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Hurricane Watch Net, WX4NHC to Activate as Katrina Nears Florida
NEWINGTON, CT, Aug 25, 2005--With Tropical Storm Katrina forecast to become
a Category 1 hurricane, the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN)
is planning to activate at 1900 UTC today. The HWN meets on 14.325 MHz. WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center (NHC)
in Miami is scheduled to come on frequency 2200 UTC. The NHC reports Katrina
now packs winds of nearly 60 MPH with higher gusts. Forecasters say additional
strengthening is possible today and tonight, however, and Katrina could reach
Category 1 status before her center reaches the southeastern Florida coast. HWN
Manager Mike Pilgrim, K5MP, says the net will convene despite the meteorological
uncertainty.
 The projected path of Tropical Storm Katrina--expected to
become a Category 1 hurricane--as of 1500 UTC today. |
"It is uncertain if she will retain hurricane status to
landfall early Friday morning, so [we're acting] on the side of safety," he
said. "The necessity to continue into Friday will of course, be based on
subsequent advisory guidance."
Meanwhile, ARRL Southern Florida Section Section Emergency
Coordinato Jeff Beals, WA4AW, reports that he and District 4 Emergency
Coordinator Hugh Connolly, AG4HC, will report to the Palm Beach County emergency operations center (EOC). "Emergency Coordinators in Broward and Palm Beach counties advise that they will be activating today," he adds. "Shelters and special
care units will be opening today in both counties, also."
The NHC reports a hurricane warning remains in effect for
the southeastern coast of Florida from Vero Beach southward to Florida City, including Lake Okeechobee. As of 1500 UTC today, the storm was 55 miles east of Fort Lauderdale and moving to the west at approximately 6 MPH. Due to its slow speed, the
storm is expected to produce significant rainfall and generate storm surge
flooding of two to four feet above normal along coastal areas.
The HWN's Pilgrim says that depending on the storm's
behavior, the HWN may activate again at 1200 UTC on Friday, August 26. If the storm
moves quickly across Florida as predicted and regains intensity in the Gulf of Mexico, the net may activate yet again, perhaps as early as Sunday afternoon.
Pilgrim says no firm plans are in place for activations beyond today's, however.
Pilgrim also expressed concern about the potential for
disturbed propagation. "Due to unusually high solar flare activity of late,
conditions on 20 meters may be only marginal during our net session," he
advised. He recommended that net participants and those who monitor the net to
listen diligently and take advantage of HWN net relay stations. Poor or erratic
propagation has plagued the HWN during this hurricane season.
The net manager invited stations in the storm-affected
area to check in with reports of real-time weather data and any storm damage.
During the hurricane season, the HWN and WX4NHC cooperate to relay direct storm
weather observations and other pertinent information to the NHC. There, forecasters
use the Amateur Radio reports to help them predict a storm's behavior. He also
notes that the HWN Web site includes
up-to-date advisories and tracking information, including live satellite
imagery.
Page last modified: 12:45 PM, 25 Aug 2005 ET
Page author: awextra@arrl.org
Copyright © 2005, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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