NEWINGTON, CT, Oct 8, 2001--The Hurricane Watch Net has activated to help forecasters keep an eye on Hurricane Iris--now a Category 4 hurricane and the most severe storm of the current hurricane season. The Hurricane Watch Net, on 14.325 MHz, is working in cooperation with operators at W4EHW at the National Hurricane Center in Miami to gather real-time storm data.
Forecasters describe Iris as "small, but extremely dangerous." It's packing winds of 140 MPH with higher gusts and was reported continuing its westward track this morning. Mexico has issued a tropical storm warning for the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, from Felipe Carrillo Puerto southward to the border with Belize.
A hurricane warning is in effect for the Caribbean coast of Belize, Guatemala and Honduras, from the border with Guatemala eastward to Limon. A hurricane watch remains in effect for the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, from Cabo Catoche southward to the Belize border.
As of 1500 UTC, the storm's center was some 225 miles east of Belize city, moving nearly 20 MPH. The storm is expected to make landfall late tonight or early tomorrow, bringing storm surge flooding of 13 to 18 feet above normal tidal levels along with "dangerous, battering waves" and heavy rains with flash flooding coupled with mud slides over mountainous terrain.
 Hurricane Iris, as of October 8 at 1445 UTC. [NOAA Image] |
Over the weekend, Iris--then a Category 1 storm--passed the southern coast of the Dominican Republic and Haiti on the island of Hispaniola then tracked south of Jamaica and the Caymans. "The southerly jog in Iris' track last night saved Kingston from a direct hit," W4EHW Deputy Amateur Radio Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4JR, commented on Sunday.
"Numerous reports from Jamaican stations, and specifically from Mike Matalon 6Y5MM, at the Kingston EOC, were very much appreciated," Ripoll added. "We were happy to learn that they had not received any local reports of flooding or damage."
Hurricane Watch Net Manager Jerry Herman, N3BDW, said the Hurricane Watch Net and the operators of W4EHW began operations Saturday at 2100 UTC, although the Net took a breather before resuming this morning. "Operations with Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba and the Cayman Islands went very well over the two-day period," Herman said.
Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) personnel have been placed on placed on standby because of Iris' dangerous potential. SATERN National Director Pat McPherson, WW9E, requested that SATERN personnel monitor the Hurricane Watch Net on 14.325 MHz. McPherson said the SATERN Net on 14.265 MHz would be activated if it becomes necessary to initiate SATERN operations.
Forecasters also are tracking the progress of Tropical Storm Jerry, a currently poorly organized storm about 285 south-southeast of Puerto Rico with winds reported at near 50 MPH.
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