WWW Links for Hurricane Season 2007

The official Utility World Hurricane Frequency List has not been revised yet, but it seems current enough to keep using it for the time being. It lives at:
http://www.ominous-valve.com/hurricne.txt

Users of RSS can subscribe to a truly staggering number of feeds with NOAA weather advisories on anything one would ever want to see. The list is at:
http://www.weather.gov/rss/

As we've seen with Erin, the story isn't always over when NHC stops tracking the remnants of inland storms. The NOAA Hydromet Center usually picks these up when NHC's done. Their advisories are at:
http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/tropstorms.shtml

The new Hurricane Hunter WC-130J aircraft continue to undergo enhancements of their real time data transmission capability. As a result, the formats used to return information (and their message headers) have changed for 2007. The full (and highly esoteric) information is at:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/scn_2007-07-10.shtml

You might have noticed that the Tropical Cyclone Plan Of the Day (TCPOD) messages posted here are always for the next day. Given the time lag between blog postings and their reading, this is good. However, it means if you didn't see yesterday's, you won't see today's taskings.

For this reason, NOAA posts yesterday's TCPOD at:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAREPRPD_last.shtml

While the link on the main page of this blog has proven completely reliable for today's TCPOD, another one is at:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/MIAREPRPD.shtml

For those who really want to know, a rather exhaustive explanation of those cryptic looking weather codes that I wrote when I had a lot more time for this kind of thing is at:
http://www.ominous-valve.com/wx_codes.txt

Here are some other useful links:

US National Hurricane Center
Hurricane Watch Net (14325 kHz, "HWN")
NOAA Hurricane Portal
Central Pacific Hurricane Center
Canadian Hurricane Centre
WMO Severe Weather Information Centre
NOAA Storm Prediction Center
NOAA GOES Imagery
US Hurricane Hunters Asssn Web Site
Latest VORTEX data
NOAA Aircraft Operations Center
Caribbean Hurricane Network
Yahoo! Hurricane News
AP Global Storm Tracker
Hurricane.com
Hurricane Web Cams
Intellicast Hurricane Tracking
Weather Underground Tropical Page
Terrapin Hurricane Page
Unisys/Purdue Hurricane Page

First Hurricane Hunter Comm

From Allan Stern in central Florida:

13927 kHz USB 2027z: USAF MARS Station "Hobby 29" (WC-130J, Keesler AFB), 140 mi NW of San Juan, for phone patch to St Croix Ops for Hurricane Hunter Ops 340/778-0605 ("Croix Ops"); reports 30 min out. (16Aug2007) (ALS).

It appears that airplanes are being flown to temporary homeplates closer to the storm. At least, this would explain why the generic Keesler HOBBY callsign was being used instead of TEAL. It'll be interesting to hear what the actual missions ID as.

"Hurricane Hunter" flights (USAF Reserve 53rd WRS, WC-130J) do not do anywhere near as much HF as they used to when Miami Monitor was still on-air from the National Hurricane Center. There is some spotty use of HF-GCS. Otherwise 13927.0 kHz USB, the MARS phone patch channel, is one of the best places to snag these.

[UPDATE 17/1920 UTC: It was indeed a ferry flight, moving the WC-130Js to a closer-in airfield. Confirmation at the Caribbean Hurricane Net site.]

Recon Flights Increase (TCPOD)

995
NOUS42 KNHC 171530 CCA
WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS
CARCAH, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, MIAMI, FL.
1130 AM EDT FRI 17 AUGUST 2007
SUBJECT: TROPICAL CYCLONE PLAN OF THE DAY (TCPOD)
VALID 18/1100Z TO 19/1100Z AUGUST 2007
TCPOD NUMBER.....07-085 CORRECTED DEPARTURE TIMES

I. ATLANTIC REQUIREMENTS
1. HURRICANE DEAN
FLIGHT ONE
A. 18/1200,1800Z
B. AFXXX 0604A DEAN
C. 18/1000Z
D. 15.8N 69.0W
E. 18/1100Z TO 18/1800Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT

