Hurricanes

Hurricanes

HURRICANES - Hurricanes that strike the United States are born in the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea or the Gulf of Mexico. Our hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30, bringing an average of 10 tropical storms, with six strengthening into hurricanes.

Most hurricanes begin as a cluster of thunderstorms. If the thunder-storms are maintained in an organization fashion for 24 hours they are classified as a Tropical Depression - a common occurrence on the tropics. When the wind speeds reach 39 mph, a tropical storm is named, which can become a hurricane if the winds reach a constant speed of 74 mph.

In a hurricane, winds move counterclockwise around a center of extremely low pressure. Outside the "eye", winds may gust up to 200 mph. It is the wind and low pressure that create the storm surge - a wall of water pushed by the storm and responsible for 9 out of 10 hurricane deaths. During Hurricane Camille, which hit the Mississippi Coast in 1969, the storm surge reached 25 feet above sea level.

Categories - Hurricane have been classified into 5 categories to better communicate their destructive force and compare storm strength. The classification scale is called the Saffir Simpson Scale.

Category.......... Wind Speed mph..........Storm Surge ( Feet Above Normal )
1...............................74-95..............................................4-5
2..............................96-110.............................................6-8
3.............................111-130............................................9-12
4.............................131-155...........................................12-18
5........................156 or greater.................................19 or more

There are several types of WATCHES and WARNINGS issued by the National Weather Service which provide advance notice of dangerous TROPICAL CYCLONES.

HURRICANE WARNING is issued to warn of sustained winds of 74 mph or more in 24 hours or less.

HURRICANE WATCH usually precedes a Hurricane Warning and is issued to warn that hurricane conditions pose a threat within about 36 hours.

TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS and WATCHES are similar to those issued for Hurricanes, but warn of sustained wind speeds between 39 and 73 mph. Flooding from the rising coastal waters (Storm Surge) is nearly always included in these Warningsand Watches.

HURRICANE FREQUENCIES (Unless otherwise noted, times are UTC, freq in kHz) Revised August 1, 1996
The following high-frequency hurricane season intercepts have been gleaned from numerous sources. Times and frequencies are subject to frequent hange, and are listed for reference only. Beginning this issue, the list is a collaboration between Bill Snyder of California and Roger Pettengill of New York. This list has been published monthly during hurricane season since 1991.
If you copy this list, credit the authors. Do not remove update request and e-mail addresses. This is the only way we can keep the list updated! Thank you all who have so generously contributed information. Enjoy!
Bill Snyder AA6KC Roger Pettengill

FREQUENCIES OF INTEREST DURING HURRICANE SEASON

03357.0 FAX Pictures from NAM Norfolk (continuous)
03407.0 USB National Hurricane Center air-gnd "ALPHA"
04271.0 FAX Pictures from CFH Halifax (continuous)
04426.0 USB USCG wx NMN Portsmouth (0400 0530 1000)
04724.0 USB Hurricane hunter acft - GHFS
05211.0 USB SHARES - FEMA National Emergency Coordination Net (night pri)
05562.0 USB National Hurricane Center air-gnd "BRAVO"
05610.0 USB National Hurricane Center air-gnd "CHARLIE"
06496.4 FAX Pictures from CFH Halifax (continuous)
06501.0 USB USCG wx NMN Portsmouth (0400 0530 1000 1130 1600 2200 2330)
06673.0 USB National Hurricane Center air-gnd "DELTA"
06739.0 USB Hurricane hunter acft - GHFS guarded by MacDill & Ascension
07507.0 USB USN/USCG hurricane net (pri)
07508.5 USB FAA Caribbean hurricane net
08764.0 USB USCG wx NMN Portsmouth (0400 0530 1000 1130 1600 1730 2200 2300)
08876.0 USB National Hurricane Center air-gnd "ECHO"
08968.0 USB Hurricane hunter acft - GHFS
08992.0 USB Hurricane hunter acft - GHFS guarded by MacDill & Ascension
09380.0 USB USN/USCG hurricane net (sec)
10015.0 USB National Hurricane Center air-gnd "FOXTROT"
10493.0 USB SHARES - FEMA National Emergency Coordination Net (day pri)
10536.0 FAX Pictures from CFH Halifax (continuous)
10865.0 FAX Pictures from NAM Norfolk (continuous)
11175.0 USB Hurricane hunter acft - GHFS guarded by MacDill & Ascension
13089.0 USB USCG wx NMN Portsmouth (1130 1600 1730 2200 2330)
13200.0 USB Hurricane hunter acft - GHFS
13267.0 USB National Hurricane Center air-gnd "GOLF"
13510.0 USB Pictures from CFH Halifax (1000-2200)
15016.0 USB Hurricane hunter acft - GHFS guarded by MacDill & Ascension
17314.0 USB USCG wx from NMN Portsmouth (1730)
17901.0 USB National Hurricane Center air-gnd "HOTEL"
17976.0 USB Hurricane hunter acft - GHFS
21937.0 USB National Hurricane Center air-gnd "INDIA"

