Category: News

TECHCON 2021 DATE AND VENUE SET

The 7th Annual TECHCON date and venue have been set.  The 7th Annual TECHCON, the ARRL West Central Florida Section Technical Conference, will be held on Friday February 26, 2021 and Saturday February 27, 2021.  The location for the 7th Annual TECHCON will be at the Polk County Emergency Operations Center located between Winter Haven and Lakeland.  The Friday Afternoon Workshop topic is to be determined.

If the Polk County Emergency Operations Center becomes unavailable due to the COVID-19 situation, the conference will be transitioned to a virtual conference via Zoom Teleconferencing.

Registration is now open for the 7th Annual TECHCON.  If you are planning on attending TECHCON, please register for TECHCON by filling out a TECHCON Registration Form on the Section website at http://arrlwcf.org/section-forms/wcftechconfregistration/. Some of our previous presenters at TECHCON are planning on returning for the 7th Annual TECHCON, but we are looking for new presenters for the 7th Annual TECHCON as well.  If you wish to be a presenter, please fill out the TECHCON Registration Form and our current Section Manager Darrell Davis KT4WX will get back with you.  For more information on TECHCON you may go to the TECHCON web page on the Section website at http://arrlwcf.org/wcf-special-events/wcftechconference/.

END OF PRESS RELEASE

THE WCF PRESSER ISSUE #53 FOR SEPTEMBER 2020 IS NOW PUBLISHED

The WCF PRESSER Issue #53 for September 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 SALLY – 1700 EDT – 9/15/20

Hurricane Sally is now finally moving north towards the Mississippi and Alabama coastline but very slowly.  Landfall is further to the east than was expected this time yesterday but is expected sometime tomorrow.  The biggest threat to southern Mississippi and Alabaman may be flooding as well as moderate wind damage.  Tropical Storm Warnings remain for the western Florida panhandle and a Hurricane Warning is in effect for extreme western Florida panhandle.   Storm Surge Warnings are now in efffect for the extreme western Florida panhandle.

SUMMARY OF 0500 PM CDT…2100 UTC…INFORMATION

LOCATION…29.5N 88.1W
ABOUT 85 MI…135 KM S OF MOBILE ALABAMA
ABOUT 90 MI…140 KM SW OF PENSACOLA FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…80 MPH…130 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…N OR 350 DEGREES AT 2 MPH…4 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…979 MB…28.91 INCHES

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for…
* Mouth of the Mississippi River to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line Florida
* Mobile Bay

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for…
* East of Bay St. Louis to Navarre Florida

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
* East of Navarre Florida to Indian Pass Florida
* Bay St. Louis westward to Grand Isle Louisiana

DISCUSSION:

The following excerpts are from the Forecast Discussion issued at 1700 EDT today, “Sally has been inching its way toward the north-central Gulf Coast today. The overall structure of the storm has remained about the same during the day with a large ragged eye in apparent in radar
imagery. A NOAA P-3 aircraft that has been sampling the storm since late this morning has reported peak flight-level winds of 76 kt, and NWS Doppler radar has shown velocities of 75-80 kt at around 7000 ft. The intensity was reduced to 70 kt on the 1800 UTC intermediate advisory and remains at that value for this advisory.

Radar and aircraft fixes show that Sally has been moving very slowly toward the north or 350/2 kt. The track forecast philosophy remains
unchanged from the previous advisory. Sally is currently located within an area of weak steering flow between a couple of mid-level ridges to its east and west. A weak mid-level trough over the south-central United States is forecast to slide eastward over the next few days, which should cause Sally to turn north-northeastward and then northeastward over the next 24-36 hours. Sally’s forward speed is expected to remain quite slow over the next 24-48 hours, but the guidance has trended slightly faster after that time. The slow forward speed is likely to result in a historical rainfall event for the north-central Gulf Coast. It may sound like a broken record, but the track guidance has again shifted eastward during the first 24-36 hours, and the NHC forecast has been adjusted accordingly. Since Sally has a large wind field, and storm surge and rainfall hazards extend far from the eye, users should not focus on the exact forecast track or specific location and timing of landfall as strong winds and bands of heavy rainfall are already affecting the Gulf Coast and will continue to do so for quite some time.

The combination of upwelling and moderate westerly shear is likely to result in little change in strength prior to Sally moving onshore. Once the center of the hurricane moves onshore, rapid weakening is expected and the global models indicate that the circulation will becoming elongated along a frontal boundary in 3 to 4 days.”

