[Ips-hf-warning] ASWFC HF DEPRESSION WARNING issued 0405 UT on 20 Jan 2026 [SEC=OFFICIAL]

[Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre]

SUBJ: ASWFC HF RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WARNING 26/13
ISSUED AT 0404UT/20 JANUARY 2026
BY THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE WEATHER FORECASTING CENTRE.

Significant HF depressions are currently being observed across 
the Australian region due to ongoing geomagnetic activity. Further 
depressions of at least 40-50% are expected for the remainder 
of UT day 20-Jan and 21-Jan.

DEGRADED HF PROPAGATION CONDITIONS EXPECTED
FROM 20-21 JANUARY 2026
IF COMMS DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCED TRY A LOWER FREQUENCY BAND
_____________________________________________________________

HF COMMUNICATIONS FORECAST (AUSTRALIAN/NEW ZEALAND REGION)
                                   FREQUENCY BANDS
       T-index      MUFs        2  4  6  8 12 16 22 26
_____________________________________________________________
20 Jan:  -50          -47%      2  4  4  4  6  8 12 12
21 Jan:  -50          -47%      2  4  4  4  6  8 12 12

Note:
An ASWFC MUF depression HF Warning and ASWFC shortwave fadeout 
HF Warning are both current. Shortwave fadeouts degrade 
lower shortwave radio frequencies first (through increased 
ionospheric absorption) and the usual strategy during shortwave 
fadeouts is to try a higher frequency. In contrast, during 
periods of ionospheric MUF depression, the upper frequencies 
are degraded first and the usual strategy is to use a 
lower frequency. 

In general use a lower frequency if you are having trouble
with your normal workable frequency.

If a shortwave fadeout occurs during a period when ionospheric 
MUFs are depressed the available HF bandwidth will be "squeezed", 
with increased absorption raising the lowest usable frequency 
and the ionospheric depression lowering the highest usable 
frequency. Under such conditions it is suggested that the 
HF communicator operates on the highest usable frequency, 
even though this may well be in fact lower than what is normally 
supported for that particular circuit.

Australian Space Weather Forecasting Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
ASWFC at bom.gov.au
www.bom.gov.au | www.sws.bom.gov.au