Hello to all..

The Tropics have 2 named systems in the Atlantic and 1 named system in the Eastern Pacific. None of these systems are a threat to land at this time. Here is an update:

Ophelia regenerated yesterday as a tropical depression and became a tropical storm this morning. Despite some shear, Ophelia is expected to intensify and may become a hurricane in the next few days. Ophelia is largely a threat to shipping interests as a trough over the Eastern United States keeps Ophelia out over the open Atlantic. There is an outside chance of Ophelia brushing Bermuda. Towards the end of the 5-day period, Ophelia may threaten Newfoundland as a post tropical system.

Philippe reamins a tropical storm but is being strongly sheared. Philippe is expected to see little change in strength followed by weakening to a tropical depression and then a post-tropical system over the next few days. Philippe will remain out over the open Atlantic and a threat only to shipping interests.

In the Eastern Pacific, Hillary remains a hurricane but is expected to rapidly weaken to a tropical storm and then a tropical depression and then a remnant low over the next 48 hours. Hillary is expected to reamin a threat only to shipping interests while it is a tropical system.

Advisories on Ophelia and Philippe in the Atlantic and Hillary in the Eastern Pacific and the Tropical Weather Outlooks for each basin can be found under the Main Menu of the voipwx.net web site under Atlantic and Pacific Tropical products respectively. The info is also available via the National Hurricane Center web site via the following link:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team will continue to closely monitor the tropics. Thanks to all for their continued support of the VoIP Hurricane Net!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net

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Hello to all..

As reported on the VoIP Hurricane Prep Net on Saturday 9/24/11 by Lloyd Colston-KC5FM, there is now a general online SKYWARN training class available. This can be found at the following link:

https://www.meted.ucar.edu/training_course.php?id=23

This course may or may not be accepted by local NWS forecast offices as a substitute for their local training so its advised to check in with your local weather office on whether this will serve as credit for classes held at the local level. Nonetheless, it is additional training that can be helpful for weather spotting and if you cannot attend a training session in your area or if they are not offered in your local area, it can give you an idea of what to look for from a weather spotting perspective.

Also reported by Lloyd-KC5FM is that the QTH SKYWARN email list is now fully moderated to keep things on topic and civil on that email reflector. Interested folks that want to join that SKYWARN email list can do so via the following link:

http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/skywarn

Thanks to Lloyd for bringing this info forward. Thanks to all for their continued support of the VoIP Hurricane Prep Net!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net

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Hello to all..

The Atlantic Tropics are active with 2 tropical storms (Ophelia and Philippe) and one area of disturbed weather in the Bahamas. The VoIP Hurricane Net Management team continues to monitor these systems closely.

Tropical Storm Ophelia is located 620 miles east of the Leeward Islands and is moving Northwest at 13 MPH. Ophelia is expected to remain a tropical storm with weakening possible over the next 3 days or so followed by some intensification threafter. Ophelia is expected to be a threat only to shipping interests at this time.

Tropical Storm Philippe has formed out of Tropical Depression 17, which was classified late Friday Evening. Philippe has the potential to become a hurricane but is expected to be a threat only to shipping interests at this time and is in the far eastern atlantic about 345 miles southwest of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands.

An area of disturbed weather has a medium chance for development over the Bahama Islands about 165 miles south-southeat of Cape Canaveral Florida. Computer weather models do not develop this system with any kind of significance as of yet but this system has tried to show signs of organization today. The current tropical weather outlook indicates that favorable upper level winds over the next day or so will become unfavorable later in the period. Where it has close proximity to the US East Coast, this will be watched closely over the next couple days.

Advisories on Ophelia, Philippe and the Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook that lists the area of disturbed weather in the Bahamas can be found on the voipwx.net web site under the Main Menu under Atlantic Tropical Products. They can also be seen on the National Hurricane Center web site via the following link:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov
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Hello to all..

Tropical Storm Ophelia has formed in the Central Atlantic Ocean. Ophelia will be over the open Atlantic waters for the next few days before potentially approaching the northern Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico as a tropical storm toward the Sunday/Monday timeframe. Ophelia is not expected to reach hurricane strength due to an unfavorable environment for strengthening. The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team will closely monitor the progress of Ophelia.