AMATEUR HIGH-FREQUENCY EMERGENCY HURRICANE NETS

01984.0 LSB Virgin Islands (Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Lesser Antilles)
03808.0 LSB Caribbean Wx (1030)
03815.0 LSB Antigua/Antilles
03815.0 LSB Inter-island (continuous watch)
03845.0 LSB Gulf Coast West Hurricane
03862.5 LSB Mississippi Traffic
03873.0 LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane
03873.0 LSB Texas Traffic
03905.0 LSB Pacific ARES (Hawaii)
03907.0 LSB Carolina Coast Emergency
03910.0 LSB Mississippi ARES
03910.0 LSB Virginia Emergency, Alpha
03915.0 LSB Louisiana Emergency
03915.0 LSB North Carolina
03915.0 LSB Massachusetts/Rhode Island Emergency
03917.0 LSB Eastern Pennsylvania Emergency
03923.0 LSB Mississippi ARES
03923.0 LSB North Carolina Emergency (Tar Heel)
03925.0 LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane
03925.0 LSB New York State Emergency
03925.0 LSB Louisiana Emergency (altn)
03925.0 LSB Southwest Traffic (altn)
03935.0 LSB Belize
03935.0 LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane
03940.0 LSB Southern Florida Emergency
03947.0 LSB Virginia Emergency, Bravo
03950.0 LSB Northern Florida Emergency
03955.0 LSB South Texas Emergency
03960.0 LSB North East Coast Hurricane
03965.0 LSB Alabama Emergency (altn)
03967.0 LSB Gulf Coast (outgoing traffic)
03975.0 LSB Georgia ARES
03975.0 LSB Texas RACES
03987.5 LSB Mexican National
03993.5 LSB Gulf Coast Health & Welfare
03993.5 LSB South Carolina Emergency
03995.0 LSB Gulf Coast Wx
07165.0 LSB Antigua/Antilles
07165.0 LSB Inter-island 40-meter (continuous watch)
07225.0 LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane
07230.0 LSB Southwest Traffic
07232.0 LSB South Carolina Emergency
07232.0 LSB Tar Heel Emergency (altn)
07235.0 LSB Louisiana Emergency
07235.0 LSB Baja
07235.0 LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane
07240.0 LSB Texas Emergency
07243.0 LSB Alabama Emergency
07243.0 LSB South Carolina Emergency
07245.0 LSB Southern Louisiana
07247.0 LSB Southern Florida Emergency (altn)
07247.5 LSB Northern Florida Emergency (altn)
07248.0 LSB Texas RACES
07250.0 LSB Belize
07250.0 LSB Texas Emergency
07254.0 LSB Northern Florida Emergency
07260.0 LSB Gulf Coast West Hurricane
07264.0 LSB Gulf Coast Health & Welfare
07268.0 LSB Waterway
07273.0 LSB Texas Traffic
07275.0 LSB Georgia ARES
07280.0 LSB NTS Region 5
07280.0 LSB Louisiana Emergency (altn)
07283.0 LSB Gulf Coast (outgoing only)
07290.0 LSB Central Gulf Coast Hurricane
07290.0 LSB Gulf Coast Wx
07290.0 LSB Hawaii Emergency
07290.0 LSB Traffic
14185.0 USB Caribbean Emergency
14200.0 USB (Please advise)
14215.0 USB Pacific Inter-island
14222.0 USB Health & welfare
14245.0 USB Health & welfare
14268.0 USB United Nations Radio Readiness Network
14275.0 USB Bermuda
14275.0 USB International Amateur Radio Net
14283.0 USB Caribus Health & Welfare
14300.0 USB Intercontinental Traffic and Maritime Mobile Service
14303.0 USB Atlantic Region Traffic (Health & welfare)
14316.0 USB Health & Welfare
14325.0 USB Hurricane Watch (Amateur-to-Natl Hurricane Center)
14340.0 USB Louisiana (1900)
14340.0 USB California-Hawaii
21310.0 USB Health & welfare (Spanish)
21390.0 USB Inter-Americas Health & Welfare
21400.0 USB Transatlantic Maritime
28450.0 USB Health & welfare (Spanish)

