NEWINGTON, CT, Sep 20, 2002--With Isidore now upgraded to a category 2 hurricane, members of the Hurricane Watch Net are continuing to keep their eyes on the storm, which is closing in on Western Cuba. A Tropical Storm Watch for the lower Florida Keys has been discontinued, however.
According to the HWN, tropical storm warnings and hurricane watches now have been posted for portions of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula--including the island of Cozumel. "All interests in and along the Yucatan Peninsula and Gulf Coast Areas should pay close attention as Isidore moves into the warm Gulf of Mexico by Saturday," an announcement on the Net's Web site warned.
The HWN activated on 14.325 MHz September 19 for the first time this hurricane season, while Isidore was still a tropical storm. The storm has continued to gain strength, however, and now packs winds of 100 MPH, with higher gusts.
As of 1800 UTC September 20, the National Hurricane Center was predicting that Isidore was about to make landfall over Western Cuba. A hurricane warning remained in effect for several provinces.
Well-known Cuban amateur and International Amateur Radio Union Region 2 Area C Emergency Coordinator Arnie Coro, CO2KK, said it appeared that the main impact of the storm was poised to strike the Isle of Youth (Isla de la Juventud) and the western part of Pinar del Rio Province.
"We request that 7040 kHz, 3740 kHz and 7125 kHz be protected if all at possible," Coro said, adding that there were excellent relay stations at several locations. He said amateur operators were deployed at CO9BNA at the Cuban weather service, Instituto de Meteorologia.
Isidore was moving at about 8 MPH to the west-northwest. Heavy rainfall of up to 30 inches and damaging surf conditions were forecast for the storm's path. Official advisories are available on the NHC Web site.
Assistant Amateur Radio Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4JR, at W4EHW at the National Hurricane Center, reported that W4EHW also commenced operations on September 19. W4EHW has HF stations on both 20 and 40 meters. W4EHW is collecting reports via APRS, e-mail and its on-line Hurricane Reporting Form.
The Hurricane Watch Net and W4EHW at the
National Hurricane Center work hand-in-hand to gather and disseminate
real-time, ground-level weather data and damage reports from Amateur Radio
operators to assist forecasters. The HWN also functions as a backup
communication link for the NHC, emergency operating centers and the National
Weather Service.
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