Advisory information on Ophelia can be seen on the voipwx.net web site off the Main Menu of the web site under Atlantic Tropical Products. It can also be seen off the National Hurricane Center web site via the following link:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

The VoIP Hurricane Net Management team will continue to monitor the tropical Atlantic. Thanks to all for their continued support of the VoIP Hurricane Net!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net

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Hello to all..

The VoIP Hurricane Net has secured its activation for Hurricane Maria. Maria has become post-tropical north of Newfoundland Canada and continues to race northeastward. Maria tracked a bit east of the forecast track which kept the strongest tropical storm and hurricane force winds just offshore of Newfoundland. That said, weather station and Amateur Radio reports indicated minimal tropical storm force conditions occurred over Newfoundland with rainfall in the 1-3″ range and wind gusts as high as 54 MPH. Amateurs on the VO1RCR-R Echolink Node: 180234 provided infomation from the St Johns Newfoundland Canada area. Reports of criteria can be seen via the VoIP Hurricane Net Report Viewer at the following link:

http://report.voipwx.net/qilan/nhcwx/list_VOIP_records?auth=OK

For the first time in VoIP Hurricane Net history with a landfalling tropical system in the Canadian Maritimes, we had both the Canadian Hurricane Centre in Dartmouth Nova Scotia Canada and the National Hurricane Center in Miami Florida on the net. VE1MBR-Bob Robichaud, a meteorologist at the Canadian Hurricane Centre, was on and took reports from the VoIP Hurricane Net from the affected area and WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center in Miami Florida was on the network through the efforts of WX4NHC Amateur Radio Station Coordinator, John McHugh-K4AG. Special thanks to VoIP Hurricane Net Controls, Jim Sellars-N0UAM, KC8TCQ-Keith Hosman, N1YLQ-Mike “Sparky” Leger, KJ4VLC-Carl Gosline, W3ZR-Bob Montgomery and KD0MXN-Chance Callahan for the support as net controls on the system for the net.

The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team will continue to montior the Atlantic Tropical Season as we are in the second half of the season. Thanks to all for their continued support of the VoIP Hurricane Net!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net

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Hello to all..

..VoIP Hurricane Net Activation for Hurricane Maria for impact on Southeast Newfoundland Canada to commence at 10 AM EDT lasting until approximately 6 PM EDT..
..Hurricane Warnings are now in effect for Newfoundland from Arnolds Cove to Brigus South with a Tropical Storm Warning in effect for Newfounldand from Stones Cove to Arnolds Cove and from Brigus South to Charlottetown..

Hurricane Maria is now expected to bring hurricane force conditions to Southeast Newfoundland Canada. While water temperatures are quite cold in Southeast Newfoundland, Maria’s fast forward speed will preclude significant weakening as it approaches Newfoundland resulting in potential hurricane force conditions for the province. We are looking for any reporting stations directly in the affected area of Newfoundland or any relays into the affected area.

For the latest advisory information including watches and warnings, you can go to the VoIPWXNet web site and click Atlantic Tropical Products and click on the advisory information for Hurricane Maria under the Atlantic Tropical Products section. You can also gather the advisory information from the National Hurricane Center web site at the following link:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

Also, the Canadian Hurricane Centre is issuing advisories on Hurricane Maria. That information can be seen via the link below:

http://www.atl.ec.gc.ca/weather/hurricane/bulletins_e.html

The reporting criteria and activation policy for our net during hurricane net activations can be found on our web site at http://www.voipwx.net and any reports received via relays or directly from Amateurs in the path of Hurricane Richard would be much appreciated.

Listen Only IRLP/EchoLink capability include the following systems (We ask that listen-only folks please provide this capability and connect by formal activation time if possible):

IRLP:
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Hello to all..

Hurricane Maria could potentially impact Southeastern Newfoundland Canada as a hurricane Friday Morning into the afternoon hours. The track this morning which had Maria not impacting Newfoundland changed due to her increase in forward speed and less of a turn further out to sea. Her intensification into a hurricane was expected. This could potentially prompt VoIP Hurricane Net Activation due to the impact on Southeast Newfoundland Canada. Contact has been made with the Canadian Hurricane Centre in Nova Scotia Canada as well as the Amateur Radio Coordinators of WX4NHC, National Hurricane Center concerning Maria. The primary time for net activation would be from late morning through early evening Friday.

