Category: News

STEVE MULLER KM4VRK IS A SILENT KEY

Steve Muller KM4VRK, an Assistant Section Manager for the ARRL West Central Florida Section, became a Silent Key on Saturday December 12, 2020, due to complications following a prolonged battle with cancer.  Muller was 69 years old.

Muller became an amateur radio operator in 2016.  Upon relocating to Hardee County in 2016, Muller became active with Hardee County ARES, and serving for two activations of Hardee County ARES: Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Irma in 2017.  Muller had also served as a net control station for the Eagle Net and the Hardee County ARES Net.   Muller was an ARRL Official Emergency Station, an ARRL Technical Specialist, and was appointed as an Assistant Section Manager in 2018.    Muller was also active, until recently, with the Coast Guard Auxiliary helping to provide communications.

Darrell Davis KT4WX, Section Manager of the ARRL West Central Florida Section, made the following statement about Muiller’s passing, “Steve was very dedicated to public service through ARES and the ARRL West Central Florida Section.  Steve gave fantastic service in his deployment during Hurricane Irma even with facing damage to his home from the storm.  Steve will be missed by all who knew him and myself in particular.  I am praying for his wife and children during this difficult time.”

Muller is survived by his wife Abby and five children.  At press time, no details were known about a memorial service or internment.

END OF PRESS RELEASE

 

SKYWARN RECOGNITION DAY 2020 TO BE HELD AS ONLINE EVENT ONLY DUE TO COVID-19

SKYWARN Recgnition Day, which is held on the first Saturday in December of every year, will be held on Saturday December 5th but with some changes due to COVID-19.  The following information was received from Richard Rude KE4EXL, who is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in Ruskin, concerning how Skywarn Recognition Day 2020 will take place this year.

“The National Weather Service has SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD 2020) scheduled this year on Saturday, December 5th.  However…due to COVID-19 restrictions the event will be conducted online. Unfortunately there will be no amateur radio operations at weather service offices.  Here at the Tampa Bay Area office in Ruskin we will be monitoring and posting to FaceBook and Twitter (#Skywarn20) throughout the afternoon of the 5th. In addition, for people with access to NWS chat, we will be logged into the “tbwhamchat” room. Some of the operating details are still being finalized but the attached PDF gives some details and includes links for the SRD 2020 website and for FaceBook.”

You may download the PDF document at the following link:  http://arrlwcf.org/download/wcfevents/AWARE_Nov2020_SkywarnRecogitionDay2020Information.pdf.

END OF PRESS RELEASE

SECTION NET CANCELLATIONS FOR THANKSGIVING

In observance of Thanksgiving Day on Thursday November 26, 2020, the ARRL West Central Florida Section Technical Net scheduled for Thursday November 26, 2020 at 2100 EST on the NI4CE Repeater System, and the ARRL West Central Florida Section ARES and Information Net scheduled for Saturday November 28, 2020 at 0730 EST on 3940 KHz have been cancelled.  All other Section nets will operate as scheduled.

The ARRL West Central Florida Section Technical Net on the NI4CE Repeater System will resume its normal schedule on Thursday December 3, 2020 and the ARRL West Central Florida Section ARES and Information Net on 3940 KHz will resume normal schedule on Saturday December 5, 2020.

END OF PRESS RELEASE

SOUTHCARS TAILGATE AND LUNCHEON PLANNED IN LAKELAND ON 11/21/20

SOUTHCARS (South Coast Amateur Radio Service), a net which meets daily on 7251 KHz from 0800 – 1300 Eastern Time, is planning a tailgate hamfest and luncheon on Saturday November 21, 2020.  The tailgate and luncheon will be at the Golden Corral on the north side of Lakeland.  The address of the Golden Corral is 4705 U.S. 98 North, Lakeland, FL 33809.  The exit number off of I-4 for U.S. 98 is Exit 32, and the restaurant is about 1-2 miles north of I-4 on the east side of U.S. 98.

The tailgate will begin at 0900 and run until sometime between 1100 and 1200.  Then everyone will go inside and have dinner following the conclusion of the tailgate.  All tailgaters are asked to display items for sale either in or on your vehicle.  No tables or tarps on the ground are to be used to display items for sale.

