07/25/2020

The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN[1]) has activated for Hurricane Hanna, the first hurricane of the Atlantic Hurricane season. The storm is poised to make landfall along the Gulf of Mexico. A Category 1 storm, Hanna has maximum sustained winds of 75 MPH. As of 1200 UTC, the storm was about 90 miles east-northeast of Port Mansfield, Texas, and about 100 miles east-southeast of Corpus Christi, Texas.

"The year 2020 has been a strange year in every way, and the weather is no different," HWN Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, said. "Just a few hours ago, it looked as though we would be activating for Hurricane Gonzalo. Well, that storm had other ideas. The same can be said for what had been Tropical Storm Hanna in the Gulf of Mexico. All along, it looked as though this storm would make landfall as a Tropical Storm."

Graves said the net activated today at 1130 UTC on 14.325 MHz - its primary net frequency. "If conditions require, and they most likely will, we will operate simultaneously on 14.325.00 MHz and 7.268.00 MHz," Graves said. The HWN will remain active until 2200 UTC, "or until no longer required by the National Hurricane Center."

Via its amateur radio volunteer members, the HWN gathers observed ground-truth weather data from those in the affected area. "We are also available to provide back-up communication to official agencies such as emergency operations centers, Red Cross officials, and storm shelters in the affected area," Graves added. "We will also be interested to collect and report significant damage assessment and storm surge data back to the forecasters as well as FEMA officials stationed in the National Hurricane Center."

WX4NHC[2] at the NHC also has activated for Hanna, and will participate in the HWN on 14.325 MHz, as well as on theÿVoIP Weather Net[3],ÿWX-TALK Conference node 7203 / IRLP node 9219). Contact WX4NHC via Winlink (subject must contain "//WL2K") or complete a WX4NHC online Hurricane Report Form[4].

Due to COVID-19 precautions, WX4NHC operators are operating from their homes.ÿ


[1] http://www.hwn.org/
[2] http://w4ehw.fiu.edu/
[3] http://www.voipwx.net/
[4] http://w4ehw.fiu.edu/WX-form1.php

---
þ Synchronet þ Whiskey Lover's Amateur Radio BBS

07/31/2020

The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN[1]) activated on 14.325 MHz on July 31 at 1500 UTC as Hurricane Isaias heads toward the US on an uncertain trajectory.ÿ The Volusia County, Florida, and State emergency operations centers were reported at a Level 3 (Monitoring) status.

"For years I've said, 'Just when you think you have Mother Nature figured out, she changes her mind,'" HWN Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, said. "Shortly after Advisory 11 for then-Tropical Storm Isaias was issued [at 0300 UTC], an Air Force Reserve hurricane hunter aircraft found that the tropical storm had strengthened to a hurricane. The maximum winds had increased to 80 MPH with higher gusts making the storm a Category 1 hurricane."

The National Hurricane Center (NHC[2]) forecast for 0900 UTC called for Isaias to strengthen into a Category 2 hurricane during the next 24 hours.

"Unfortunately, Isaias appears to be taking a somewhat similar track along the US east coastline, such as Matthew in 2016 and Dorian in 2019," Graves said. "Interests throughout the Bahamas, Florida, Georgia, South and North Carolina, and farther north need to keep a close watch on Isaias. This means the Hurricane Watch Net could be running another marathon activation."

An NHC Intermediate Advisory issued at 1200 UTC called for strong winds and heavy squalls lashing the southeastern Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, and hurricane conditions are expected today over portions of the Bahamas.

As of 1200 UTC, Hurricane Isaias was located about 30 miles northwest of Great Inagua Island, and some 340 miles southeast of Nassau. Maximum sustained winds were 80 MPH, and Isaias is moving northwest at 17 MPH. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for parts of the Florida coast, and the NHC said interests in Florida and elsewhere along the southeast coast of the US should monitor the progress of this weather system. "Additional watches or warnings may be required for a portion of the Florida peninsula later today," the NHC said.

Isaias is predicted to produce heavy rains and potentially life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides across the Dominican Republic, northern Haiti, Turks and Caicos, and the Bahamas.