While Maria will be traversing colder waters, her very quick forward speed is likely to allow her to maintain hurricane strength into Newfoundland. In addition, high-latitude hurricanes that affect New England and the Canadian Maritimes that forward speed is additive on the eastern side. Places such as St Johns Newfoundland could see very high wind gusts given the forward speed would be additive to Maria’s strong wind field.

An update will be sent tomorrow morning if activation will occur. Thanks to all for their continued support of the VoIP Hurricane Net!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net

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Hello to all..

Tropical Storm Maria will bring tropical storm force conditions to Bermuda today as it moves North-Northeast. A Tropical Storm Warning and Hurricane Watch is in effect for Bermuda. Maria has about a 24 hour window to strengthen into a huricane before weakening occurs Friday and it transitions to a post tropical cyclone over the open waters of the Atlantic. The center of Maria should stay far enough offshore of Bermuda where Maria will see tropical storm force conditions with an outside chance of wind gusts to hurricane force but any sustained hurricane force conditions if Maria intensifies into hurricane would remain offshore of Bermuda. The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team will continue to monitor Maria as it passes by Bermuda today.

Elsewhere in the Tropics, conditions are quiet with no other systems being monitored for development at this time. Thanks to all for their continued support of the VoIP Hurricane Net!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net

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Hello to all..

Overnight, the engima that is Tropical Storm Nate weakened overnight. Hurricane Warnings for Mexico have been changed to Tropical Storm Warnings for the area. It is now unlikely that Nate will be at hurricane strength prior to landfall. Therefore, there will be no VoIP Hurricane Net Activation today for Nate. Nate will make landfall around midday/early this afternoon in the Veracruz Mexico area.

The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team will continue to closely monitor developments in the Tropics. Thanks to all for their continued support of the VoIP Hurricane Net!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net

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Hello to all..

After weakening overnight, Tropical Storm Nate has been steadily intensifying and the official NHC forecast has been changed to show Nate reaching hurricane stength before making landfall north of Veracruz Mexico Sunday Afternoon. Nate may require VoIP Hurricane Net Activation during the day on Sunday. Any Amateurs with contacts across Southeast Mexico from Tuxpan Mexico to Punta El Lagarto Mexico are asked to make contact in support of potential VoIP Hurricane Net Activation on Sunday.

Once again, advisory information on Tropical Storm Nate can be seen on the main menu of the voipwx.net web site under Atlantic Tropical Products. The advisory information can also be seen on the National Hurricane Center web site via the following link:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team will closely monitor the progress of Tropical Storm Nate. Thanks to all for their continued support of the VoIP Hurricane Net!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net

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Hello to all..

Here is an update on the Atlantic Tropics:

Tropical Storm Nate continues over the Southern Bay of Campeche. Due to it being stationary and upwelling water over the area, Nate has actually weakened slightly. Nate is starting to move toward the west at 5 MPH and slow intensification is expected. A Hurricane Watch is in effect from Tampico to Veracruz Mexico with a Tropical Storm Warning from Tampico to Punta El Lagarto. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect from north of Tampico to La Cruz Mexico. At this time, current NHC prognostications is for Nate to be just below hurricane strength as it makes landfall Sunday just to the north of Veracruz Mexico. The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team will montior the progress of Nate today in case he intensifies more quickly and becomes a hurricane prior to landfall in Mexico.

Tropical Storm Maria remains disorganized this morning and may dissipate later today. A Tropical Storm Warning remains in effect for St. Maartin, Saba, St. Eustatius, Antigua, Anguilla, Barbuda, Montserrat, Nevis, St Kitts, St Barthelemy, St Marteen, the US and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico including Vieques and Culebra. If Maria survives, the environment will become more favorable for strengthening as it passes the islands and moves near the Turks and Caicos islands and the Bahamas and then track more northward around 70 West longtitude per the official NHC forecast. The threat to the US East Coast looks low at this time. The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team will continue to closely monitor the progress of Maria.