There is now available a calendar entry on the Section website with talkin and location information including a Google Map.  The link to the calendar entry is http://arrlwcf.org/event/southcars-tailgate-and-luncheon-2020/.

END OF PRESS RELEASE

TROPICAL STORM  ETA – 1900 EST – 11/11/20

Eta made landfall early this morning (0400 EST) near Cedar Key, crossed the Florida Peninsula, and exited the east coast early this afternoon (approximately 13000 EST) near the Florida – Georgia border.   Eta is expected to continue north-northeast and accelerate in forward speed along a frontal boundary and to be either absorbed by a trough ahead of the next cold front or transition to an extratropical area of low pressure in the next 24 to 48 hours.

SUMMARY OF 400 PM EST…2100 UTC…INFORMATION

———————————————-
LOCATION…31.6N 80.6W
ABOUT 90 MI…150 KM SSW OF CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…40 MPH…65 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…NE OR 35 DEGREES AT 18 MPH…30 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…1004 MB…29.65 INCHES

WATCHES AND WARNINGS

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.  All watches and warnings were discontinued at 1300 EST today.

DISCUSSION

The following excerpts are from the Forecast Discussion issued at 1600 EST today, “Satellite imagery and surface observations indicate that the center of Eta moved off the Georgia coast around 18z, a little farther north than previously anticipated. The satellite presentation of the storm has become quite ragged with the primary convective band located well east of the center. The circulation has also become more elongated, with the strongest winds occurring east of the center over the Atlantic waters. Based on the continued degradation of Eta’s organization, the initial wind speed has been lowered to 35 kt. Little change in strength is anticipated through early Friday due to moderate to strong westerly shear. The UKMET and ECMWF models continue to show some re-intensification of the system as an extratropical low by late Friday, and that is what is indicated in the official foreast. A plausible alternative scenario that is favored by the GFS is for the circulation to become elongated and dissipate along an approaching frontal boundary on Friday.

Eta is moving northeastward at about 16 kt. The cyclone should continue to accelerate northeastward over the next day or so ahead of a mid-latitude trough that is forecast to move across the Great Lakes Region and approach the northeastern United States on Friday. Only slight modifications to the previous official forecast were required, and the new NHC track forecast is near the middle of the tightly clustered dynamical models.

Deep-layer moisture that has spread northward along a frontal boundary across portions of eastern North Carolina and theMid-Atlantic coast is producing heavy rainfall and flash flooding that is not directly associated with Eta. See products from the NOAA Weather Prediction Center and your local National Weather Service office for additional information.”

SITUATION AND ACTIONS:

Tropical Storm Warnings are still in effect for Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties. A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for Coastal Pasco, Coastal Pinellas, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Manatee, Coastal Sarasota, and Coastal Charlotte Counties.  A Flash Flood Watch is also in effect for all counties in the ARRL West Central Florida Section.  With the weakening of Eta into a tropical storm, the Hurricane Watch was allowed to expire and the Tornado Watch that was previously issued has been allowed to expire.

Hillsborough County ARES/RACES and Pinellas ARES/ACS, who had been activated for Tropical Storm Eta for nearly 24 hours, deactivated all operations this morning.  Other ARES groups that had been on standby have also stood down.   As a result, the ARRL West Central Florida Section Level 2 activation was discontinued at 1600 EST today.

Everyone is highly encouraged to continue monitoring the latest Tropical Weather Outlooks and or any advisories issued by the National Hurricane Center in Miami.  There is an area of disturbed weather currently in the southern Caribbean Sea that will need to be monitored.

LATEST NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER INFORMATION:

Public Advisories:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/052330.shtml?
Forecast Advisory:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCMAT4+shtml/052053.shtml?
Forecast Discussion:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT4+shtml/052054.shtml?
Hurricane Local Statement:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/WTUS82-KTBW.shtml

 

This will be the last WCF SECTION SPECIAL BULLETIN on Tropical Storm Eta.