SITUATION AND ACTIONS:

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the portions of Gulf, Bay, southern part of Walton and Okaloosa Counties.  A Hurricane Warning is in effect for Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties.  Storm Surge Warning is in effect for Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Oklaloosa Counties.

The only warnings in effect for the ARRL West Central Florida Section are Flood Warnings in effect for portions of the Peace River in Polk County near Bartow, the Myakka River at Myakka River State Park in Sarasota County, and Cypress Creek at State Road 54 Worthington Gardens which will affect Pasco County.  These are from the recent rains from when Hurricane Sally passed by over the weekend and on Monday.

The threat from Hurricane Sally have been tremendously diminished to the ARRL West Central Florida Section.   Everyone should continue monitoring the latest advisories issued four times a day by the National Hurricane Center and for any further watches and or warnings 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/120243.shtml?
Forecast Advisory:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCMAT4+shtml/120242.shtml?
Forecast Discussion:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT4+shtml/120243.shtml?

 

This will be the last WCF SECTION SPECIAL BULLETIN on Hurricane Sally unless conditions dramatically change and the threat to the ARRL West Central Florida Section is once again increased.

END OF SPECIAL BULLETIN

HURRICANE SALLY – 1700 EDT – 9/14/20

Sally, intensifying to a category one hurricane earlier today, continues to move away from the State of Florida towards a likely landfall in eastern Louisiana or Mississippi sometime late on Tuesday or early on Wednesday.  Tropical Storm Warnings remain for the western Florida panhandle and a Hurricane Warning is now in effect for extreme western Florida panhandle..

SUMMARY OF 0500 PM CDT…2100 UTC…INFORMATION

LOCATION…28.8N 87.4W
ABOUT 105 MI…170 KM E OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
ABOUT 145 MI…230 KM SE OF BILOXI MISSISSIPPI
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…100 MPH…155 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…WNW OR 300 DEGREES AT 6 MPH…9 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…987 MB…29.15 INCHES

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for…
* Port Fourchon Louisiana to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line Florida
* Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Borgne
* Mobile Bay

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for…
* Morgan City Louisiana to the Navarre Florida
* Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas including metropolitan New Orleans

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
* East of of Navarre Florida to Indian Pass Florida

DISCUSSION:

The following excerpts are from the Forecast Discussion issued at 1700 EDT today, “After the rapid spin up of the inner core late this morning, the most recent aircraft passes through the center have not found any higher flight-level winds, however there have been a few SFMR winds
of 85-90 kt reported. Using a blend of the flight-level and SFMR winds the initial intensity has been increased to 85 kt for this advisory. The next Air Force and NOAA aircraft have begun to sample the storm. Now that Sally has developed an inner core, the favorable atmospheric and ocean conditions of low vertical wind shear and warm water should allow for additional strengthening tonight while the system moves over the north-central Gulf of Mexico, and Sally could approach major hurricane strength. On Tuesday, the global models are predicting an increasing in
southwesterly flow aloft, and this increase in shear, the potential for land interaction, and some upwelling over the shallower shelf waters over the northern Gulf should slow the intensification process. The NHC intensity forecast is again near the upper-end of the guidance envelope in best agreement with the HWRF and HFIP corrected consensus models.  Sally did not move much earlier today as the center re-formation took place, but it appears that a slow west-northwestward to northwestward motion has resumed. Weak ridging over the southeastern United States is expected to steer Sally generally west-northwestward through early Tuesday. After that time, steering currents weaken and a slow northward motion is forecast as a weak mid-level trough develops over the the central United States. This trough is forecast to slide eastward, allowing Sally to begin a slow north-northeastward or northeastward motion. The specific timing and location of the turn will be critical as to the eventual
location and timing of landfall along the north-central Gulf Coast.  The UKMET and ECMWF models show a more northeastward motion after
the turn and have trended eastward, with the ECMWF much slower than the remainder of the guidance. The NHC track has been adjusted
eastward, and this requires and eastward extension of the hurricane warning. The new track most closely follows the GFS and it ensemble
mean, but lies to the west of the various consensus aids, so some additional eastward adjustments could be needed in subsequent advisories.

