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 Previous: The K7RA Solar Update |  Next: Surfin': Scam, Scam, Scam, Scam, Scam, Scam |
NEWINGTON, CT, July 15, 2005--With Hurricane Emily now a Category 3 storm, the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN)activated on 14.325 MHz at 1600 UTC today in an effort to gather ground-level weather data to relay to National Hurricane Center forecasters. The HWN works in cooperation with the center's WX4NHC to relay direct weather observations to forecasters. Generally poor conditions on 20 meters have made that task difficult, however. In the early going, a round-robin of net control stations in the US, Canada and the US Virgin Islands were calling for stations in Emily's path without results.
"This is VE3PWZ for the Hurricane Watch Net," announced Paul Chantree in Ontario. "I'm looking for stations in the affected area of Hurricane Emily--the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Cayman Islands. Please call VE3PWZ, over." His call was met with silence, however. "No stations heard," he said, passing the baton back to ARRL US Virgin Islands Section Manager John Ellis, NP2B, who gave it a try but had no luck either. At that point, the net turned control back to VE3PWZ, who appeared to have the best propagation into the hurricane zone.
Now "a little weaker" but still a dangerous hurricane, Emily at 1800 UTC was some 395 miles southeast of Kingston, Jamaica, moving toward the west at nearly 20 MPH. A turn to the west-northwest is expected during the next 24 hours, however. On that track, Emily will pass to the south of or very near Jamaica on July 16.
A hurricane warning remains in effect for all of Jamaica, and a hurricane watch has been posted for the Caymans. Reconnaissance aircraft and
satellite data indicate that although Emily has weakened, its maximum sustained
winds are nearly 125 MPH with higher gusts. The storm also is expected to
produce heavy rains, which could cause flooding in affected regions.
 The projected track of Hurricane Emily as of 1500 UTC today. [NOAA Graphic] |
HWN Manager Mike Pilgrim noted yesterday that the net could expect to be busy over the weekend as Emily heads in the general direction of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico and southern Texas. The storm could be in the Gulf of Mexico by July 18.
Pilgrim has referred all interested parties to the HWN Web site for the latest activation information as well as latest weather advisories. "We encourage all mariners and residents around Jamaica and the Cayman Islands to come to the net frequency of 14.325 MHz for all the latest information and for the purpose of providing reports of conditions in your area," he added.
Pilgrim points out that the HWN remains available to provide backup communication to and on behalf of official agencies such as emergency operations centers and the Red Cross and will gather and report damage assessment information to Federal Emergency Management Agency officials at the National Hurricane Center. The net also is likely to announce other frequencies in use for the storm emergency as the information becomes available.
The net requests that stations not on the HWN roster to refrain from checking into the net unless specifically requested to do so.
The HWN directs health-and-welfare inquiries to the
Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) on 14.265 MHz or on the SATERN Web site.
| Previous: The K7RA Solar Update | Next: Surfin': Scam, Scam, Scam, Scam, Scam, Scam |
