Hurricane Net, WX4NHC Gather Weather Data as Frances Heads for Florida

NEWINGTON, CT, Sep 2, 2004--As Hurricane Frances passes through the Bahamas on what appears to be a collision course with Florida's Atlantic Coast, the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) has activated for a second day on 14.325 MHz. WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) has been monitoring and checking into the net to collect weather data as it comes in.

The projected path of Hurricane Frances as of 1500 UTC (click link for latest graphics).

As of mid-day, the HWN was relaying reports from Amateur Radio stations in the Bahamas to WX4NHC. The NHC reports the storm has been "pounding" San Salvador Island in the Bahamas. One Amateur Radio report around midday from Long Island, southwest of San Salvador in the Bahamas, indicated wind of 40 to 50 knots (46-58 MPH) from the north with gusts to 60 knots (nearly 70 MPH). The National Hurricane Center forecast (click link for latest update) includes a hurricane warning for the east coast of Florida from Florida City--near the peninsula's southern tip--northward to Flagler Beach. The warning area includes Lake Okeechobee. The NHC said swells generated by Frances will be affecting portions of the southeastern US coast.

Even as Florida recovers from last month's devastating blow from Hurricane Charley, Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) teams throughout the state are preparing for another punishing storm. The still-dangerous Category 4 Hurricane Frances is packing winds of 145 MPH, with hurricane-force winds extending out 80 miles. If it remains on its present track, Frances could cross over some areas of central Florida that were hit hard and are still recovering from Hurricane Charley.

As of 1800 UTC, Frances was 440 miles east-southeast of the Southern Florida coast, moving west-northwest at about 13 MPH, with a turn to the northwest and a decrease in forward speed expected during the next 24 hours. On that course, forecasters predict the core of Hurricane Frances will be moving near or over the central Bahamas this afternoon and evening. As of 1800 UTC, forecasters were estimating the storm would not make landfall in Florida until sometime Saturday morning.

Southern Florida Section Emergency Coordinator Jim Goldsberry, KD4GR, has announced special sessions of the Southern Florida ARES Net (SFAN) to coordinate response activities (Florida Midday Traffic Net and Tropical Phone Traffic Net, both on 7242 kHZ). Goldsberry says the Broward County Emergency Preparedness Net activated at 2 PM September 2 from the Broward County emergency operations center (EOC).

Palm Beach County also was getting ready. Palm Beach County RACES Officer Mark Filla, KS4VT, reports coastline and mobile home evacuations are under way, and the county was making arrangements for shelters as well as for shelter and EOC communicators.

In Polk County--one of the areas assaulted by Hurricane Charley--ARES has activated to "Condition Yellow" in response to Frances. "This is not a drill," emphasized Assistant Emergency Coordinator Wayne Miles, KG4TCJ, in a message to the Florida ARES reflector. He reports local shelters will open September 3 at 3 PM Eastern Time. ARES has begun conducting informational nets (146.985 MHz, 127.3 Hz tone) at the top of every hour to announce the latest emergency communications information for Polk County. Other counties also are readying shelters in anticipation of evacuations, and Amateur Radio resources are expected to be deployed to assist in providing communication.

Indian River County Emergency Management's Nathan McCollum put that county's Auxiliary Communication Services (ACS)--a Citizen Corps group--on a "Level 1" alert on August 31. The ACS includes Amateur Radio and REACT communication resources.

"At this point, we should not focus on the minimal impacts, but the maximum impacts," McCollum said, "meaning, I cannot rule out the center making landfall over Indian River County or near our area." He advised continuing preparations to protect people and property, stock up on necessary supplies and "know where to go if an evacuation occurs."

"All of Florida should be prepared for some type of impact from Hurricane Frances," McCollum concluded.

HWN Manager Mike Pilgrim, K5MP, says the net plans to remain in operation at least until 0300 UTC September 3.

During hurricanes and severe weather emergencies, trained HWN members work in cooperation with WX4NHC to provide observed or measured weather data and damage reports via Amateur Radio for relay to forecasters. The ground-level weather data assist NHC forecasters in predicting a storm's path and behavior. WX4NHC also gathers similar data via the Internet from non-Amateur Radio sources. The HWN also provides essential communication support to WX4NHC, which disseminates storm updates via the HWN.

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