Given the uncertainty in the timing and location of the northward turn and the lack of well-defined steering currents, users are reminded to not focus on the exact forecast track or the specific timing and location of landfall. Hurricane-force winds, dangerous storm surge, and flooding rainfall will affect a large portion of the north-central Gulf Coast during the next few days.”

SITUATION AND ACTIONS:

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for the coastal portions of Gulf, Bay, southern part of Walton and Okaloosa Counties.  A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the southern parts of Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties. The Tropical Storm Watch for coastal Franklin County was discontinued. The only warnings in effect for the ARRL West Central Florida Section are Flood Warnings in effect for portions of the Peace River in Polk County near Bartow, the Myakka River at Myakka River State Park in Sarasota County, and Cypress Creek at State Road 54 Worthington Gardens which will affect Pasco County.  The Flood Watch that had been in effect for the entire Ruskin CWA for the last several days was allowed to expire.

At the present time, the primary threat to the ARRL West Central Florida Section continues to be the potential for flooding from any further rainfall.  Rain chances will remain elevated for This threat will continue to diminish as Hurricane Sally moves away from the State of Florida.  Everyone should continue monitoring the latest advisories issued four times a day by the National Hurricane Center and for any further watches and or warnings issued by the National Weather Service office in Ruskin.

If Hurricane Sally continues its present course away from Florida, these bulletins will be discontinued most likely after tomorrow, being the threat to the State of Florida will be diminished.

LATEST NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER INFORMATION:

Public Advisories:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/120243.shtml?
Forecast Advisory:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCMAT4+shtml/120242.shtml?
Forecast Discussion:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT4+shtml/120243.shtml?

 

The next WCF SECTION SPECIAL BULLETIN on Hurricane Sally will issued following the 1700 EDT advisory tomorrow for Hurricane Sally, unless conditions warrant a release sooner.

END OF SPECIAL BULLETIN

TROPICAL STORM SALLY – 1700 EDT – 9/13/20

Tropical Storm Sally continues to move away from the State of Florida towards a likely landfall in eastern Louisiana or Mississippi sometime on Tuesday.  Tropical Storm Sally will likely become a category one hurricane before landfall.  Tropical Storm Warnings remain for the western Florida panhandle and a Tropical Storm Watch extends slightly east of the Tropical Storm Warning area. The tides or winds of the oceans can alter the functioning of your penis, no, it’s not a joke, if you want to function like a bear and work 24/7, buy from the best, buy from Deutsche Medz.

SUMMARY OF 0500 PM CDT…2100 UTC…INFORMATION

LOCATION…27.8N 85.9W
ABOUT 165 MI…265 KM S OF PANAMA CITY FLORIDA
ABOUT 215 MI…345 KM ESE OF THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…60 MPH…95 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…WNW OR 295 DEGREES AT 9 MPH…15 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…996 MB…29.41 INCHES

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for…
* Port Fourchon Louisiana to the Mississippi/Alabama Border
* Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Borgne

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for…
* Morgan City Louisiana to Ocean Springs Mississippi
* Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas including metropolitan New
Orleans

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for…
* Mississippi/Alabama Border to the Alabama/Florida Border

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…
* East of Ocean Springs to the Alabama/Florida Border

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
* East of Ocean Springs to Indian Pass
* Intracoastal City Louisiana to west of Morgan City

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for…
* Indian Pass to Ochlockonee River Florida

DISCUSSION:

The following excerpts are from the Forecast Discussion issued at 1700 EDT today, “Sally is forecast to move beneath a narrow upper-level ridge axis through Monday and the expected decrease in shear should allow the storm to strengthen. Since Sally is forecast to decelerate on its
approach to the northern Gulf coast, the system still has at least another 36 h to take advantage of the expected conducive environmental conditions. As a result, the NHC intensity forecast continues to call for Sally to become a hurricane on Monday, with additional strengthening likely until landfall. The intensity guidance has trended slightly lower this cycle, with the HMON model now at the upper end of the guidance envelope. The reduction in the statistical guidance is likely due to the fact that Sally has not strengthened today and there is a persistence component to the forecast from those models. The latest NHC intensity forecast is similar to the previous advisory and lies a little above the latest HFIP corrected consensus aid.