"Tropical storm conditions are possible along portions of the Florida east coast beginning Saturday, and a tropical storm watch remains in effect. While storm surge watches are not currently needed for this area, they may be required later today, if the forecast track shifts closer to the coast. Heavy rains associated with Isaias may begin to affect south and east-central Florida beginning late Friday night, and the eastern Carolinas by early next week, potentially resulting in isolated flash and urban flooding, especially in low-lying and poorly drained areas. Isolated minor river flooding is possible in the Carolinas early next week," the NHC said. "Hurricane conditions and dangerous storm surges are expected in portions of the Bahamas today and Saturday, and hurricane warnings are in effect for these areas. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion."

"There is a risk of impacts from winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surges late this weekend from the northeastern Florida coast and spreading northward along the remainder of the US east coast through early next week. The details of the track and intensity forecast remain uncertain, and it is too soon to determine the magnitude and location of these potential impacts."

The HWN seeks "observed ground-truth data from those in the affected area," including wind velocity and gusting, wind direction, barometric pressure, and, if available, rainfall, damage, and storm surge. "Measured weather data is always appreciated, but we do accept estimated," Graves noted.


[1] http://www.hwn.org/
[2] https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

---
þ Synchronet þ Whiskey Lover's Amateur Radio BBS

07/02/2021

The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN[1]) is currently active on 14.325 MHz for Hurricane Elsa.

"Elsa surprised us all by strengthening overnight into a Category 1 hurricane," HWN Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, said. The storm is currently in between Barbados and St. Lucia with maximum sustained winds of 75 MPH. The storm is moving to the west-northwest at 28 MPH. At this clip, the storm should be past the Windward Islands in the next few hours.

"As with any net activation, we welcome your observed ground-truth data from those in the affected area. The information forecasters at the national hurricane center need includes wind speed, wind gust, wind direction, barometric pressure - if available, rainfall, damage, and storm surge. Measured weather data is always appreciated but we do accept estimated.

"We are also available to provide back-up communications to official agencies such as Emergency Operations Centers, Red Cross officials, and storm shelters in the affected area. We also collect and forward significant damage assessment data to FEMA officials stationed at the National Hurricane Center.

"I will be announcing plans for possible activations for the weekend later today."ÿ


[1] http://www.hwn.org/

---
þ Synchronet þ Whiskey Lover's Amateur Radio BBS

08/29/2021

The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN[1]) is on Alert Level 5, "Catastrophic Response Mode," as Hurricane Ida heads toward landfall on the coast of Louisiana today - the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina - after gaining considerable strength in the Gulf of Mexico. The net, on 14.325 and 7.268 MHz, works in concert with WX4NHC[2] at the National Hurricane Center (NHC[3]) in Miami to share real-time surface-weather observations with the Center's forecasters.

In its 1500 UTC report, the NHC said the "eye of extremely dangerous Category 4 Hurricane Ida nearing the southeastern coast of Louisiana...catastrophic storm surge and hurricane-force winds moving onshore."

Officials are saying Ida could be the most powerful hurricane to hit Louisiana in more than a century.

As of 1500 UTC, Hurricane Ida was some 85 miles south of New Orleans with maximum sustained winds of 150 MPH, moving northwest at 13 MPH.

WX4NHC plans to be active until midnight Eastern Time for Hurricane Ida, welcoming all reports from stations in the affected area.

"These surface reports are very important to the NHC, as they are real-time reports of weather data, flooding, or damage that help the NHC Hurricane Specialists fill in gaps in data and help understand what is happening at the ground level," Julio Ripoll, WD4R, at the Hurricane Center explained. WX4NHC will be monitoring the HWN, the VoIP Hurricane Net[4], Winlink, APRS, and other modes.

The VoIP Hurricane Net uses EchoLink WX-TALK Conference, node 7203. (IRLP node 9219). The WX4NHC Hurricane Report Form[5] is online.

"This remains a serious, life-threatening situation," the National Weather Service tweeted.

ÿ


[1] http://www.hwn.org/
[2] https://w4ehw.fiu.edu/WX-form1.php
[3] https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
[4] http://www.voipwx.net/
[5] https://w4ehw.fiu.edu/WX-form1.php

---
þ Synchronet þ Whiskey Lover's Amateur Radio BBS