This Monday morning at 1500 UTC, Idalia was located near latitude 20.8N, longitude 85.2W or about 80 miles…150 km south of the western tip of Cuba moving toward the north near 8 mph (13 km/h). Maximum sustained winds…65 mph…100 km/h. Idalia is forecast to become a Cat. 1 Hurricane by midday and affect the western end of Cuba by very early Monday evening. This storm is also expected to become a Major Hurricane before US landfall.
A Hurricane Watch is currently in effect for Englewood to Indian Pass Florida, including Tampa Bay. The risk continues to increase for life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds along portions of the west coast of Florida and the Florida Panhandle beginning as early as late Tuesday. The forecast track seems to be constantly moving to the east, so, everyone along the Gulf side of Florida needs to stay tuned and take all necessary precautions!
Here are our plans for today, Monday. The Hurricane Watch Net plans to activate this afternoon on 14.325.00 MHz at 2:00 PM EDT (1800 UTC) and remain active until 11:00 PM EDT (0300 UTC) or until we lose propagation, whichever occurs first. We will activate on 7.268.00 MHz at 7:00 PM EDT (2300 UTC) and remain active until 11:00 PM EDT (0300 UTC).
Here are our extended plans:
HWN Activation Plans for Tuesday, August 29 through Wednesday, August 30.
- 20-meters: 14.325.00 MHz at 8:00 AM EDT (1200 UTC) daily until we lose propagation at night
- 40-meter: 7.268.00 MHz starting at 7:00 PM EDT (2300 UTC) Tuesday. We will remain active on this frequency throughout the remainder of this event. We will suspend operations each morning at 7:30 AM ET to allow the Waterway Radio and Cruising Club Net – WRCC (aka, the Waterway Net) to conduct their daily morning Net. After the Water Way Net has concluded, generally around 8:30 AM ET, we will resume operations.
Idalia will be affecting a large and highly populated area. In addition to strong Hurricane Force winds across a huge area of Florida and possible historic Storm Surge Flooding, there will be torrential rains, flooding, and spinup tornados across a vast region. In other words, more people than just the landfalling area will feel the impact of this storm. And like Ian a year ago, I believe we can expect a lot of on-air traffic; weather, emergency, priority, and perhaps even outgoing Health and welfare Traffic.
Normally, once a US landfalling Hurricane has been downgraded to a Tropical Storm, the Hurricane Watch Net suspends operations. This is usually when the local ARES groups go into action. However, once Idalia has been downgraded to a Tropical Storm, HWN will remain active but shift its focus to that of collecting and forwarding post-storm reports to NHC. Reports may be slow at the beginning but we expect that they will begin to flow once the shock of the event has set in. Additionally, we will remain in FULL Emergency Mode to assist with any Emergency, Medical, or Priority Traffic as well as working with the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) to help in handling any Outgoing Health & Welfare Traffic for as long as required.
During any Net activation, we look for reporting stations who can provide us with any measured or estimated weather information that we can relay directly to the forecasters at the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Such weather information we look for is maximum sustained winds, wind gusts, wind direction, barometric pressure, rainfall amount – how much over x-amount of time, storm surge, and damage. Should you have any outgoing Health and Welfare Traffic before, during, or after this event, we are happy to assist as we work closely with the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN).
As always, we are available to provide backup communications to official agencies such as Emergency Operations Centers, Red Cross officials, and Storm Shelters in the affected area. We also collect and forward significant damage assessment data to government and non-government officials requesting such.
We greatly appreciate the daily users and various nets who use 14.325.00 MHz and 7.268.00 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.
Any changes to our Activation Plans will be noted on our website homepage and our Facebook page.
As always, we greatly appreciate the daily users and various nets who use 14.325.00 MHz and 7.268.00 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.
Our prayers for those who could be affected by this tropical system. HWN is prepared, ready to serve, and do what we can to help save lives.
Kind Regards and God Bless,
Bobby Graves – KB5HAV
Hurricane Watch Net
Net Manager
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