Recent satellite and aircraft fixes show that Sally continues to move west-northwestward at about 10 kt. The tropical storm is currently being steered around the southern portion of a mid-level ridge to its northeast. Sally is forecast to reach the western extent of the ridge on Monday, and a slower northwestward motion is expected when the storm is near the north-central Gulf coast. The steering currents are forecast to weaken further in a couple of days as Sally rounds the western extent of the ridge and a slow northward motion is expected during that time. By 72 hours, the cyclone should begin to move somewhat faster toward the northeast as a trough deepens to its west. As often occurs, there has been some run-to-run variability among the various track models, and the latest iterations of them have shifted eastward with a slower forward speed. Despite the shifts of the individual models, the latest consensus aids are only slightly north and east of the previous NHC track through 60 hours, so only a small adjustment has been made to the earlier official forecast through that time. It is important not to focus too much on these small track changes and to the exact forecast track itself, as impacts are expected to extend far from the center. Also, since there is still quite a
bit of model spread in both the location and timing of when the center of Sally reaches the northern Gulf Coast, additional adjustments to the track forecast are possible.  Regardless of Sally’s exact landfall location and intensity, the cyclone is expected to bring wind, storm surge, and rainfall hazards to a large part of the north-central Gulf Coast. In particular, Sally’s slow forward speed near the coast will exacerbate the storm
surge and heavy rainfall threats.”

SITUATION AND ACTIONS:

At the present time a Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for coastal Franklin County.  A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Gulf, Bay, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Escambia Counties in the Florida Panhandle.  At the present time there is only a Flood Watch still in effect through  Sunday evening for the entire NWS Ruskin CWA (Coverage Warning Area) extending from Levy County all the way to Lee County on the coast and Polk, Hardee, Highlands, and Desoto Counties.  All of the ARRL West Central Florida Section is included in this Flood Watch.  There are Flood Warnings for portions of the Peace River in Polk County near Bartow and the Myakka River at Myakka River State Park in Sarasota County.  The National Weather Service will make a decision later this evening as what Flood Watches or Warning will need to be extended.

At the present time, the primary threat to the ARRL West Central Florida Section continues to be the potential for flooding from excessive rainfall that has already occurred from Tropical Storm Sally, and any further rainfall will tend to aggravate that situation.  This threat will continue to diminish as Tropical Storm Sally moves away from the State of Florida.  Everyone should continue monitoring the latest advisories issued four times a day by the National Hurricane Center and for any further watches and or warnings issued by the National Weather Service office in Ruskin.on Tropical Depression Nineteen.

If Tropical Storm Sally continues its present course away from Florida, these bulletins will be discontinued most likely after tomorrow, being the threat to the State of Florida will be diminished.

LATEST NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER INFORMATION:

Public Advisories:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/120243.shtml?
Forecast Advisory:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCMAT4+shtml/120242.shtml?
Forecast Discussion:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT4+shtml/120243.shtml?

 

The next WCF SECTION SPECIAL BULLETIN on Tropical Storm Sally will issued following the 1700 EDT advisory tomorrow for Tropical Storm Sally, unless conditions warrant a release sooner.

END OF SPECIAL BULLETIN

TROPICAL STORM SALLY – 1700 EDT – 9/12/20

Tropical Depression Nineteen was upgraded to Tropical Storm Sally earlier this afternoon and now is emerging into the Gulf of Mexico. Tropical Storm watches on the Florida east coast have been dropped and a Hurricane Watch and Storm Surge Watch have been issued on parts of the northern Gulf of Mexico coastline as Tropical Storm Sally begins to move away from the west coast of Florida.

SUMMARY OF 0500 PM CDT…2100 UTC…INFORMATION

LOCATION…25.7N 81.9W
ABOUT 30 MI…45 KM SSW OF NAPLES FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…40 MPH…65 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…W OR 280 DEGREES AT 7 MPH…11 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…1004 MB…29.65 INCHES

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for…
* Mouth of the Mississippi River to the Alabama/Florida Border
* Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Borgne
* Mobile Bay

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…
* Grand Isle Louisiana to the Alabama/Florida border
* Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas including metropolitan New Orleans

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for…
* Alabama/Florida Border to Ochlockonee River Florida<

DISCUSSION:

The following excerpts are from the Forecast Discussion issued at 1700 EDT today, “Sally continues to gradually become better organized, with
developing convective banding features primarily over the southernportion of the circulation at this time. Upper-level outflow is still rather limited over the northern semicircle, possibly due to a weak upper low near the Georgia/Florida border. The latter feature is likely to soon move away from the area, however. Based on earlier scatterometer passes that showed tropical-storm-force winds over the Straits of Florida, the advisory intensity remains 35 kt.  With very warm waters and a moist tropospheric environment ahead of Sally, strengthening seems likely. Some increase in westerly shear over the northern Gulf in 48-72 hours could at least slow down the intensification process around that time. The official intensity forecast is not far from the latest model consensus and a little above the previous forecast.

