Current Conditions
Radio Blackout Levels (R-Scale)
Level | Severity | Impact Description | X-Ray Class |
---|---|---|---|
R0 | NONE | No HF radio blackout | < M1 |
R1 | MINOR | Minor HF degradation | M1 – M4 |
R2 | MODERATE | Limited HF blackout | M5 – M9 |
R3 | STRONG | Wide area HF blackout | X1 – X9 |
R4 | SEVERE | HF blackout on most sunlit side | X10 – X19 |
R5 | EXTREME | Complete HF blackout | X20+ |
Solar Radiation Storm Levels (S-Scale)
Level | Severity | Impact Description | Proton Flux (pfu) |
---|---|---|---|
S0 | NONE | No radiation storm – Normal HF propagation | < 10 |
S1 | MINOR | Minor polar cap absorption – Slight HF degradation | 10 – 99 |
S2 | MODERATE | Moderate polar cap absorption – HF degradation over polar routes | 100 – 999 |
S3 | STRONG | Strong polar cap absorption – HF blackout over polar regions | 1,000 – 9,999 |
S4 | SEVERE | Severe polar cap absorption – Extended HF blackout | 10,000 – 99,999 |
S5 | EXTREME | Extreme polar cap absorption – Complete HF blackout polar regions | 100,000+ |
Geomagnetic Storm Levels (G-Scale)
Level | Severity | Impact Description | Kp Index |
---|---|---|---|
G0 | NONE | Quiet conditions – Normal HF propagation | Kp < 4 |
G1 | MINOR | Minor storm – Slight HF degradation at high latitudes | Kp = 5 |
G2 | MODERATE | Moderate storm – HF fading at higher latitudes | Kp = 6 |
G3 | STRONG | Strong storm – HF intermittent, degraded navigation | Kp = 7 |
G4 | SEVERE | Severe storm – HF widespread blackout, navigation disrupted | Kp = 8 |
G5 | EXTREME | Extreme storm – HF complete blackout, navigation failure | Kp = 9 |
GeoMagnetic Storms
Making sense of buzz
📡 For HAM Radio Operators
When you see R
, S
, or G
flashing on a solar weather monitor, here’s what it means to your rig:
-
R (Radio Blackouts) – These are triggered by strong solar X-ray flares. When the level hits R2 (moderate) or higher, the D-layer of the ionosphere over daylight paths becomes highly ionized, soaking up your HF signals—especially 20 meters and down. Expect shortwave silence for minutes to hours.
-
S (Solar Radiation Storms) – These relate to high-energy protons blasting through space. At S2 (moderate) and above, expect increased noise on polar paths and degraded propagation over the poles. They can also fry satellite electronics.
-
G (Geomagnetic Storms) – These are the big ones for HF. A G3 (strong) or higher storm means major magnetic turbulence in the ionosphere. Signals bounce unpredictably, MUFs fluctuate, and entire HF bands can vanish or become distorted.
Severity levels range from:
-
0 (none) – Smooth sailing.
-
1 (minor) – Occasional dropouts or weak band openings.
-
2 (moderate) – QSB increases, and skip gets weird.
-
3+ (strong to extreme) – Expect HF chaos.
(What/Where/Why of Disturbances):
-
R Levels (X-ray-induced Radio Blackouts)
These originate from solar flares, typically measured by GOES satellites in the 1–8 Å X-ray range. A rapid increase in soft X-ray flux enhances ionization in the D-region of the ionosphere. These effects are instantaneous on the dayside and degrade signal integrity on HF bands. -
S Levels (Solar Radiation Storms)
Driven by solar energetic particle (SEP) events, typically protons >10 MeV, these storms are monitored by GOES-E and GOES-W spacecraft. High S-levels cause polar cap absorption (PCA) events, disturb HF communications in polar regions, and pose risks to aviation and satellite systems. -
G Levels (Geomagnetic Storms)
Caused by coronal mass ejections (CMEs) or high-speed solar wind streams hitting Earth’s magnetosphere. These interactions drive geomagnetic disturbances detectable via magnetometers globally. They result in auroral activity, perturb F-layer stability, and alter HF propagation paths through increased ionospheric currents and density gradients.
Each level corresponds to Dst index depression, Kp values, and magnetometer deflections, with classification from:
-
G0 (none) up to G5 (extreme) geomagnetic events.
In a Nutshell for the Radio Ham:
-
R is for Radio Blackouts – Happens fast when the Sun pops a big flare. Your HF band might go silent, especially on the sunlit side. Watch for R2 and up.
-
S is for Solar Radiation Storms – Particles flying at Earth mess up polar HF paths. Above S1, your signal might struggle to make it over the pole.
-
G is for Geomagnetic Storms – Earth’s magnetic field is shaking. Big G means weird skip, dropped signals, and vanishing bands. G3+? Might be a good day to fix antennas instead.
Severity goes from:
- 0 = None
- 1 = Minor
- 2 = Moderate
- 3 = Strong
- 4 = Severe
- 5 = Extreme
The higher the number, the more likely your 20m DX just turned into static.