been checking 10 meters every day for the past week and hearing absolutely nothing except for some beacons. even the cb guys are quiet which usually means something. checked my antenna connections and everything looks fine. solar flux has been pretty low lately from what i can see on the charts but wondering if anyone else is experiencing this complete silence or if my setup is the problem

Your not alone, 10m has been pretty much dead here too for the last several days. Solar flux dropped to around 95 yesterday and the A index has been elevated. Should start picking up again once we get some solar activity but who knows when that will be. Try listening around 28.300 for the beacons, if you can hear those your antenna is probably fine

yeah same here in the midwest, been dead as a doornail. I'm still pretty new to hf so wasnt sure if this was normal or what but good to know its not just my setup. when it does open back up how quick does it usually happen? like do you get any warning or does it just suddenly come alive