END OF SPECIAL BULLETIN

TROPICAL STORM  ETA – 1900 EST – 11/11/20

Eta became a minimal Category 1 hurricane around 0700 hours this morning and now due to dry air entering the storm, cooler waters, and increasing wind shear on its current track, has weakened slightly and is now a tropical storm once again.  Eta is picking up forward speed slowly and is still expected to make landfall as a Tropical Storm around Citrus or Levy County early tomorrow morning, and cross the Florida Peninsula and exit out into the Atlantic by tomorrow afternoon.  The ARRL West Central Florida Section will continue to experience gusty winds and heavy rainfall through tomorrow and conditions to really begin improving on Friday.  Eta is expected to be absorbed by a cold front headed towards Florida in about 72 hours. One should always be ready for the worst, that is, each person should build a culture of prevention in their lives, so if you want to avoid heart problems and apart from looking fit for women, you should consume ikaria lean belly juice, the supplement that will make you slimmer and be at your ideal weight. There are many supplements to add to your daily nutrition goal or other organic options. The Exhale’s pre rolls are very popular

SUMMARY OF 700 PM EST…0000 UTC…INFORMATION

———————————————-
LOCATION…27.9N 83.4W
ABOUT 45 MI…70 KM W OF ST. PETERSBURG FLORIDA
ABOUT 55 MI…90 KM W OF TAMPA FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…70 MPH…110 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…N OR 10 DEGREES AT 12 MPH…19 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…993 MB…29.32 INCHES

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for…
* Bonita Beach to Suwanee River Florida, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
* Bonita Beach to Suwannee River Florida

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for…
* Steinhatchee River to Suwannee River Florida

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for…
* North of the Suwannee River to Aucilla River Florida

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for…
* North of the Suwannee River to Aucilla River Florida

DISCUSSION:

The following excerpts are from the Forecast Discussion issued at 1600 EST today, “Almost as quickly as Eta regained hurricane status, it then lost it shortly thereafter. Dry air entrainment eroded most of the significant convection around the center this afternoon until a slight resurgence recently developed. However, the overall convective pattern has changed little with the bulk of the convection located primarily northeast through southeast of the center. The last recon pass through Eta showed that the central pressure had increased to 990 mb. Recent Doppler velocities of around 70 kt between 5000-6000 ft east of the center supports surface winds of about 56-58 kt, so the 1800Z intensity of 60 kt will also be kept for the 21Z advisory intensity.

The initial motion estimate is northward, or 010/10 kt. Eta is expected to move between north and north-northeastward tonight as the cyclone rounds the western periphery of a deep-layer ridge to the east. The new NHC model guidance remains in excellent agreement on Eta turning northeastward after 12 hours, with the cyclone making landfall along the western coast of the northern Florida peninsula in the region from Cedar Key to Crystal River. Eta is then expected to accelerate northeastward across northern Florida as a weakening tropical cyclone, and emerge over the western Atlantic by late Thursday morning or early afternoon. By 72 hours, if not sooner, Eta is forecast to merge with a frontal system off of the southeastern United States. The new official track forecast is similar to the previous advisory track, and lies close to a blend of the consensus models TVCN, NOAA-HCCA, and FSSE.

Eta will be moving over progressively cooler waters during the next 12 hours, with SSTs decreasing to less than 25 deg C just before the cyclone makes landfall along the Florida coast. The cooler waters, in conjunction with continued dry air entrainment and increasing westerly vertical wind shear, should result in at least gradual weakening until landfall occurs, followed by more rapid weakening as Eta moves over the northern Florida peninsula. Although the official forecast calls for Eta to be a tropical storm as it nears the northeast coast of Florida, a Tropical Watch or Warning are not required at this time since any tropical-storm-force will likely be occurring over water and not inland or along the coast due to Eta’s poor convective structure that is expected at that time. Eta is forecast to degenerate into a remnant low by 60 hours due to even stronger wind shear, and dissipate by 72 hours due to frontal interaction.”

SITUATION AND ACTIONS:

Tropical Storm Warnings are still in effect for Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties. A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for Coastal Pasco, Coastal Pinellas, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Manatee, Coastal Sarasota, and Coastal Charlotte Counties.  A Flash Flood Watch is also in effect for all counties in the ARRL West Central Florida Section.  With the weakening of Eta into a tropical storm, the Hurricane Watch was allowed to expire and the Tornado Watch that was previously issued has been allowed to expire.

