Forecast track of Hurricane Fabian, now a category 3 storm. [NOAA/NWS Graphic]
NEWINGTON, CT, Sep 4, 2003--The Hurricane Watch Net and Amateur Radio station WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center in Miami will activate at 1200 UTC Friday, September 5, in response to Hurricane Fabian, now described as a dangerous storm. The HWN operates on 14.325 MHz to gather ground-level storm data from Amateur Radio weather observers and other volunteers. The net relays these reports via WX4NHC to forecasters, who use the information to get a more precise picture of a storm's potential path and damage potential.
Forecast track of Hurricane Fabian, now a category 3 storm. [NOAA/NWS Graphic] |
"Bermuda is now in the direct track of Hurricane Fabian," said WX4NHC Assistant Amateur Radio Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4JR, in announcing the activation. The storm is now listed as a category 3 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 120 MPH with higher gusts. Forecasters believe Fabian could strengthen further before making landfall on Bermuda early Friday evening.
HWN Manager Mike Pilgrim, K5MP, anticipates the net will remain active until 20 meters closes in the evening, likely after the storm has already passed Bermuda. Ripoll says WX4NHC will monitor the Hurricane Watch Net. "Please do not transmit unless you have an emergency or are requested to do so by net control," he advised.
In addition to gathering reports from Amateur Radio weather observers via the HWN, WX4NHC also will monitor surface reports from amateur weather enthusiasts and ON-NHC volunteers filed via the Internet.
As of 1200 UTC today, the National Hurricane Center was describing Fabian as a "powerful hurricane" moving slowly to the north-northwest at around 8 MPH. A hurricane watch remains in effect for Bermuda, and the storm was approximately 535 miles south of the island.
The NHC says some fluctuations in strength are likely during the next 24 hours. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 70 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 160 miles.
"Large swells and dangerous surf conditions will continue to affect the northern leeward islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico," the NHC said. "Large swells will also begin to spread along portions of the East Coast of the United States over the next day or two."
The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) also is poised to activate for Fabian's arrival in Bermuda. Territorial Coordinator for SATERN on Bermuda, Rick Shirran, VE3NUZ/VP9, has announced that SATERN will go on full alert at 1700 UTC on September 5, maintaining its net on 14.265 MHz to assist with emergency traffic.
"The Salvation Army is on full alert with shelters being set up in most of the Corps across the island as well a one large emergency shelter being set up at Cedarbridge Academy [in Hamilton] and a command center at District Headquarters," Shirran said.
Jim Adams, WA0LSB, SATERN's national net director, will be assisted by SATERN 20-meter net director Tom Buchan, N9AL. Quent Nelson, WA4BZY, will be coordinating health-and-welfare traffic.
SATERN National Coordinator Pat McPherson, WW9E, said the SATERN net will stay
active as long as needed.
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