The Atlantic Hurricane Season, which starts on June 1, promises to be a busy time for radio amateurs who volunteer on the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) to report ground-level storm conditions in real time for use by weather forecasters, and for SKYWARN volunteers. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has forecast a likely range of 13 to 20 named storms (winds of 39 MPH or greater), of which six to ten could become hurricanes (winds of 74 MPH or greater), including three to five major hurricanes (Category 3, 4, or 5, with winds of 111 MPH or greater) expected. NOAA projects these ranges with a 70% confidence level.
“2021 is looking to be another active season,” said HWN Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV. “We can only hope we don’t have a repeat of 2005 or 2020. The sea surface temperatures throughout the normal areas of tropical cyclone activity are already near or just above 80 °F, just what storms like. The current forecast for 2021 is on the high side. The adjusted average is 14 named storms, with seven hurricanes and three of those at Category 3 or stronger.”
When activated, the HWN operates on 14.325 MHz during daylight hours and on 7.268 MHz after dark. When required, however, the net will use both frequencies simultaneously.
The net’s primary mission is to disseminate tropical cyclone advisory information to island communities in the Caribbean, Central America, along the US Atlantic seaboard, and throughout Gulf of Mexico coastal areas. It collects observed or measured weather data from participating radio amateurs in storm-affected areas as well as any post-storm damage reports and passes that information along to forecasters at the National Hurricane Center via its amateur radio station, WX4NHC. The HWN typically activates whenever a storm system has achieved hurricane status and is within 300 statute miles of a populated landmass — although this can vary according to the storm’s forward speed and intensity or at the request of NHS forecasters.
“Of course, it takes only one land-falling hurricane to make for a bad year,” Graves said, recalling Hurricane Andrew in 1992. “It was the only storm to make landfall that season, and it was a Category 5 storm that hit Homestead, Florida, just south of Miami.”
Graves said the HWN was already closely monitoring two systems — one near Bermuda and one in the western Gulf of Mexico.
“Now is the time for communities along the coastline as well as inland to get prepared for the dangers that hurricanes can bring,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “The experts at NOAA are poised to deliver life-saving early warnings and forecasts to communities, which will also help minimize the economic impacts of storms.”
Graves included a comparative table that shows predictions from Colorado State University (CSU), Tropical Storm Risk (TSR), and NOAA, with the dates of their respective forecasts.
1991 – 2020 | CSU | TSR | NOAA | |
Average | April 8 | April 13 | May 20 | |
Named Storms | 14 | 17 | 17 | 13 – 20 |
Hurricanes | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 – 10 |
Cat 3 or Stronger | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 – 5 |
“Last year was a record-breaking hurricane season,” observed NHC Assistant WX4NHC Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4R. “We even got to use the Greek names all the way to Iota! This season is predicted to be an above-average active season again.”
Ripoll noted that WX4NHC will conduct its annual station test on Saturday, May 29, 1300 – 2100 UTC. “This will be our 41st year of public service at NHC,” he said.
The purpose of the weekend event is to test WX4NHC amateur radio operations and operator’s home equipment, antennas and computers prior to the June 1 start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. “This event is good practice for ham radio operators worldwide to practice amateur radio communications available during times of severe weather,” Ripoll said.
Participating stations will make brief contacts on various bands and modes to exchange signal reports and local weather conditions.
source:ARRL
Antenna
Mobile Antenna Model 100A-HP 3.2 to 29 MHz
Mobile Antenna Model 100A-HP When properly installed on your vehicle the Model 100A-HP will provide continuous coverage from 3.2 to 29 MHz with the su... Read more
This is a discussion about price, cost and value of antennas
Jim W6LG talks about expensive antennas that do not radiate as advertised. That is to say, an expensive antenna that promises superior results may act... Read more
Antenna DUO8 15-20 separate feed – Momobeam
DUO 8 15-20 SF is a fullsize antenna for 14 MHz and 21 MHz. No traps or adapting systems where used to obtain fantastic performances and the best band... Read more
4-Radio 8-Antenna Switch – Array Solutions
This compact system allows you to share up to 8 different antennas with 4 different radios. Perfect for Multi-Single, Multi-2, and some small M... Read more
Antenna Dinamica 3el Yagi 6 to 40 meters
Price 2790 Euro See More Antenna Dinamica: Link Read more
Review
Universal Radio presents the Yaesu FT-65R
The FT-65R is a very compact, ruggedly constructed Handheld VHF/UHF with three selectable power settings 5W / 2.5W / 0.5W allowing each user to select... Read more
Yaesu FTDX-10 Menu and Feature Overview with W9FFF Ham Radio Dude
New from Yaesu, the FTDX-10 HF Transceiver – today I’ve invited Sean, W9FFF, from the Ham Radio Dude channel to go though all of the menu... Read more
Hosting HamNation & FreeDV Digital Voice Over HF!
Hosting HamNation & FreeDV Digital Voice Over HF! Read more
Equipment
FlexRadio Systems Maestro
The FlexRadio Maestro™ is an intuitive, plug-and-play control console that directs the operation of any FLEX-6000 Signature Series transceiver without... Read more
Radio Shield RS-UV3
The HobbyPCB RS-UV3 radio module is a 144/220/450 MHz FM transceiver board. The RS-UV3 is a low cost transceiver solution for Packet Radio, repeaters,... Read more
Alpha 4040 DreamTuner
“In the last 45 days, we’ve made a lot of progress on the Alpha 4040 DreamTuner. As you know, when we tested the tuner under full... Read more
PandwaRF Bare
PandwaRF is a RF analysis tool with a sub-1 GHz wireless transceiver controlled by a smartphone or a PC. Its purpose is to capture, display & tran... Read more
DX Engineering Ladder Line Surge Protector DXE-LLSP
Built by popular demand, the DX Engineering Ladder Line Surge Protector is ready to be placed in line with your balanced feedline antenna system! For... Read more
News
Simultaneous APRS and Voice Repeater on the International Space Station
ARISS, Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, announced that simultaneous operations of the ARISS Voice Repeater and digital APRS communica... Read more
Protect That Receiver From Your Transmitter
Pat, AB9TC, was wondering, how do I Prevent my anntena that is transmitting from overloading another that is receiving. Read more
Manual vs Automatic Tuners – August 2022 Livestream Excerpt
What should you buy first, a manual tuner or automatic one? Kevin, K7SW, and I talk about why one may be better than the other for your first tuner pu... Read more
New ARRL Radio Lab Will Inspire Your Ham Shack!
Introducing the brand new ARRL Radio Laboratory, W1HQ! Join Jherica Goodgame, KI5HTA, as she walks you through everything there is to know about this... Read more
Why is my signal so strong? My HF ham radio portable antenna kit
What do I carry with me when I hit the road for a Parks on the Air or some other kind of portable radio activity. In this video I break down the conte... Read more