At the present time Hillsborough County ARES/RACES and Pinellas County ARES/ACS are active assisting their respective emergency management agencies with auxiliary communications via amateur radio. Manatee ARES and Sarasota ARES were as of last report on standby to deploy if their services were requested.  ARRL West Central Florida Section ARES Activation Level continues at a Level 2 activation and will remain there until all ARES groups in the ARRL West Central Florida Section demobilize.  A Regional Skywarn Net will continue to be in service on the NI4CE Repeater System (http://www.ni4ce.org)  to report any severe weather to the National Weather Service Office in Ruskin.  Note:  The Eagle Net normally scheduled for 2030 EST has been cancelled for this evening in order to not impede emergency operations.

All ARES, ACS, and CERT personnel should monitor their email and phones for any requests for assistance from their served agencies via their respective chains of command.  Please do not self-activate as requests for assistance and or mutual assistance must follow through the proper procedure.  Everyone is highly encouraged to continue to check each advisory issued by the National Hurricane Center in Miami and any advisories issued by the National Weather Service Office in Ruskin.

LATEST NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER INFORMATION:

Public Advisories:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/052330.shtml?
Forecast Advisory:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCMAT4+shtml/052053.shtml?
Forecast Discussion:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT4+shtml/052054.shtml?
Hurricane Local Statement:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/WTUS82-KTBW.shtml

 

The next WCF SECTION SPECIAL BULLETIN will be issued around 1900 EST tomorrow evening, unless conditions warrant a sooner release.

END OF SPECIAL BULLETIN

THE WCF PRESSER ISSUE #54 FOR OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020 IS NOW PUBLISHED

The WCF PRESSER Issue #54 for October and November 2020, has been published on the Section website.  An announcement of the publication of the WCF PRESSER will be disseminated on the ARRL remailer shortly. If anyone has any information that is amateur radio related that you would like to go into the next issue of THE WCF PRESSER, please send that to our newsletter editor, Jim Weslager K3WR via email at weslager@gmail.com.

For the PDF version of this newsletter and past issues in PDF format go to http://arrlwcf.org/home/the-wcf-section-presser-arrl-west-central-florida-section-news/.

END OF PRESS RELEASE

HURRICANE  ETA – 1000 EST – 11/11/20

Usually unexpected things happen in the middle of the night and changes in the track of tropical systems are no exception.  Since the last briefing, Eta became a minimal Category 1 hurricane around 0735 hours this morning and the track of Hurricane Eta has changed significantly.  Eta is now forecast to weaken slightly, make landfall as a Tropical Storm around Citrus or Levy County tomorrow morning, and cross the Florida Peninsula and exit out into the Atlantic by tomorrow evening.  To say the least gusty winds and heavy amounts of rain can be expected for the next 24 – 48 hours.

SUMMARY OF 1000 AM EST…1500 UTC…INFORMATION

———————————————–
LOCATION…26.2N 83.7W
ABOUT 115 MI…180 KM WSW OF PORT CHARLOTTE FLORIDA
ABOUT 145 MI…235 KM SSW OF TAMPA FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…75 MPH…120 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…NNE OR 15 DEGREES AT 10 MPH…17 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…983 MB…29.03 INCHES

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for…
* Bonita Beach to Suwanee River Florida, including Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…
* Anna Maria Island to Yankeetown

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
* Dry Tortugas
* Bonita Beach to Suwannee River Florida

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for…
* Steinhatchee River to Suwannee River Florida

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for…
* North of the Suwannee River to Aucilla River Florida

DISCUSSION:

