The Sun gave radio operators a breather this weekend. NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center cancelled its G2 geomagnetic storm watch on October 11 — conditions no longer warranted it. This morning's 27-day outlook has the 10.7 cm solar flux at 120, the planetary A-index at 16, and the predicted Kp at 4. Sunday's observed flux was 122. The watch may not be over for long: a G1 minor-storm watch is predicted for October 13, and active Region 4549 — holding a delta magnetic configuration as it nears the western limb — keeps M-class flares likely through October 13 with a slight chance of X-class. Then, on October 11 around 2300 UTC, a long filament northeast of the southern coronal hole erupted; modeling suggests most of the associated coronal mass ejection will pass behind Earth, but there is a slight chance of a minor glancing blow on October 14. Greater-than-2-MeV electron flux is expected to reach high levels October 13-14. Bottom line: HF conditions look reasonable today, with a disturbance window midweek worth watching.
On the DX front, today is the last day to log two popular holiday-style operations. Per the latest ARRL DX Bulletin from W1AW, Jacek's 5W0AF in Samoa and Aldir's 8R1TM in Guyana are both QRV through October 12 on HF. The Lesotho trio — 7P8JL, 7P8LZ, and 7P8TR — signed off on October 11. Still on the air: Pertti, OH2RF, as 6O2M from Somalia through October 25; Lui's C5R from The Gambia through November 4; Janusz, SP9FIH, as FW1P from Wallis Island through October 16; Sands, VK9WX, from Willis Island through October 31; the Polish Arctic station HF0PAS from the South Shetlands on 40-meter SSB through October 31; Alex, HB9FND, as Z81Q from Juba, South Sudan; and John, AE5X, running QRP from Albania as ZA/AE5X on 20 through 10 meters.
If you are staying home today, there is still plenty on the air: the 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint, the K1USN Slow Speed Test, the ICWC Medium Speed Tests, and the OK1WC Memorial run. Then look at this coming weekend — October 17-18 is stacked. The WA7BNM calendar and ARRL listings show the New York QSO Party (1400Z Saturday to 0200Z Sunday), the Iowa QSO Party, the Worked All Germany contest, the Stew Perry Topband Challenge on 160 meters, the JARTS WW RTTY Contest, the Feld Hell Sprint, the W/VE Islands QSO Party, the 902 MHz and Up Fall Sprint, the PODXS 070 Club 160-meter Great Pumpkin Sprint, the UBA ON 2-meter contest, and the Illinois QSO Party getting underway Sunday. Check the rules on contestcalendar.com before you get on — a few QSO parties were listed as historically active but unconfirmed.
A few dates to put on your calendar this week. The Zero Retries Digital Conference 2026 is set for October 16, and the ARRL School Club Roundup runs October 19-23 — last year's was a great chance to work student stations, and this year's should be no different. History buffs take note: the SAQ station at Grimeton, Sweden plans to air a United Nations Day message on October 24. Meanwhile, the comment clocks are ticking on the two federal RF-safety proceedings — the HHS request for information closes October 21 and the FCC public notice closes October 22. Neither changes the current RF-exposure rules that apply to amateurs, but both could shape later rulemakings, so now is the time to weigh in if you have thoughts or expertise. That's the start of the week in the ham and GMRS world — I'll be back tomorrow morning with more. 73, and good hunting.