The following is from our friends at the Hurricane Watch Net as they continue to monitor three simultaneous hurricanes...
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| NOAA/National Hurricane Center map |
(Update: Friday, September 08, 2017 @ 730 AM EDT (1130 UTC)
The Hurricane Watch Net remained operational overnight on 7.268.00 MHz. We suspended nighttime operations at 7:30 AM EDT – 1130 UTC. Daytime operations resumed on 14.325.00 MHz at 7:00 AM EDT - 1100 UTC.
The following is from the 500 AM EDT – 0900 UTC Advisories.
Irma remains a powerful and deadly Hurricane. It is a Category 4 with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h). At 700 AM AST – 1100 UTC, Irma was located about 55 miles (90 km) northwest of Great Inagua Island and about 495 miles (795 km) southeast of Miami, Florida.
We have 2 additional hurricanes we are monitoring and working: José and Katia.
José will affect the northern Leeward Islands Saturday. José is a Category 3 Hurricane with maximum sustained wind of 125 mph (200 km/h) moving to the west-northwest at 16 mph (26 km/h).
Katia is forecast to make landfall as a Category 2 Hurricane later tonight or early Saturday morning somewhere between Veracruz and Tampico, Mexico. Katia is a Category 1 Hurricane with maximum sustained wind of 90 mph (150 km/h) moving to the west-southwest at 3 mph (6 km/h).The Hurricane Watch Net remains at Alert Level 5 – Catastrophic Response Mode. Will remain in continuous operation until further notice. Daytime operations on 14.325 MHz will begin at 7:00 AM EDT – 1100 UTC each day continuing for as long as propagation allows. Nighttime operations will be on 7.268 MHz starting at 6:00 PM EDT – 2200 UTC and continue overnight. If propagation dictates, we will operate both frequencies at the same time.
Note: Operations on 7.268 MHz will pause at 7:30 AM ET, and, if required, resume at approximately 8:30 AM ET. This will allow the Waterway Net to conducts their daily net.
Any change in Net Operation plans will be noted here, on our website, the networks of 14.300.00 MHz, and many additional amateur radio networks and media.
As with any net activation, HWN requests observed ground-truth data from those in the affected area (Wind Speed, Wind Gust, Wind Direction, Barometric Pressure – if available, Rainfall, Damage, and Storm Surge). Measured weather data is always appreciated but estimated data is accepted. We will also be interested to collect and report significant damage assessment data back to FEMA officials stationed in the National Hurricane Center.
In addition to collecting weather data for the forecasters at the National Hurricane Centers and reading the latest advisories, bulletins, and updates, we can also handle any emergency or priority traffic. Additionally, we are available to provide backup communications to official agencies such as Emergency Operations Centers and Red Cross officials in the affected area.
As with any net activation, HWN requests observed ground-truth data from those in the affected area (Wind Speed, Wind Gust, Wind Direction, Barometric Pressure – if available, Rainfall, Damage, and Storm Surge). Measured weather data is always appreciated but estimated data is accepted.I realize our net operations have disrupted normal amateur radio activity on the frequencies of 14.325 MHz and 7.268 MHz. I wish to sincerely thank the daily users of these frequencies to allow us to serve our fellow man in a serious time of need. We do pray these storms are over soon as we, members of the Hurricane Watch Net, many who have regular working jobs, have taken time off to assist in Hurricane Weather Emergency. Please bear with us as we continue to help those affected and yet to be affected. We will return these frequencies to normal amateur radio use as soon as this Weather Emergency has passed.
Please, keep those who are in the path of these dangerous hurricanes in your thoughts and prayers!
As always, we are praying and hoping for the best yet preparing for the worst.
Sincerely,
Bobby Graves - KB5HAV
Hurricane Watch Net
Net Manager
www.hwn.org