The following excerpts are from the Forecast Discussion issued at 1600 EST today, “Eta became much better organized between 0900-1000 UTC this morning, including the formation of a well-defined, closed circular eye about 20-25 nmi wide. However, since then the satellite and radar
signature have become more ragged as dry air has entrained into the western semicircle of the cyclone and has also penetrated into the
inner-core region, resulting in a significant degradation of the convection in that portion of Eta’s circulation. A couple of hours ago, a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft penetrated the remnant eye feature and measured a central pressure of 984-983 mb, and also measured 850-mb maximum flight-level winds of 83-85 kt east of the center just outside of a deep convective band. WSR-88D Doppler radar data from Tampa Bay (KTBW) indicated a long fetch of Doppler velocities of 80-88 kt at 13,500 ft directly above and east of the aircraft report, and this was within a band of strong convection characterized by radar reflectivities of 45-49 dBZ. Based on the combination of the wind data and the relatively low central pressure, Eta was upgraded to hurricane status at 1200 UTC. The initial motion estimate is north-northeastward, or 015/09 kt. The latest NHC model guidance is excellent agreement on Eta moving north-northeastward for the next 24 hours around the the western periphery of a deep-layer subtropical ridge that extends westward across the western Atlantic to just off the Florida east coast.  Thereafter, the cyclone will move north of the ridge axis and come under the influence of southwesterly to westerly mid- to upper-level flow associated with an approaching cold front, which should result in a faster northeastward motion. By 72 hours, if not sooner, Eta is forecast to merge with the aforementioned frontal system off of the southeastern United States. The new official track forecast is similar to the previous advisory track, and lies just a tad east or to the right of the consensus models TVCN, NOAA-HCCA, and FSSE.

It is quite possible that Eta has peaked in intensity based on the rapid erosion of the convective pattern and an eye feature no longer evident in radar or passive microwave satellite imagery. However, there still remains a band of strong convection in the northeastern quadrant that contains Doppler radar velocity values of 80-88 kt between 6000-9000 ft, which corresponds to equivalent surface winds of at least 65 kt. As long as that feature persists, hurricane-force winds are possible along immediate coastal areas within the hurricane watch area. The latest GFS-and ECMWF-based SHIPS intensity guidance shows significantly drier air wrapping into the center by 24 hours, along with the vertical wind shear increasing to more than 20 kt from the west at that time. That combination of unfavorable environmental parameters is expected to lead to gradual weakening until landfall occurs in about 24 hours, followed by rapid weakening after landfall. Eta is forecast to degenerate into a remnant low by 60 hours due to even stronger wind shear, and dissipate by 96 hours due to frontal interaction.”

SITUATION AND ACTIONS:

Tropical Storm Warnings are now in effect for Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties. A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for Coastal Pasco, Coastal Pinellas, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Manatee, Coastal Sarasota, and Coastal Charlotte Counties.  Hurricane Watches are also in effect for Coastal Pasco, Pinellas, Coastal Hillsborough, and Coastal Manatee Counties.  A Tornado Watch is in effect from 0800 EDT until 1700 EST for Charlotte, Desoto, Hardee, Hillsborough, and Pinellas Counties.  A Flash Flood Watch is also in effect for all counties in the ARRL West Central Florida Section.

As of press time, Hillsborough County ARES/RACES has been requested by Hillsborough County Emergency Management to provide amateur radio operators for five shelters which are scheduled to open at 1300 today.  As of press time, Manatee County ARES is on standby to possibly be activated to provide communications services.  ARRL West Central Florida Section ARES Activation Level will be raised at this time to a Level 2 activation due to the activation of Hillsborough County ARES/RACES and standby of other ARES groups.  A Regional Skywarn Net has been activated on the NI4CE Repeater System (http://www.ni4ce.org)  to report any severe weather to the National Weather Service Office in Ruskin.

All ARES, ACS, and CERT personnel should monitor their email and phones for any requests for assistance from their served agencies via their respective chains of command.  Please do not self-activate as requests for assistance and or mutual assistance must follow through the proper procedure.  Everyone is highly encouraged to continue to check each advisory issued by the National Hurricane Center in Miami and any advisories issued by the National Weather Service Office in Ruskin.

LATEST NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER INFORMATION:

Public Advisories:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/052330.shtml?
Forecast Advisory:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCMAT4+shtml/052053.shtml?
Forecast Discussion:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT4+shtml/052054.shtml?
Hurricane Local Statement:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/WTUS82-KTBW.shtml

 

The next WCF SECTION SPECIAL BULLETIN will be issued around 1900 EST this evening, unless conditions warrant a sooner release.

END OF SPECIAL BULLETIN

TROPICAL STORM ETA – 1900 EST – 11/10/20

Tropical Depression Eta after leaving the Florida Straits and going southwest for a time, became stationery over night and early this morning.   However, Eta has now began a long journey apparently towards the northeastern Gulf coast and meeting a frontal boundary sometime over the weekend.  The shift east in the forecast track between 3 to 5 days necessitated the Tropical Storm Watches along the Florida west coast.   Eta is close enough to have an influence on our weather for the next few days.  For the majority of the upcoming week we will experience breezy winds out of the east and southeast.

