Hello to all..

During Monday Morning, Ida has weakened to a Tropical Storm with Maximum Sustained Winds of 70 MPH. Ida is expected to make landfall on the Northern US Gulf Coast late tonight or early Tuesday Morning.

Rich Long-KF6BKA is monitoring the system informally through 7 PM ET/6 PM CT/0000 UTC this Monday Evening. If no significant uptick in traffic for storm related issues with Ida, the net will be secured around or shortly after that timeframe. Thanks to all for their continued support of the VoIP Hurricane Net!

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

Hello to all..

..VoIP Hurricane Net to activate formally at 3 PM EST/2 PM CST/2000 UTC Monday November 9th, 2009 for Impact of Hurricane Ida on the Northern US Gulf Coast. Activation is expected to last through early Tuesday Afternoon potentially. Activation will take place on the *WX_TALK* Echolink Conference Node: 7203/IRLP 9219 system for the duration of this event..
...WX4NHC Operations Will Also Activate at 3 PM EST/2 PM CST/2000 UTC for Hurricane Ida's Impact on the Northern US Gulf Coast..

Hurricane Ida will impact the Northern US Gulf Coast late Monday Afternoon through early Tuesday Afternoon with hurricane force conditions expected over the region. The VoIP Hurricane Net will activate at 3 PM EST/2PM CST/2000 UTC looking for surface reports from stations in the affected area of Hurricane Ida or from Amateur Radio Operators who have contact with the affected area of Hurricane Ida through any relays or people they know in the area. Ida is expected to impact the region as a Category-1 Hurricane.

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 Ida 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

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

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):

Hello to all..

Ida intensified into a hurricane early Sunday Morning. Hurricane Ida is currently tracking through the Yucatan Channel with the core of hurricane force conditions staying over the water so there has been no activation of the VoIP Hurricane Net or WX4NHC as it passes through the Yucatan Channel today. Informal monitoring of various weather sources is being done for any significant land impacts in Western Cuba or the Yucatan of Mexico.

Hurricane Watches have now been posted from Grand Isle Louisiana to the Mississippi-Alabama border. This Hurricane Watch does not include New Orleans at this time. Interests in the Northern Gulf Coast east of the current Hurricane Watch area from the Mississipi-Alabama border through the Florida panhandle should closely monitor the progress of Ida as well. With the current track and intensity of Hurricane Ida, VoIP Hurricane Net Activation could occur as early as Monday Evening and last through much of Tuesday for the Northern US Gulf Coast. Ida may become a non-tropical system as it approaches the northern Gulf Coast but regardless of its status as a tropical cyclone, Ida will have the potential to produce hurricane force conditions over portions of the Northern US Gulf Coast and all Amateur Radio Operators and residents in the Northern US Gulf Coast should closely monitor Ida as she has the potential to be a Category-1 hurricane at landfall or a strong non-tropical system capable of hurricane force conditions.

The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team continues to closely monitor the progress of Hurricane Ida. Another update will be posted later this evening or Monday Morning at the latest. Thanks to all for their continued support of the VoIP Hurricane Net!

73,Rob-KD1CY.

Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net

Hello to all..

Tropical Storm Ida, which made landfall in Nicaragua and had weakened, has reintensified over the Western Caribbean Sea and has the potential to become a hurricane and affect parts of the Yucatan Peninsula/Western Cuba with hurricane force conditions. The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team will continue to closely monitor the situation and could potentially activate Sunday Morning for Ida if we have contact with the affected area either via Amateur Radio or other means. Any Hams with direct or indirect contact should please let us know via email so we can provide vital surface reports to WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center.

It is noted that the Hurricane Watch Net (a separate net from the VoIP Hurricane Net) operating on 14.325 USB, with the potential of operations on 40 and 80 Meters, will be active at 8 AM EST/1300 UTC per the Assistant Net Manager of the Hurricane Net Watch Net, Brad Pioveson-W9FX. The activation status for WX4NHC is not known at this time.

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

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

Hello to all..

