The ARRL Solar Update 

Solar activity reached moderate levels with two M-class flares
earlier this week.
 
The first flares occurred on January 21 in regions 4345 and 4349.
Region 4345 continued to show development, as well as region 4342.
Region 4341 was a main contributor to the C-level activity of the
day, including a larger C-class flare on January 21. No
Earth-directed CMEs were observed in the available coronagraph
im...

ARRL Honorary Vice President John Cadwallader Kanode, N4MM, Silent Key 

John Cadwallader Kanode, N4MM (SK), of Boyce, Virginia, passed away on January 13, 2026. He was 88 years old. First licensed in 1952, Kanode served on the Board of Directors of ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio for 21 years, first as Roanoke Division Vice Director, then Director, and Vice President. He was a member of the ARRL Maxim Society (President Class), a Life Member, and wa...

The ARRL Solar Update 

Solar activity reached moderate levels due to an M1.6 flare on
January 14 from new region AR4341. Spot classification of this
region is complicated by limb proximity and foreshortening effects.
New Region AR4342 rotated around the NE limb and was also numbered.
No Earth-directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) were observed. Solar
activity is expected to be low with a 25-30% chance for M-class
flares (...

FCC Poised to Exempt Amateurs from Foreign Adversary Reporting Requirements 

At the urging of ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is expected to exempt radio amateurs from foreign adversary reporting requirements. These rules would have applied to citizens of the listed countries (see below), including those living in the United States, who hold or are applying for an FCC license.

On January 8, 2026, the FCC relea...

The ARRL Solar Update 

Geomagnetic field activity is likely to reach G1 (Minor) geomagnetic
storm levels on January 13 and 14, and then from January 17 to 20.

Unsettled levels are likely on January 12, and then from January 21
and 22.  All enhancements in geomagnetic activity are due to the
anticipated influence of multiple, recurrent, coronal holes. The
remainder of the outlook period is expected to be mostly quiet.

A tra...

ARRL Awards Colvin Grant to Bouvet DXpedition 

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® has awarded a $5,000 Colvin Award grant to the Delta-Xray Group, organizers of the upcoming 3YØK DXpedition to Bouvet Island, scheduled for February and March, 2026. Bouvet is a remote island in the Southern Ocean, populated only by seals and penguins, and known for treacherous weather and surf conditions. It is a territory of Norway and nearly a...

New ARRL Section Managers Take Office in January 

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® annouces four new Section Managers taking on the top volunteer leadership role in the ARRL Field Organization on January 1, 2026. 

Bret Stemen, KD8SCL, has been appointed as the Ohio Section Manager to finish the term that will end September 30, 2026. Stemen, of Pataskala, has recently served as the Section Emergency Coordinator. He is taking the ...

The ARRL Solar Update 

The January 2, 2026, report from Spaceweather.com has updated
details about the Coronal Mass Ejections predicted to hit the Earth
on January 3 and 4.

Solar wind parameters are expected to be disturbed through January
4, 2026, due to a combination of Coronal Hole High Speed Stream and
Coronal Mass Ejection activity. There is the potential for glancing
influences late into January 3 from CMEs that left...

ARRL Headquarters Closing for Christmas Holiday 2025 

ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio® will close our headquarters early at 12 PM Eastern Standard Time (1700 UTC) on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, and will be closed all day on Thursday and Friday, December 25 - 26 for the Christmas holiday. ARRL will also be closed on Thursday, January 1, 2026, for New Year's Day.

There will be no W1AW transmissions during the holiday closures. The A...

The ARRL Solar Update 

Solar activity has been at low levels with only a few C1 flares from
Region 4307. Slight growth and consolidation were observed in that
region as it neared the southwestern limb. Slight decay and
separation were observed in Region 4311. The rest of the spotted
regions were either stable or in decay. CME analysis will be
conducted as imagery becomes available. Solar activity is expected
to be low with...