SUMMARY OF 400 PM EST…2100 UTC…INFORMATION

———————————————-
LOCATION…23.2N 85.1W
ABOUT 90 MI…145 KM N OF THE WESTERN TIP OF CUBA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…60 MPH…95 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…N OR 360 DEGREES AT 7 MPH…11 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…992 MB…29.30 INCHES

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
* Dry Tortugas

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for…
* Englewood to Suwannee River Florida
* The Cuban provinces of La Habana, Artemisa, Mayabeque, Pinar del Rio, and the Isle of Youth

DISCUSSION:

The following excerpts are from the Forecast Discussion issued at 1600 EST today, “Eta’s convective structure has changed little since the previous advisory. A CDO-like feature with cloud tops colder than -70C has persisted, with some overshooting tops of -80C to -85C located east
and southeast of the center. Recent passive microwave satellite data indicates that Eta is still sheared from the northwest, with an intermittent mid-level eye feature showing up. Satellite classifications have essentially remained unchanged, with SAB reporting 45-55 kt and TAFB reporting 55 kt. The initial intensity remains at 50 kt based on a blend of these satellite classifications and a UW-CIMSS SATCON estimates of 45-48 kt.

The initial motion estimate is now northward, or 360/06 kt. The biggest surprise is the large eastward shift in all of the NHC model guidance, which was possibly due at least in part to all of the dropsondes that the NOAA G-IV jet aircraft dropped around Eta earlier this morning, All of the guidance is now in good agreement on a broad, deep-layer trough moving eastward across the south-central and southeastern United States, which will erode the subtropical ridge to the north of Eta that has been impeding Eta’s poleward progress he past couple of days. This generally
northward to northeastward steering pattern is expected to persist through the entire 120-h forecast period, with only slight shifts east or west of he current forecast track due to how vertically deep Eta remains when it reaches the northeastern Gulf of Mexico and Apalachee Bay in a few days. The current forecast track maintains Eta as at least a moderate tropical cyclone through the period, with only a slight bend back toward the northwest when the system is expected to interact with an approaching frontal system. The new NHC track forecast has been shifted about 150 n mi east of the previous advisory track at 96 and 120 hours, and further eastward shifts in the track may be required, closer to the consensus models TCVA/TVCN and NOAA-HCCA.

Eta is forecast to remain in a low-to-moderate vertical wind shear environment and over SSTs of at least 27 deg C for the next 36 hours or so. Intermittent entrainment of dry mid-level air should prevent any rapid strengthening from occurring, but Eta could still become a hurricane between in 24 to 36 h before more significant shear begins to affect the cyclone. By day 3 and beyond, increasing northwesterly vertical wind shear combined with cooler SSTs should cause Eta to weaken. The new intensity forecast is essentially the same as the previous advisory, and is a little below the consensus models IVCN, HCCA, and FSSE, all of which make Eta a hurricane again by 36 hours.  Due to the expected northwesterly shear after 36 hours, the 34-ktwind radii were expanded in the eastern semicircle, which is the side of the cyclone where most of the deep convection and associated stronger winds will be located. Given this and the eastward adjustment to the track forecast, a Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for portions of the Florida west coast, and a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the Dry Tortugas.”

SITUATION AND ACTIONS:

Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for all of Pinellas County and  the coastal portions of Pasco, Hillsborough, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties in the ARRL West Central Florida Section. Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for the coastal portions of Levy, Citrus, and Hernando Counties in the ARRL Northern Florida Section.

All ARES, ACS, and CERT personnel should monitor their email and phones for any requests for assistance from their served agencies via their respective chains of command.  Everyone is highly encouraged to continue to check each advisory issued by the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Stay prepared in case communications services through amateur radio are requested by our served agencies later this week.

LATEST NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER INFORMATION:

Public Advisories:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/052330.shtml?
Forecast Advisory:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCMAT4+shtml/052053.shtml?
Forecast Discussion:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT4+shtml/052054.shtml?

The next WCF SECTION SPECIAL BULLETIN will be issued around 1900 EST tomorrow evening, unless conditions warrant a sooner release.

END OF SPECIAL BULLETIN