Fixes from an Air Force Hurricane Hurricane aircraft, radar, satellite, and surface observations indicate a slow, generally westward motion of about 280/6 kt. A weakening mid-level high pressure system to the northeast of Sally should cause a generally west-northwestward to northwestward motion for the next few days.  Because of the weakening steering currents, the cyclone should move rather slowly while it approaches the northern Gulf Coast.  However, there is expected to be enough of a narrow north-south oriented ridge to the east of Sally in 3-4 days to steer the cyclone northward across the coast. The official track forecast has been nudged just slightly west of the previous one and lies
between the simple and corrected dynamical track model consensus predictions.

SITUATION AND ACTIONS:

At the present time Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Bay, Gulf, and Franklin Counties in the Florida Panhandle. The Tropical Storm Watch for the Florida east coast have been discontinued,  At the present time there is only a Flood Watch still in effect until Sunday evening for the entire NWS Ruskin CWA (Coverage Warning Area) extending from Levy County all the way to Lee County on the coast and Polk, Hardee, Highlands and Desoto Counties.  All of the ARRL West Central Florida Section is include in this Flood Watch.  Ther are Flood Warnings for portions of the Peace River in Polk County near Bartow and the Myakka River at Myakka River State Park in Sarasota County.

At the present time, the primary threat to our the ARRL West Central Florida Section continues to be the potential for flooding from possibly excessive rainfall as West Central Florida is on the wetter side of Tropical Storm Sally.  This threat will continue to diminish as Tropical Storm Sally moves away from the State of Florida.  Everyone should continue monitoring the latest advisories issued four times a day by the National Hurricane Center and for any further watches and or warnings issued by the National Weather Service office in Ruskin.on Tropical Depression Nineteen.  All ARES, ACS, and CERT personnel should re-check their supplies and equipment just in case their services are required.

LATEST NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER INFORMATION:

Public Advisories:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/120243.shtml?
Forecast Advisory:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCMAT4+shtml/120242.shtml?
Forecast Discussion:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT4+shtml/120243.shtml?

 

The next WCF SECTION SPECIAL BULLETIN on Tropical Storm Sally will issued following the 1700 EDT advisory tomorrow for Tropical Storm Sally, unless conditions warrant a release sooner.

END OF SPECIAL BULLETIN

TROPICAL DEPRESSION NINETEEN – 2300 EDT – 9/11/20

Tropical Depression Nineteen acquired tropical characteristics and the National Hurricane Center began issuing advisories on TD19 at 1700 EDT late this afternoon.  Due to the proximity of Tropical Depression Nineteen, the ARRL West Central Florida Section has begun to issue bulletins on this system. When Tropical Depression Nineteen reaches Tropical Storm strength, the next name on the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season is Sally.

SUMMARY OF 1100 PM CDT…2100 UTC…INFORMATION

LOCATION…25.7N 79.8W
ABOUT 25 MI…40 KM ESE OF MIAMI FLORIDA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…35 MPH…55 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…WNW OR 295 DEGREES AT 8 MPH…13 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…1007 MB…29.74 INCHES

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for…
* South of Jupiter Inlet to north of Ocean Reef
* Ochlockonee River to Okaloosa/Walton County Line

DISCUSSION:

The following excerpts are from the Forecast Discussion issued at 2300 EDT today, “Doppler radar data from Miami and satellite images indicate that the depression is gradually becoming better organized. The low-level center is estimated to be near the northwestern edge of the main area of deep convection due to some northerly wind shear.  Surface observations and satellite classifications support holding the initial intensity at 30 kt. The minimum pressure appears to be a little lower than before, now 1007 mb.

