NOAA OVATION Aurora 30-Min Forecast for Ham Operators

NOAA OVATION Aurora 30-Min Forecast for Ham OperatorsHow to read the OVATION aurora map for both visual chasers and HF/VHF operators. What aurora does to polar HF propagation and 6m/2m aurora-bounce opportunities.NOAA's OVATION Prime forecast — ingests real-time solar wind from DSCOVR/ACE and predicts auroral intensity 30 minutes ahead.Reading the mapColored oval = predicted auroral location. Yellow / red = strong; green = moderate. Oval expands EQUATORWARD during geomagnetic storms.For HF / VHF operatorsStrong auroras ionize high-latitude atmosphere:

Disrupts HF on polar paths (US to Asia / EU)

Opens 6m and 2m aurora propagation — VHF operators in northern latitudes can work hundreds of km via auroral backscatter

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