FLIGHT TWO
A. 19/0000, 0600Z
B. AFXXX 0704A DEAN
C. 18/2200Z
D. 16.7N 72.3W
E. 18/2300Z TO 19/0600Z
F. SFC TO 10,000FT

FLIGHT THREE
A. 19/1200Z
B. AFXXX 0804A DEAN
C. 19/0930Z
D. BOUY DROP MISSION--12 BOUYS CNTR NEAR 20N 84W
E. 19/1200Z TO 19/1800Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT

2. SUCCEEDING DAY OUTLOOK: CONTINUE 6-HRLY FIXES. BEGIN 2 A
DAY GIV MISSIONS AT 20/0000Z.

II.PACIFIC REQUIREMENTS
1. NEGATIVE RECONNAISSANCE REQUIREMENTS.
2. OUTLOOK FOR SUCCEEDING DAY.....NEGATIVE.
WVW

Amateur Hurricane Watch Net Activates

The Hurricane Watch Net has activated on 14325 kHz USB as Dean nears the Lesser Antilles. The purpose of this net is to relay weather observations to the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, FL, and to disseminate the latest NHC advisories to anyone needing them.

In a procedure that may be new for some people, HWN is now advising listeners to monitor the Maritime Mobile Service Net frequency of 14300 kHz USB for information and HWN activation notices. A weak station was active on this frequency at 16/2317 UTC reading a hurricane advisory, and then taking a standby for vessels.

This net has a web site at http://www.hwn.org/ .

The official Utility World Hurricane Frequency List is here.

Dean Is Getting Nasty

Hang on, this is a big one:

000
WTNT44 KNHC 161450
TCDAT4
HURRICANE DEAN DISCUSSION NUMBER 13
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL042007
1100 AM EDT THU AUG 16 2007

DEAN IS CONTINUING TO INTENSIFY. THE HURRICANE HAS DEVELOPED A SMALL
CLOUD-FILLED EYE THIS MORNING ON VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGES AND THE
CIRRUS OUTFLOW IS EXPANDING IN ALL QUADRANTS. SUBJECTIVE DVORAK
ESTIMATES FROM TAFB/SAB ARE 77 KT...WHILE OBJECTIVE ESTIMATES ARE
HIGHER. THE INITIAL INTENSITY IS RAISED TO 80 KT. AN AIR FORCE
RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER WILL BE IN THE EYE OF DEAN LATER TODAY TO
OBTAIN A BETTER ESTIMATE OF THE INTENSITY. WIND AND MAXIMUM SEAS
DATA FROM NOAA BUOY 41010 WERE CRITICAL FOR THIS ADVISORY.

THE INITIAL MOTION IS 280/21. THERE IS LITTLE CHANGE TO THE
PREVIOUS FORECAST REASONING. A STRONG DEEP-LAYERED RIDGE SHOULD
CONTROL DEAN'S MOVEMENT DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THIS RIDGE SHOULD
FORCE THE HURRICANE ON A SPEEDY WESTWARD TRACK THROUGH THE CENTRAL
CARIBBEAN SEA. MODEL GUIDANCE IS IN CLOSE AGREEMENT ON THE TRACK
THROUGH ABOUT 3 DAYS. THEREAFTER...AS THE HURRICANE APPROACHES THE
NORTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA...MOST OF THE GUIDANCE SUGGESTS THAT
DEAN WILL REACH THE WESTERN PERIPHERY OF THE SUBTROPICAL RIDGE AND
ATTEMPT TO MOVE MORE TO THE WEST-NORTHWEST. GUIDANCE IS IN GOOD
AGREEMENT ON THIS SCENARIO AS WELL...EXCEPT FOR THE GFDL. IT IS
STALLING A MIDDLE-LEVEL LOW...CURRENTLY OVER THE BAHAMAS...IN THE
EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO. THIS SOLUTION ALLOWS THE HURRICANE TO MOVE
MORE TO THE NORTHWEST INTO THE CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO. THIS
SOLUTION IS CONSIDERED AN OUTLIER AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER...THE
OFFICIAL FORECAST IS NUDGED A LITTLE TO THE NORTH AT 120 HR IN
DEFERENCE TO THE GFDL FORECAST.

