Subj : Hurricane Beryl: Hurricane Watch Net Active
To : QST
From : ARRL de WD1CKS
Date : Sun Jun 30 2024 03:31 pm
06/30/2024
Amateur Radio is active to provide critical communications for those in the
path of Hurricane Beryl. The following information is from Bobby Graves,
KB5HAV, the Net Manager of the Hurricane Watch Net[1].
Sunday, June 30, 2024, AM update:
Overnight, Beryl grew into a strong Category 3 Hurricane. As of 8:00 AM EDT
(1200 UTC), Beryl was located about 420 east of Barbados moving to the west or
280 degrees at 21 mph with sustained winds of 115 mph.
Continued rapid strengthening is forecast over the next day or so, and Beryl is
expected to become an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane before it
reaches the Windward Islands.
On the current track, Beryl is expected to move over the smaller islands
between Grenada and St. Vincent. Some of these islands are populated. Any
deviation to the left of the current track and Grenada could take a direct
strike. Any deviation to the right of track and St. Vincent could take a direct
strike.
The Hurricane Watch Net will be activated this afternoon at 3:00 PM EDT (1900
UTC) on 14.325.00 MHz (USB). We remain in operation on this frequency for as
long as propagation allows. We will activate this evening at 7:00 PM EDT (2300
UTC) on 7.268.00 MHz (LSB). We will remain active on this frequency overnight
for as long as propagation allows. If propagation allows us to operate all
night, we will suspend operations at 7:30 AM EDT Monday to allow the Waterway
Net to conduct their daily Net.
For this evening and overnight, we will be lining up reporting stations in the
path of Beryl. This will allow people to check their equipment and allow us to
know where storm shelters are located as well as line up Emergency Operations
Centers and Emergency Comms.
For Monday, we will resume operations on 14.325.00 MHz at 6:00 AM EDT (1000
UTC). Also, we will resume operations on 7.268.00 MHz at 8:30 AM EDT (1230
UTC). We will remain active for as long as we can be of assistance.
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 go out to those who could be affected by Hurricane Beryl. HWN is
prepared, ready to serve, and do what we can to help save lives.
Saturday, June 29, 2024, PM update:
The Tropical Atlantic is hot and getting busy. We currently have Tropic Storm
Beryl located about 820 miles east of Barbados. Beryl is currently forecast to
become a Cat 1 Hurricane later this afternoon, a Cat 2 Hurricane Sunday
morning, and a Cat 3 Hurricane late Sunday, or early Monday. However, I would
not be surprised for it to become a Major Hurricane by midday Sunday.
The Hurricane Watch Net plans to activate tomorrow, Sunday at 3:00 PM EDT (1900
UTC) to line up reporting stations. Monday we will be collecting surface
reports and forwarding that information to the forecasters in the National
Hurricane Center in Miami. Below is our plan for operation.
Sunday
20 meters: 14.325.00 MHz at 3:00 PM EDT (1900 UTC) until we lose propagation at
night.
40 meters: 7.268.00 MHz starting at 7:00 PM EDT (2300 UTC). We will remain
active on this frequency overnight for as long as propagation allows. If
propagation allows us to operate all night, we will suspend operations at 7:30
AM EDT Monday to allow the Waterway Net to conduct their daily Net.
Monday
20 meters: we will resume operations on 14.325.00 MHz at 6:00 AM EDT (1000
UTC).
40 meters: we will resume operations on 7.268.00 MHz at 8:30 AM EDT (1230 UTC).
According to Bryan Norcross, "If Beryl reaches hurricane strength, which looks
very likely, it will only be the second hurricane in the record book to take a
track in June anything like the one forecast. The previous storm was a damaging
Category 1 that hit Trinidad in the extraordinarily busy hurricane season of
1933."
The forward speed of Beryl is very quick. As of 11:00 AM EDT Saturday, Beryl is
moving to the west at 23 mph with sustained winds of 65 mph. Any change to the
forward speed would affect the timing of possible landfall.
The current forecast track has Beryl moving between St. Lucia and Grenada
striking the islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and remaining just south
of Barbados. Barbados would be the first to be affected and currently, it looks
to have the closest approach just before sunrise Monday. St. Vincent and the
Grenadines would be affected shortly after sunrise.
Looking ahead. Beryl is forecast to be near or hitting Jamaica on Wednesday.
The timing depends on the forward speed. Beryl is forecast to weaken to a Cat 2
before reaching Jamaica, however, all ingredients are in place for Beryl to
remain a Major Hurricane. Bottom line, don't drop your guard. Also, there is
another disturbance on the heels of Beryl, so, watch out! And, we have
something that "could" brew in the southern Gulf of Mexico over the next few
days.
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 go out to those who could be affected by Hurricane Beryl. HWN is
prepared, ready to serve, and do what we can to help save lives.
[1]
https://www.hwn.org/
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