160m - getting worse?

Overnight, using the earth-electrode "antenna" in the ground, fewer stations outside Europe were spotted than on the previous nights on 160m FT8 RX.  Not being a serious topband person, I have no idea if this is always so at the end of December or whether it is just conditions and things will get better again.  Overnight, 4 North Americans and 2 Caribbean stations spotted.  426 stations spotted on 160m FT8 RX in total in the last 12 hours (see map).

Stations spotted overnight on 160m FT8 RX