ALL GLOBAL MODELS ARE DEVELOPING A LARGE 200 MB ANTICYCLONE AROUND
DEAN DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS. IN COMBINATION WITH THE DEEP WARM
WATER OF THE CARIBBEAN SEA...DEAN IS LIKELY TO BECOME A MAJOR
HURRICANE IN THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN SEA. THE OFFICIAL FORECAST USES
A BLEND OF THE SHIPS...LGEM...AND GFDL MODELS...WHICH DEVELOP THIS
SYSTEM INTO AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE BY THE TIME
IT REACHES THE NORTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA.

THE NOAA GULFSTREAM-IV WILL CONDUCT A SYNOPTIC SURVEILLANCE MISSION
FOR THE 17/00Z NUMERICAL GUIDANCE.

FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INITIAL 16/1500Z 13.7N 54.3W 80 KT
12HR VT 17/0000Z 14.1N 57.4W 90 KT
24HR VT 17/1200Z 14.6N 61.4W 95 KT
36HR VT 18/0000Z 15.1N 64.9W 100 KT
48HR VT 18/1200Z 15.6N 68.4W 105 KT
72HR VT 19/1200Z 17.0N 75.5W 110 KT
96HR VT 20/1200Z 18.5N 82.5W 120 KT
120HR VT 21/1200Z 21.0N 89.0W 80 KT...INLAND

$$
FORECASTER BLAKE

Flossie Disappears, Hurricane Hunter Flight Cancelled

Flossie just vanished in colder water, largely sparing the Big Island.

Dean is cranking up on a track that usually spells trouble this time of year, and may become a Category 3.

The feature in the Gulf is now T.S. Erin, and it's raining in Houston.

Thursday's NOAA and AFRES "Hurricane Hunter" tasking:

494
NOUS42 KNHC 151230
WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS
CARCAH, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, MIAMI, FL.
0830 AM EDT WED 15 AUGUST 2007
SUBJECT: TROPICAL CYCLONE PLAN OF THE DAY (TCPOD)
VALID 16/1100Z TO 17/1100Z AUGUST 2007
TCPOD NUMBER.....07-083

I. ATLANTIC REQUIREMENTS
1. TROPICAL DEPRESSION 05
FLIGHT ONE
A. 16/1200,1800Z
B. NOAA2 0405A CYCLONE
C. 16/0930Z
D. 24.9N 96.1W
E. 16/1130Z TO 16/1800Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT
2. SUCCEEDING DAY OUTLOOK.....NEGATIVE.

3. TROPICAL STORM DEAN
FLIGHT ONE
A. 16/1800Z
B. AFXXX 0104A DEAN
C. 16/1430Z
D. 13.2N 53.7W
E. 16/1700Z TO 16/2100Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT

FLIGHT TWO
A. 17/0000Z
B. NOAA9 0204A DEAN
C. 16/1800Z
D. NA
E. NA
F. 41,000 TO 45,000 FT
4. SUCCEEDING DAY OUTLOOK: BEGIN 6-HRLY FIXES AT 17/12000Z.
ANOTHER G-IV MISSION.

II.PACIFIC REQUIREMENTS
1. NEGATIVE RECONNAISSANCE REQUIREMENTS.
2. OUTLOOK FOR SUCCEEDING DAY.....NEGATIVE.
3. REMARKS: MISSION ON FLOSSIE FOR 15/1800Z
CANCELED BY CPHC AT 15/10000Z
JWP

TROPICAL STORM DEAN ADVISORY NUMBER 11

000
WTNT34 KNHC 160241
TCPAT4
BULLETIN
TROPICAL STORM DEAN ADVISORY NUMBER 11
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL042007
1100 PM AST WED AUG 15 2007

...DEAN STRENGTHENS...HURRICANE WATCHES ISSUED IN THE LESSER
ANTILLES...

AT 11 PM AST...0300 UTC...HURRICANE WATCHES HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE
FOLLOWING LOCATIONS BY THEIR RESPECTIVE GOVERNMENTS...ST. LUCIA...
MARTINIQUE...GUADELOUPE AND ITS DEPENDENCIES...SABA...AND ST.
EUSTATIUS. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE
POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.

