Are we into the Gnevyshev gap?

I notice that HF propagation lately is not as good as last year. Especially on 6m (VHF) were we had great F2 propagation at the end of 2024. Till now nothing interesting was heard (seen) on 6m, even de ES propagation is not that good. Normally HF propagation is not that good in summer or is is something else?

The Gnevyshev Gap is a phenomenon observed in the solar cycle where solar activity, such as sunspot numbers and solar flux, shows a temporary dip or lull during the peak of a solar maximum. Instead of a single peak, many solar cycles exhibit a double-peaked maximum, with a drop in activity between the two peaks—this drop is the Gnevyshev Gap, named after Soviet astronomer Mikhail Gnevyshev.

In Relation to Ham Radio (Amateur Radio):

Ham radio, especially HF (High Frequency) propagation (3 to 30 MHz), is significantly affected by solar activity because:

Higher solar activity increases ionization in the ionosphere, especially the F2 layer, which enhances long-distance HF propagation.

Solar flux index (SFI) and sunspot numbers are proxies used to estimate propagation quality.

What the Gnevyshev Gap Means for Ham Radio:

During the Gnevyshev Gap, there is often a temporary degradation in propagation conditions on HF bands, especially 10m, 12m, and 15m, which are more sensitive to solar activity.

Operators may notice a decline in DX (long-distance) opportunities during this lull, even though it's still technically within the solar maximum.

The gap can last several weeks to months, depending on the cycle.

Practical Tips for Hams:

Monitor Solar Data: Watch for dips in SFI, sunspot numbers, and MUF (maximum usable frequency) during peak years of the solar cycle.

Plan Around It: If you're aiming for DXpeditions or contests, try to schedule them during the rising or falling edges of the solar max, not the Gnevyshev Gap.

VHF/UHF not affected: This gap has little to no impact on propagation above ~30 MHz (like 6m, 2m, or 70cm).

In short, the Gnevyshev Gap is a temporary downturn in solar activity at solar max, and for ham radio, it can momentarily reduce the exceptional propagation conditions expected at the peak of the cycle.

Although this gap has little impact on VHF I think certainly F2 propagation on 6m is affected. But who am I to write that, I'm not an expert in HF/VHF propagation. However I found this interesting enough to write about.