290.275 MHz - Band Opening?

[eorange]

I scan the UHF military air bands every day. This morning I'm hearing nonstop traffic on 290.275 MHz which originates from the Mansfield RCAG per Cleveland (ZOB) Air Route Traffic Control Center Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference. I'm confident that I'm hearing the civilian tower comms; heading handoffs to Cleveland and Chicago centers among other things.

So far I've heard over 200 really clear hits since 7am. My QTH is in the northeast corner of Cuyahoga county so this is really unusual.

 

[autovon]

There's been some good VHF/UHF conditions the last week or so.
This map is VHF, however UHF is up right now also.

VHF Real Time Propagation

An interactive map that shows real time, worldwide VHF activity highlighting enhaned propagation typical to tropospheric ducting.

vhf.dxview.org