Tropical Depression #11 becomes Tropical Storm Ida. Ida as of the 10 PM EST/0300 UTC 11/4/09 advisory is a 65 MPH Tropical Storm. It could reach hurricane strength before making landfall in Nicaragua. Due to the timframe of the potential landfall in Nicaragua and the fact that there is very little Echolink/IRLP activity, the VoIP Hurricane Net will not activate for Ida's landfall in Nicaragua unless a significant change to the situation occurs. Advisory information on Ida can be seen off the Main Menu of the VoIP Hurricane Net web site at http://www.voipwx.net or via the National Hurricane Center web site at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

After landfall in Nicaragua, Ida may either dissipate over Nicaragua or emerge back into the water as a considerably weaker system and could possibly slowly regain strength. The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team will closely monitor the progress of Ida. Thanks to all for their continued support of the VoIP Hurricane Net!

73,Rob-KD1CY.

Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net

The following is the VoIP Hurricane Net schedule broken down into more detail:

June through October:
Weekly Net every Saturday Evening at 8 PM EDT/7 PM CDT/6 PM MDT/5 PM PDT/0000 UTC 

November:
Weekly Net every Saturday Evening at 7 PM EST/6 PM CST/5 PM MST/4 PM PST/0000 UTC 

-We meet weekly in the months of June through November which are the months of Hurricane Season. During the off-hurricane season months, we meet monthly.

December through March:
First Saturday Evening of every month at 7 PM EST/6 PM CST/5 PM MST/4 PM PST/0000 UTC

April and May:
First Saturday Evening of every month at 8 PM EDT/7 PM CDT//6 PM MDT/5 PM PDT/0000 UTC

The WX4NHC Communications Test is typically the first weekend in June though depending on when Memorial Day falls and when June 1st is during the week, there has been times when its the last weekend in May.

Also, we use our system to host and schedule NWS Forecast Offices including the National Hurricane Center station, WX4NHC, for SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) which for the last several years has occurred on the first Saturday in December from 0000-2400 UTC (which is Friday Evening 7 PM ET/6 PM CT/5 PM MT/4 PM PT/0000 UTC through Saturday Evening 7 PM ET/6 PM CT/5 PM MT/4 PM PT/0000 (2400) UTC.)

73,Rob-KD1CY.

Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net

Hello to all..

Please see the message below concerning Daylight Savings Time and the time the VoIP Hurricane Net meets as written by VoIP Hurricane Prep Net Control Operator, AE5WX-Daryl from Little Rock Arkansas:

Prior to the Oct. 31, 2009 Skywarn Hurricane Prep Net, there seemed to be some confusion on when the net actually meets...considering it depends upon the time of the year...and whether or not the ham shack clock is run on UTC Time. However, this message will address stations in the continental United States, that either observe Standard, or Daylight Savings Time during the year.

The easiest way to remember it is that the net is always at 0000 UTC Sunday, year round...whether a ham's part of the world is on "Daylight Savings Time" or not. The frequency of the net is the first Sunday of the month only (UTC), from December through May...and weekly the rest of the year.

But, for those U.S. amateur radio stations who operate their shack clocks according to prevailing local time, this brief guide will hopefully solve things. The following time zone designators apply, depending on your area of the country, and time of year:

UTC - Universal Time Coordination...also know as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), Zulu Time, or Z Time.

AST - Atlantic Standard Time. This also equates to EDT - Eastern Daylight Time.

EST - Eastern Standard Time. This also equates to CDT - Central Daylight Time.

CST - Central Standard Time. This also equates to MDT - Mountain Daylight Time.

MST - Mountain Standard Time. This also equates to PDT - Pacific Daylight Time. Arizona remains on this time year round.

PST - Pacific Standard Time.

Hello to all..

Tropical Storm Henri has formed about 600 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands and has maximum sustained winds of 40 MPH with higher gusts. Henri is expected to be short lived as it remains in a hostile environment for tropical storm formation and that environment is expected to dissipate Henri in the next 24 to 36 hours as it moves West-Northwest at 18 MPH. Advisory information can be obtained off the VoIPWXNet web site via the Main Menu of the web site and off the National Hurricane Center web site at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team will continue to monitor the progress of 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

Hello to all..