The tropical depression is moving west-northwestward at about 7kt. A subtropical ridge extending from the southeast U.S. to the western Atlantic should steer the depression west-northwestward across south Florida tonight and Saturday morning and then over the eastern Gulf of Mexico late Saturday and Sunday. After that time, the ridge is forecast to weaken due to an approaching trough, but the trough is not expected to be strong enough to cause the cyclone to turn northward. Instead, the models suggest that a slow west-northwestward motion very near the northern Gulf coast is likely during the early and middle portions of next week.  Although the models all show a relatively similar scenario, there is a fair amount of spread by the time the system nears the northern Gulf coast. The NHC track forecast lies roughly near the middle of the guidance envelope close to the consensus aids.  Several of the local National Weather Service forecast offices across the southeast U.S. will be launching weather balloons four times per day, which should provide the models with excellent data in hopes to provide better track guidance during the next couple of days.

Since the depression is expected to move over very warm SSTs, once it reaches the eastern Gulf of Mexico tomorrow, and remain in an
environment of low wind shear and high moisture, gradual strengthening seems likely. The models suggest that there could be an increase in westerly shear around the time the cyclone is forecast to move inland along the northern Gulf coast in about 4 days. Based on these expected environmental conditions, strengthening is forecast during the next few days, and the NHC intensity forecast follows the trend of the IVCN and HCCA models.  The depression will likely be at or near hurricane strength when it reaches the northern Gulf coast.”

SITUATION AND ACTIONS:

At the present time Tropical Storm Watches are in effect for Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties on the Florida east coast and Okaloosa, Bay, Gulf, and Franklin Counties in the Florida Panhandle.  At the present time there is only a Flood Watch in effect until Sunday evening for the entire NWS Ruskin CWA (Coverage Warning Area) extending from Levy County all the way to Lee County on the coast and Polk, Hardee, Highlands and Desoto Counties.  All of the ARRL West Central Florida Section is include in this Flood Watch.

At the present time, the primary threat to our the ARRL West Central Florida Section will be the potential for flooding from possibly excessive rainfall as West Central Florida is on the wetter side of Tropical Depresssion Nineteen.  Everyone should continue monitoring the latest advisories issued four times a day by the National Hurricane Center and for any further watches and or warnings issued by the National Weather Service office in Ruskin.on Tropical Depression Nineteen.  All ARES, ACS, and CERT personnel should re-check their supplies and equipment just in case their services are required.

LATEST NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER INFORMATION:

Public Advisories:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT4+shtml/120243.shtml?
Forecast Advisory:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCMAT4+shtml/120242.shtml?
Forecast Discussion:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT4+shtml/120243.shtml?

 

The next WCF SECTION SPECIAL BULLETIN on Tropical Depression Nineteen will issued following the 1700 EDT advisory for Tropical Depression Nineteen, unless conditions warrant a release sooner.

END OF SPECIAL BULLETIN

NEW SECTION MANAGER ELECTED FOR THE ARRL WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA SECTION

Mike Douglas W4MDD, the ARRL Affiliated Club Coordinator for the ARRL West Central Florida Section, has been elected as the 4th Section Manager for the ARRL West Central Florida Section.   The nomination period ended on Friday September 4th, and Douglas was the only candidate to submit a nomination form and to be received by ARRL HQ by the end of the nomination period.  Darrell Davis KT4WX, the current Section Manager for the ARRL West Central Florida Section decided not to seek re-election for the 2020-2021 term.  Davis made the following comment concerning the election of Douglas as the new Section Manager, “After praying and thinking about it, I decided not to seek re-election as circumstances in my personal life have changed over the last two years.  I appreciate all of the support that I have received from all of you and I am not ‘riding off into the sunset’.  My role in the ARRL West Central Florida Section will simply be in a supportive role and different.  Mike will do a fine job as our new Section Manager and has traveled all over the ARRL West Central Florida Section with me over the last three years and has gotten to know many of you.  Please give him the same support you have given me.”

Douglas has been a licensed radio amateur since 1991, first holding the callsign of N9OEV, and was previously almost a lifelong resident of the Chicago, Illinois area.  Douglas relocated to Florida in the summer of 2016, following his retirement, and obtained his current callsign of W4MDD.  Douglas became an Assistant Emergency Coordinator with Hardee County ARES in late 2016 after coming to Hardee County from the east coast of Florida.  Douglas then became the ARRL Affiliated Club Coordinator in late 2017.  Douglas in his professional career was commercial tour bus driver, was in commercial bus sales, and for 20 years of his career was with Educational Tours, a tour bus company devoted to providing tours for school age children of educational sites in places all over the United States.

