 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||
|
|
 Previous: Vanity Call Sign Application Fee to Rise |  Next: A Dog Island Field Day |
NEWINGTON, CT, July 8, 2005--The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) on 14.325 MHz and WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center remain active to gather ground-level weather data for forecasters as Hurricane Dennis approaches the US. The storm now is packing winds of nearly 145 MPH with higher gusts as it bears down on Cuba.
"Currently, Hurricane Dennis is a very dangerous Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale and forecast to make landfall Friday evening somewhere along the southwest coast of Cuba," said HWN Manager Mike Pilgrim, K5MP. He says that with Dennis forecast to make landfall on Cuba late today, the net "plans to remain active as long as required."
Pilgrim said that based on current forecasts, the net likely would take a break Saturday, July 9, as Dennis moves into the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico, then reactivate the morning of Sunday, July 10, as the storm approaches the northern Gulf Coast later that day, "possibly as a very dangerous major hurricane."
At 1800 UTC, the center of Hurricane Dennis was some 125 miles southeast of Havana, Cuba, and some 190 miles south-southeast of Key West, Florida.
The projected course of Hurricane Dennis as of 1500 UTC July 8. [NOAA Graphic] |
The storm is expected to continue moving toward the northwest at near 17 MPH. The National Hurricane Center forecasts some weakening of the storm as it moves over Cuba, but it's expected to remain a major hurricane as it emerges over the Straits of Florida and the southeastern Gulf of Mexico tonight. The National Hurricane Center says isolated tornadoes are possible over the Florida Keys and the southern Florida peninsula into Saturday, July 9.
Assistant Amateur Radio Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4R, at WX4NHC, said he anticipates his volunteers to be busy through the weekend as well. Per usual, WX4NHC will be monitoring the Hurricane Watch Net. The NHC also will monitor EchoLink and IRLP via the WX_Talk Conference Room.
He said surface reports using the WX4NHC Hurricane Report Form will be monitored. Amateur weather enthusiasts and ON-NHC Volunteers may report directly to WX4NHC online.
"Please do not transmit unless you have an emergency or are requested to do so by net control," Ripoll advised, echoing an earlier request from HWN Assistant Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, who said the net will attempt to handle all communications within the capabilities of its members and will only ask for additional assistance when it's needed. Graves also pointed out that, while the net's mission is to provide weather-related information into and out of the storm area, the HWN does not handle health-and-welfare traffic.
"That traffic will be handled by the SATERN (Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network) net on 14.265 MHz, whenever activated, as well as via their Web site." The SATERN Web page includes a link for health-and-welfare inquiries.
HWN participants gather measured and observed ground-level storm data from the affected area and relay these to the volunteer-staffed WX4NHC to aid forecasters in determining a storm's behavior.
Dennis is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 5 to 10 inches or more that could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides. Storm surge flooding of 5 to 7 feet above normal tide levels--and perhaps twice as high along parts of Cuba's southern coast--and large and dangerous battering waves are likely in areas of onshore winds near the storm's center.
Graves says the HWN also will remain available to backup conventional lines of communication as needed. "Throughout this event, we remind everyone that we are also available to provide backup communication facilities to official agencies such as emergency operations centers and Red Cross officials in the affected area," he said. "We will also collect and report significant damage assessment data back to FEMA officials stationed in the National Hurricane Center."
Graves said the HWN may announce other frequencies set up by local emergency nets in affected areas. "Please monitor 14.325.00 MHz for that information as it is made available," he advised. He also said the net would announce storm-related advisories and updates as they become available from the National Hurricane Center.
The HWN Web site includes regularly updated forecasts and weather graphics. Visitors to the site also may subscribe to receive regular weather updates via e-mail.
| Previous: Vanity Call Sign Application Fee to Rise | Next: A Dog Island Field Day |