Tropical Storm Grace has suddenly formed in the far Northeastern Atlantic Ocean. Grace has formed over 400 miles northeast of the Azores Islands. Grace is already over cool waters that are not supportive of a tropical cyclone though Grace has managed to form in the far Northeastern Atlantic and is a small tropical storm. Grace is expected to sustain itself for a short period of time before weakening as it gets over even colder water and is abosrbed by a larger extratropical system. Grace is no threat to any land area. The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team will continue to monitor the progress of Grace and the rest of 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 

Hello to all..

After Tropical Drepression #8 briefly formed in the Atlantic late last week, the moderate El Nino conditions and the associated hostile upper level winds that occurs over the Atlantic with El Nino ripped the system apart and there are no other areas to monitor in the Atlantic for tropical development. In the Eastern Pacific, Tropical Storm Nora degenerated into a remnant low and is not expected to regenerate. There are no other areas in the Eastern Pacific being monitored for signs of tropical development at this time. The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team will continue to 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

Hello to all...

The Moderate El Nino conditions continue to supress Atlantic Tropical activity by providing hostile upper level winds over the Atlantic. The systems mentioned in yesterday's update have all fallen apart and the latest Tropical Weather Outlook from the National Hurricane Center in Miami Florida does not list any tropical systems having a chance for formation over the next 48 hours.

In the Eastern Pacific, one system has a low chance (less than 30 percent) for development 750 miles south of the southern tip of Baja California. The Pacific has certainly been more active than the Atlantic in 2009 but even there it is fairly quiet currently.

The VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team will continue to monitor the progress of 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

Hello to all...

For mid-September, the Atlantic Tropics have been unusually quiet as a moderate El Nino event in the Pacific Ocean has caused a hostile upper level wind environment that has resulted in a lack of activity in the Atlantic despite it being the peak of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. That said, there are now a couple of systems being monitored in the Atlantic.

The first system is a small low pressure area in association with the remnants of Fred which has continued to produce intermittent shower and thunderstorm activity and has some potential for development. This system is located 475 miles east of the Northwest Bahamas and is moving west at 10-15 MPH. Air Force Reserve Reconnaissance Aircraft is scheduled to investigate the system this afternoon though the latest tropical weather outlook states it has a low chance (less than 30%) of development.

Another system 1200 miles east of the Leeward Islands has become better organizard overnight and has the potential to become a tropical depression over the next day or two as it moves west-northwest at around 10 MPH. This system currently has a high chance, greater than 50% of development. Computer model runs, however, are indicating that this system could stay out at sea and recurve away from land if it does develop.

In the Pacific, Marty, once a tropical storm, is now a tropical depression well away from land areas and is expected to degenerate to a remnant low tonight or Sunday. Another small area of low pressure has a high chance (50% or greater of development) of becoming a tropical depression before upper level winds become less favorable for further development. None of these systems are a threat to land at this time.

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

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

Hello to all...

As stated earlier today, Recon Aircraft investigated the system east of the Leeward Islands and its investigation found Tropical Storm Erika with Maximum Sustained winds of 50 MPH and located about 390 Miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands. Erika has the possibility of affecting portions of the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands with tropical storm force conditions or it could stay over the open waters of the Atlantic with minimal impact to the islands. Erika is expected to slowly intensify at first and then may weaken for a bit before intensifying later in the period and potentially reaching hurricane strength late in the period or after the 120 hour time period. Its intensity may also determine the track with a weaker system being steered more to the west while a stronger system may be steered more toward the northwest. Future model runs and the intensity of Erika will better define the track. The advisory information for Erika can be found at the VoIP Hurricane Net web site at http://www.voipwx.net off the Main Menu of the web site. It can also be seen at the National Hurricane Center web site via the link below:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

VoIP Hurricane Net Activation for Erika doesn't appear to be needed for several days. That said, the VoIP Hurricane Net Management Team will closely monitor the progress of Erika for any changes in track, intensity and anything unexpected from the system. Thanks to all for their continued support of the VoIP Hurricane Net!

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