Hurricane Katia is racing northeastward and is a threat to shipping interests only. Katia should become post-tropical later today and remain a powerful extratropical system affecting the British Isles and Northern Europe late this weekend into early next week.
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Hello to all…

As we approach the peak of the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season, we now have 3 tropical systems to monitor as well as the remnants of Lee. This is a quick update on each system.

Hurricane Katia continues on track between Bermuda and the US East Coast and is now a Category-1 Hurricane. Katia is expected to go out to sea roughly 200-250 miles southeast of Nantucket Island. This means the impacts to the US will be high surf and rip currents on the beaches and possibly wind gusts to 25-30 MPH on Nantucket Island with the greater threats from Katia to shipping interests. The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team will continue to monitor Katia in case there are any unexpected surprises in her track that would bring her closer to land.

Tropical Storm Maria has formed out of Tropical Depression 14 and is moving swiftly westward with maximum sustained winds of 50 MPH and may impact the Northeast Caribbean Islands and Puerto Rico later Friday and this weekend. Maria is currently expected to stay at tropical storm strength but intensity prediction is always difficult and Maria will be monitored in case she unexpectedly intensifies to hurricane strength prompting potential VoIP Hurricane Net and Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center, WX4NHC, activation towards late Friday and the weekend.

Tropical Storm Nate has formed in the Southern Gulf of Mexico in the Bay of Campeche with maximum sustained winds of 45 MPH. Nate is expected to move slowly and erractically over the next few days with potential landfall somewhere in Mexico. Nate may also intensify into a hurricane. A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect from Chilitepec to Celestun Mexico as of the 5 PM EDT/2100 UTC 9/7/11 advisory.

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Hello to all..

I hope everyone is having an enjoyable Labor Day Weekend. Here is an Atlantic Tropical Update for 9/5/11.

Tropical Storm Lee made landfall in Southeast Louisiana over the weekend and the NHC has issued its last advisory. Extratropical Lee is now being tracked by the Hydrometeorlogical Prediction Center (HPC) and they are issuing advisories every 6 hours on Extratropical Lee. The remnants of Lee have the potential to cause heavy rainfall from the Appalachians to New England with a potential for severe weather in the Southeast United States.

Hurricane Katia is nearing major hurricane strength as of the 11 AM EDT/1500 UTC Monday 9/5/11 advisory. Confidence is growing that Katia will take a track between the US East Coast and Bermuda and will recurve out to sea. This will still be monitored closely as the weather models have had difficulties handling the trough just west of the US East Coast and how it affects Katia but there has been multi-model agreement over 5 consecutive model runs concerning Katia’s track between the Caroinas and Bermuda and then out to sea south of New England and the Canadian Maritimes.

A new tropical wave has emerged off of Africa and is located 550 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands. This wave has a high chance of developing into a Tropical Depression over the next day or two as it moves westward.

HPC Advisory information on Lee, National Hurricane Center (NHC) Advisory information on Hurricane Katia and the NHC Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook can be seen on the Main Menu of the voipwx.net web site under Atlantic Tropical Products and can also be seen on the NHC web site via the following link:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team will closely monitor the Atlantic Tropics as we approach the peak of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. Thanks to all for their continued support of the VoIP Hurricane Net!
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Hello to all..

We are approaching the peak of the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season so a high amount of activity is still noted. Here’s an update:

Katia is now a hurricane and tracking about 1100 miles east of the Leeward Islands. Over the next 5 day period, Katia is expected to stay over the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean and be a threat only to shipping interests while intensifying to major hurricane strength. It is unclear whether Katia will stay out to sea or affect any portion of the US East Coast, Bermuda or the Canadian Maritimes. This will be monitored closely.

Another area of disturbed weather is located in the Gulf of Mexico. This system now has a high chance of development and could have impacts to the Northern Gulf coast so interests in these areas should closely monitor the progress of the system.

A non-tropical low pressure system about 360 milles north of Bermuda but has a low chance for development. This system should stay well out at sea as well.

Advisories on Katia can be found on the voipwx.net web site under the Atlantic Tropical Products section of the Main Menu of the web site. The Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook can also be found in the same section on the web site. The Katia advisories and Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook can also be found on the National Hurricane Center web site via the link below:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team will closely monitor the Atlantic Tropics. Thanks to all for their continued support of the VoIP Hurricane Net!

73,Rob-KD1CY.
Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net

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