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The projected path of Hurricane Jeanne (click on link to update) as of 1500 UTC September 23. [National Hurricane Center Graphic]
The projected path of Tropical Storm Ivan (click on link to update) as of 1500 UTC September 23. [National Hurricane Center Graphic] |
NEWINGTON, CT, Sep 23, 2004--The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) may activate Friday, September 24, at 1400 UTC as Hurricane Jeanne (click link for latest forecast) continues on a course that could again send damaging wind and rain into the already storm-battered Florida Coast. The National Hurricane Center--home of WX4NHC, which typically activates with the HWN--is urging interests on the Florida peninsula to "closely monitor the progress" of Hurricane Jeanne, now a Category 2 storm.
"Given the surprising and unpredictable forecast track and speed of Hurricane Jeanne, I am sending notice to all Hurricane Watch Net members, to anticipate net activation," Hurricane Watch Net Manager Mike Pilgrim, K5MP, said today. "As of this hour, it appears Jeanne is on a path very similar to Frances, which will be across central Abacos and Grand Bahamas on Saturday, and then on to the Florida east, central or southeastern coast by Sunday morning." As of 1800 UTC, a hurricane watch was in effect for the northwestern Bahamas.
Pilgrim said that while the net's main mission is to disseminate advisory information into the hurricane-affected area, "we also request that stations with available weather measuring equipment please attempt to check into the net with your local observations and measurements."
As of 1800 UTC, Huricane Jeanne was 440 miles east of Great Abaco Island, moving toward the west at almost 6 MPH. The storm is packing maximum sustained winds of nearly 105 MPH with higher gusts, but a slow increase in strength is possible during the next 24 hours, the NHC said.
Meanwhile, ARRL South Texas Section Manager Ray Taylor, N5NAV, says the Texas Office of Emergency Management has requested activation of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service Net at 1900 UTC. After spreading rain across several sections of the Eastern US, the apparently tenacious Tropical Storm Ivan now is poised to hit the Texas Gulf Coast today.
"Please keep 7285 kHz clear," Taylor requested. The net will switch to 3873 kHz sometime between 2200 and 2300 UTC.
As of 1800 UTC, the NHC said Tropical Storm Ivan was 50 miles southeast of Cameron, Louisiana, and about 80 miles southeast of Port Arthur, Texas. The storm was weakening as it continued moving northwesterly toward southwestern Louisiana and the upper Texas coasts. A tropical storm warning remains in effect for a portion of the Gulf of Mexico coast from Morgan City, Louisiana, westward to Sargent, Texas.
