High solar flux (expected to drop rapidly from about 200 to about 120 during
2002), high A-index (over 10) geomagnetic storms, proton events and
polar-cap absorption are bad news; they tend to mean poor long-distance
reception of medium wave and tropical band shortwave stations, especially
paths over polar areas and paths to east and west of your location are
affected. If you live far north, reception may be good towards south and
vice versa on the Southern hemisphere.

Indices from the U.S. NOAA Space Environment Center in Boulder Colorado,
updated every three hours and published in real time at
http://www.dxing.info/propagation/