latest prediction shows a promising high solar flux with low geomagnetic numbers, ideal conditions.

In Friday’s bulletin look for a report on 8-meter propagation from experimental stations in the United States from Mike Schaffer, KA3JAW.

Sunspot numbers for December 1 – 7, 2022 were 49, 66, 68, 93, 89, 123, and 107, with a mean of 85. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 118.7, 124, 133.8, 143,7, 149.8, 144.2, and 148, with a mean of 137.5. Estimated planetary A indices were 28, 16, 10, 17, 8, 4, and 18, with a mean of 14.4. Middle latitude A index was 18, 11, 7, 10, 7, 2, and 9, with a mean of 9.1.

Send your tips, questions, or comments to k7ra@arrl.net.

A comprehensive K7RA Solar Update is posted Fridays on the ARRL website. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service, read "What the Numbers Mean..." and check out the Propagation Page of Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA.

A propagation bulletin archive is available. For customizable propagation charts, visit the VOACAP Online for Ham Radio website.

Share your reports and observations.

A weekly, full report is posted on ARRL News.