Douglas’ term as Section Manager will begin on January 1, 2021.  Davis has served as Section Manager since January 1, 2015 and his current term as Section Manager will end on December 31, 2020.

END OF PRESS RELEASE

HURRICANE LAURA – 1800 EDT – 8/25/20

Tropical Depression Marco, which was the near the Louisiana coastline yesterday lost nearly all of its convection and showed signs of opening up into an elongated area of low pressure.  As a result the National Hurricane Center issued its last advisory at 0500 EDT today on Tropical Depression Marco as the cyclone no longer meet the criteria of a tropical cyclone.  Now Hurricane Laura is once again alone in the Gulf of Mexico.

SUMMARY OF 400 PM CDT…2100 UTC…INFORMATION

LOCATION…24.7N 88.3W
ABOUT 480 MI…770 KM SE OF LAKE CHARLES LOUISIANA
ABOUT 510 MI…820 KM SE OF GALVESTON TEXAS
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…80 MPH…130 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…WNW OR 300 DEGREES AT 17 MPH…28 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…990 MB…29.24 INCHES

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for…
* San Luis Pass Texas to the Mouth of the Mississippi River

A Hurricane Warning is in effect for…
* San Luis Pass Texas to Intracoastal City Louisiana

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
* Sargent Texas to San Luis Pass
* East of Intracoastal City Louisiana to the Mouth of the
Mississippi River

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for…
* Freeport Texas to San Luis Pass
* Mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs Mississippi
* Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Borgne

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…
* East of Intracoastal City to west of Morgan City Louisiana

DISCUSSION:

The following excerpts are from the Forecast Discussion issued at 1700 EDT today, “Satellite imagery shows some changes in the convective pattern of Laura since the last advisory. The ragged central dense overcast seen earlier has been replaced by a curved convective band that
wraps almost all the way around a cloud-filled banding-type eve. One possible reason for this change is that the imagery also suggests a
tongue of dry air is trying to entrain into the cyclone just west of the central convection. Aircraft data received after the last advisory did not show any fall in the central pressure, but did have high enough flight-level and SFMR winds to justify nudging the initial intensity up to 70 kt.

The initial motion is now west-northwestward or 300/15 kt. There is no change in the forecast philosophy since the last advisory. The hurricane is currently on the south side of a large-deep layer ridge over the southeastern United States, and it is moving toward a break in the ridge caused by mid- to -upper-level troughing over Texas and the southern Great Plains. The current and forecast synoptic pattern should steer Laura west-northwestward this evening, followed by a turn toward the northwest tonight and toward the north by Wednesday night and Thursday. This will result in the hurricane making landfall in the area of southwestern Louisiana or the upper Texas coast late Wednesday night or Thursday morning. The new forecast track has a slight eastward nudge during the first 12-24 h, but the landfall position is almost unchanged from that of the previous forecast. It should the be noted that the current forecast track lies to the east of the ECMWF and UKMET models, so it is still
possible that the forecast track could nudge westward in later advisories. After landfall, Laura is expected to recurve into the westerlies and move eastward through the Tennessee Valley and the mid-Atlantic States before reaching the Atlantic in about 120 h.”

 

SITUATION AND ACTIONS:

At the present time all Tropical Storm Watches and Tropical Storm Warnings for the entire State of Florida have been discontinued due to Hurricane Laura heading away from the State of Florida.  Hurricane Laura will make landfall most likely in either the eastern Texas or western Louisiana coastline late tomorrow evening or early on Thursday morning.

Everyone should continue or resume their normal monitoring of the latest Tropical Weather Outlook issued four times a day by the National Hurricane Center and continue to monitor the latest advisories on Hurricane Laura.  The Hurricane Watch Net will activate tomorrow morning on 14325 KHz and or 7268 KHz to receive weather reports of interest to the National Hurricane Center and relay of any emergency or priority traffic.  For more information go to the following ARRL News Release:  http://www.arrl.org/news/hurricane-watch-net-firms-up-wednesday-activation-plans.

LATEST NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER INFORMATION:

Public Advisories:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT3+shtml/222347.shtml
Forecast Advisory:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCMAT3+shtml/222051.shtml?
Forecast Discussion:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT3+shtml/222052.shtml?

 

Due to the threat to the State of Florida being diminished from Hurricane Laura, this will be the final WCF SECTION PRESS RELEASE on Hurricane Laura unless conditions warrant resumption of these press releases.