Hurricane Hunters
Hurricane reconnaissance aircraft (hurricane hunters) now operate primarily on US Global High Frequency System (GHFS) frequencies. Best frequencies to monitor are those guarded by MacDill and Ascension. After initial contact on one of the published GHFS frequencies, listen closely for them to switch to a non-published frequency to pass traffic. Aircraft call signs are "GULL-nn" or "TEAL-nn" (where nn is a 2-digit number), and "NOAA-42" and "NOAA-43." The GULL and TEAL aircraft are type WC-130 based at Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MS. The NOAA aircraft are type WP-3D based at MacDill AFB, Tampa, FL. Look for the new NOAA Gulfstream IV-SP (tail number N49RF, call sign "NOAA-49") to make its debut this season.

Whenever a hurricane is within 300 miles of land in the northern western hemisphere, the Hurricane Watch Net is operational on 14325. The Hurricane Watch Net provides communication between the National Hurricane Center and the affected areas.

During a communications emergency, W1AW transmits special bulletins by voice at hh:00, teleprinter at hh:15, and CW at hh:30. Frequencies are: Voice 01855 03990 07290 14290 18160 21390 28590 Teleprinter 03625 07095 14095 18102.5 21095 28095 CW 01818 03581.5 07047.5 14047.5 18097.5 21067.5 28067.5

The National Institute of Standards and Technology broadcasts storm warnings on 2.5, 5, 10, 15 & 20 MHz AM according to the following schedule: WWV hh:08 Covers Atlantic and eastern North Pacific WWVH hh:48 Covers Western, Eastern, Southern, and North Pacific

Globe Wireless broadcasts weather information, forecasts and bulletins in CW and SITOR modes on the following time-slot schedule:

STATIONS
WNU New Orleans, Louisiana
VCT Tors Cove, Newfoundland
KFS Palo Alto, California

FREQUENCIES
WNU FEC: 04210.5 - 06327.0- 08425.5 - 12588.5 - 12607.5 -16384.5
VCT FEC: 04217.5 - 06329.5 - 08422.0 - 12610.5 -16827.5
KFS FEC: 04211.5 - 06315.5 - 08417.5 - 12580.5 - 16829.5 - 22377.5
WNU CW: 00478.0- 04310.0 - 08570.0 - 12826.5 - 17117.6 - 22575.5
KFS CW: 00476.0 - 08558.4 -12844.5 - 17026.0 - 22581.5

FEC PRODUCT & TRANSMISSION TIMES
WNU: GOM/CARIB/ATL CYCLO BULL -0220 -0520 -0820 -1120- 1420- 1720 -2020- 2320
WNU: GOM/CARIB OFFSHORE FCST- 0350- 0950 -1550- 2150
VCT: N ATL HIGH SEAS WX - 0450 -1050 - 1650 - 2250
KFS: E & CTL PAC CYCLO BULL - 0220- 0520 -0820 -1120- 1420 -1720 -2020 -2320
KFS: PAC HIGH SEAS WX - 0450 -1050 -1650 -2250

CW PRODUCT & TRANSMISSION TIMES
WNU: GOM/CARIB/N ATL HSEAS WX- 0350- 0950 -1550- 2150
KFS: PACIFIC H SEAS WX - 0450 -1050 -1650- 2250

NOTES:
1. Offset tune 2.2 kHz for FEC broadcasts in FSK or LSB
2. Normal hurricane season extends 01 June to 30 November

One of the most interesting WWW hurricane sites for the technically inclined is the Atlantic Tropical Weather Center page. It is maintained by Eric Blake, an atmospheric sciences major at Northeast Louisiana University (http://banzai.neosoft.com/citylink/blake/tropical.html). Many of the products referenced in this bulletin can be accessed from his site, including weather forecasts, hurricane reconnaissance flight data, satellite weather images, and more. This site links to a boggling array of raw data and information.

You really can help keep this list current by sharing your additions, corrections and deletions. Cite source and include detailed info. Submit to either of the following:

Bill Snyder AA6KC
E-mail: [email protected]
Amateur Packet: AA6KC@WB6WFH.#SOCA.CA.USA.NOAM
FAX: 805-254-2060
US Mail: 26033 Coronado Ct, Valencia, CA 91355-2142

Roger Pettengill
E-mail: [email protected]
Compuserve: 73300,1327
US Mail: 181 Main St, Highland Falls, NY 10928