08/16/2024

Saturday, August 17, 2024 Midday Update:

This update is from the Hurricane Watch Net:

The Hurricane Watch Net has secured operations for Hurricane Ernesto. We were
in continuous operation for 22 continuous hours.

From the reports we received, more than 26,000 residents are without power.
Many areas are without internet service as well.

The eyewall is now north of the island and reported wind speeds on the island
are near 50 mph. Conditions should continue to improve as the day goes on.

The 2024 Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season only now beginning to enter the Peak
of Season. The second half of August and the month of September have a
reputation for being busy and very dangerous. Please, Do Not Drop Your Guard!
You still have time to prepare for Hurricane Season. Never wait until the last
minute to do so!

As always, we greatly appreciate the daily users and various nets who use
14.325 MHz and 7.268 MHz for allowing us a clear frequency. It certainly makes
our job easier and I know those in the affected area appreciate it as well.

Friday, August 16, 2024 Evening Update:

WX4NHC Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center - Announcement -
Hurricane Ernesto

WX4NHC will be activated tonight Friday August 16th at 8pm EDT for Hurricane
Ernesto's forecast track affecting Bermuda. We expect to be active until
approximately Noon EDT on Saturday August 17th, past the forecast Landfall.

WX4NHC will be On-The-Air on the Hurricane Watch Net frequency 14.325 MHz most
of the time and 7.268 MHz depending on propagation. We will also be on VoIP
Hurricane Netÿ (IRLP node 9219 / EchoLink WX-TALK Conference node 7203).
http://www.voipwx.net/[1]


I will also be monitoring WinLink and Online reports. Please send or relay any
Surface Reports (weather data, flooding, damage) to the Hurricane Nets or using
any of the available modes listed.

WX4NHC On-line Hurricane report Form:ÿHurricane On-line Report Form
(fiu.edu)[2]

Please remember that, due to Federal Security measures:ÿ

NO VISITORS will be allowed entry to NHC.

ÿ

Thursday, August 15, 2024 Midday Update:

The National Hurricane Center reports that Tropical Storm Ernesto had become a
Category 1 hurricane.

A hurricane warning has now been issued for Bermuda and dangerous rip currents
are likely along U.S. East Coast beaches this weekend, August 17 - 18.

Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, Hurricane Watch Net[3] Manager, reports the net's
activation plans:

Friday August 16ÿ


o 20 meters: 14.325 MHz (USB) at 2:00 PM EDT (1800 UTC) until we lose
propagation at night.ÿ
o 40 meters: 7.268 MHz (LSB) at 7:00 PM EDT (2300 UTC). The net will remain
active on this frequency overnight for as long as propagation allows. If
propagation allows operation all night, the net will suspend operations at 7:30
AM EDT Monday to allow the Waterway Net to conduct its daily net.ÿ

Saturday August 17ÿ


o 20 meters: we will resume operations on 14.325 MHz at 7:00 AM EDT (1100
UTC).ÿ
o 40 meters: we will resume operations on 7.268 MHz at 8:30 AM EDT (1230
UTC).ÿ

ÿThe VoIP Hurricane Net[4] ÿis not active yet but monitoring the situation.ÿ

The hurricane is currently about 605 miles south-southwest of Bermuda with
sustained winds of 85 miles per hour (MPH) and moving north at 13 MPH.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from the center and
tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 175 miles. The forecast track
shows the center of Ernesto is expected to pass near or over Bermuda on
Saturday, August 17.ÿ

Ernest has now moved out of Puerto Rico. The island suffered flash flooding,
storm damage, and widespread power outages on Wednesday as Ernesto moved past.
Half of all residents were without power, with flooding and damage especially
pronounced in the eastern part of the island. Angel Luis Santana D¡az, WP3GW,
Public Information Coordinator for the ARRL Puerto Rico Section, reports that
amateur radio operators there are on the KP4FRA repeater system reporting
situations on different municipalities.ÿ

Fred Kleber, K9VV / NNA2FK, Section Manager of the ARRL Virgin Islands Section,
reports Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VIETMA)
activated its emergency operations centers on Tuesday night. Power is out to
all customers on all islands with lines down and trees blocking some roads.
Kleber estimated that full power restoration may take 1 - 2 days. All U.S.
Virgin Island (USVI) repeaters are operating except for one, and the British
Virgin Islands BVI.73 repeater is on the air as well. The Starlink antenna, in
use for the first time, survived 75 - 80 MPH wind gusts with service solid at
150+ Mb download speed, even through the clouds.ÿ

More updates will be posted as the Ernesto moves north across Bermuda during
the next 24 hours.

This story will be updated as additional information comes in.ÿ


[1] http://www.voipwx.net/

[2] https://w4ehw.fiu.edu/WX-form1.php

[3] http://www.hwn.org/

[4] https://arrl.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0zMTA0NjM2JnA9MSZ1PTUyMDM3MjI1NCZsaT0zNDYyNjkwNw/index.html


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