END OF SPECIAL BULLETIN

TROPICAL STORM LAURA AND TROPICAL STORM MARCO – 1800 EDT – 8/24/20

This bulletin will primarily focus on Tropical Storm Laura, which is still in close proximity to the State of Florida but forecast to impact only the Florida Keys.  The information on Tropical Storm Marco is presented for information purposes only.

SUMMARY OF 500 PM EDT…2100 UTC…INFORMATION

LOCATION…21.7N 82.2W
ABOUT 40 MI…65 KM E OF THE ISLE OF YOUTH
ABOUT 175 MI…280 KM E OF THE WESTERN TIP OF CUBA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS…60 MPH…95 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT…WNW OR 290 DEGREES AT 20 MPH…31 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE…1001 MB…29.56 INCHES

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for…
* San Luis Pass Texas to Ocean Springs Mississippi
* Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas, and Lake Borgne

A Hurricane Watch is in effect for…
* Port Bolivar Texas to west of Morgan City Louisiana

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for…
* Cuban provinces of Ciego De Avila, Sancti Spiritus, Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Matanzas, Mayabeque, La Habana, Artemisa, Pinar del
Rio, and the Isle of Youth
* Florida Keys from Craig Key to Key West
* Dry Tortugas

A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for…
* South of Port Bolivar to San Luis Pass Texas
* Morgan City Louisiana to the Mouth of the Mississippi River

DISCUSSION

The following is excerpts from the Forecast Discussion at 1700 EDT, “The satellite presentation of the tropical storm has improved
somewhat with deep convection remaining over the center, and an increase in banding over the southeastern portion of the circulation. Earlier aircraft and scatterometer data, however, indicated that there has been little change in strength today, and the initial intensity remains 50 kt. These observations have shown the the stronger winds are located in the convective band well east and southeast of the center, and that the system currently lacks an inner core. This is likely the reason that Laura has not been able to strengthen while it has moved over water today. Theaircraft also reported a fairly stable minimum pressure of 1001-1003 mb during its mission this morning and early afternoon.

The intensity forecast philosophy remains the same as the previous advisory. Once Laura moves over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico tonight, a combination of warm sea surface temperatures and low vertical wind shear should allow for steady strengthening. The latest iterations of the global and regional hurricane models continue to show significant deepening while Laura traverses the Gulf of Mexico, and a period or rapid strengthening is possible once an inner core is able to organize. The statistical guidance is again on the lower side of the intensity forecast envelope while the HWRF and CTCI models bringing Laura to major hurricane strength. The NHC intensity forecast is again between these
solutions and is close to the consensus aids.

The initial motion estimate is 290/16 kt. A deep-layer ridge over the western Atlantic is expected to build westward during the next day or so. By early Wednesday, a mid- to upper-level trough over the south-central United States is forecast to erode the western portion of the ridge, which should cause Laura to turn northwestward and then northward toward the northwestern Gulf coast. After landfall, Laura or its remnants are expected to become embedded in the mid-latitude westerlies and recurve over the eastern U.S.on days 4 and 5.”

SITUATION AND ACTIONS:

At the present time Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for the Florida Keys from Craig Key to Key West and the Dry Tortugas in the State of Florida as Laura is due to pass close to the Florida Keys on Tuesday before heading in the the central and western Gulf of Mexico away from the State of Florida for eventual landfall most likely on the western coast of Louisiana on Thursday.

As of press time, there are no requests for activation from any of our served agencies in the ten counties of the ARRL West Central Florida Section.  Manatee County ARES returned to a no activation status from a Level 3 activation (stand by) due to any requests for assistance not being anticipated for this incident.  All ARES, ACS, and CERT personnel should continue to monitor the latest National Hurricane Center advisories on Tropical Storm Laura while the storm is in close proximity to the State of Florida.

LATEST NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER INFORMATION:

Public Advisories:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT3+shtml/222347.shtml
Forecast Advisory:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCMAT3+shtml/222051.shtml?
Forecast Discussion:  https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCDAT3+shtml/222052.shtml?

 

The next WCF SECTION SPECIAL BULLETIN on Tropical Storm Laura will be issued following the 1700 EDT advisory on Tropical Storm Laura unless conditions warrant a sooner release.  If the forecast track holds, tomorrow’s bulletin will be the final WCF SECTION PRESS RELEASE on Tropical Storm Laura.

END OF PRESS RELEASE