AT 11 PM AST...0300 UTC...THE GOVERNMENT OF THE NETHERLANDS ANTILLES
HAS ISSUED A TROPICAL STORM WATCH FOR ST. MAARTEN. A TROPICAL STORM
WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE
WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.

ADDITIONAL WATCHES AND WARNINGS WILL LIKELY BE REQUIRED TOMORROW
MORNING.

FOR STORM INFORMATION SPECIFIC TO YOUR AREA...PLEASE MONITOR
PRODUCTS ISSUED BY YOUR LOCAL WEATHER OFFICE.

AT 1100 PM AST...0300Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM DEAN WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 13.1 NORTH...LONGITUDE 50.2 WEST OR ABOUT 625
MILES...1005 KM...EAST OF BARBADOS.

DEAN IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 23 MPH...37 KM/HR...AND THIS
MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 70 MPH...110 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS AND
DEAN IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A HURRICANE ON THURSDAY. AN AIR FORCE
RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT WILL INVESTIGATE DEAN TOMORROW
AFTERNOON.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 70 MILES...110 KM
FROM THE CENTER.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 991 MB...29.26 INCHES.

REPEATING THE 1100 PM AST POSITION...13.1 N...50.2 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...WEST NEAR 23 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...70 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...991 MB.

AN INTERMEDIATE ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER AT 200 AM AST FOLLOWED BY THE NEXT COMPLETE ADVISORY AT 500
AM AST.

$$
FORECASTER BROWN

Hurricane Time!

When these seasons finally crank up, things happen fast. We have a landfalling hurricane on the Big Island of Hawaii, a tropical feature of some sort in the Gulf, and a named storm getting stronger in the Atlantic.

Aircraft are investigating two of these.

Tomorrow's Tropical Cyclone Plan of the Day:

218
NOUS42 KNHC 141330
WEATHER RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS
CARCAH, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, MIAMI, FL.
0930 AM EDT TUE 14 AUGUST 2007
SUBJECT: TROPICAL CYCLONE PLAN OF THE DAY (TCPOD)
VALID 15/1100Z TO 16/1100Z AUGUST 2007
TCPOD NUMBER.....07-083

I. ATLANTIC REQUIREMENTS
1. SUSPECT AREA (GULF OF MEXICO)
FLIGHT ONE
A. 15/1200,1500Z
B. NOAA2X 02EEA CYCLONE
C. 15/0930Z
D. 24.9N 94.9W
E. 15/1100Z TO 15/1530Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT
G. REMARKS: ORIGINALLY AN AF MISSION FOR 15/0900Z.

FLIGHT TWO
A. 15/1800,16/0000Z
B. AFXXX 03EEA CYCLONE
C. 15/1530Z
D. 25.5N 95.6W
E. 15/1700Z TO 16/0000Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT
2. SUCCEEDING DAY OUTLOOK: NEGATIVE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO,
BUT BEGIN FIXING TD 04 AT 16/1800Z NEAR 13.5N 53.5W


II.PACIFIC REQUIREMENTS
1. HURICANNE FLOSSIE
FLIGHT ONE
A. 15/1800Z
B. AFXXX 0609E FLOSSIE
C. 15/1600Z
D. 19.0N 158.9W
E. 15/1700Z TO 15/2130Z
F. SFC TO 10,000 FT
2. OUTLOOK FOR SUCCEEDING DAY.....NEGATIVE.
JWP

Flossie:

000
WTHW80 PHFO 141821
HLSHFO
HIZ023>028-142145-

HURRICANE FLOSSIE LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HONOLULU HI
820 AM HST TUE AUG 14 2007

...DANGEROUS HURRICANE FLOSSIE CONTINUES TO APPROACH THE BIG ISLAND
OF HAWAII...

...NEW INFORMATION...
PLEASE REFER TO THE STORM SURGE FLOOD AND STORM TIDE SECTION AND
THE FLOODING IMPACTS SECTION FOR UPDATED INFORMATION.

...AREAS AFFECTED...
THIS STATEMENT RECOMMENDS SPECIFIC ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY PERSONS
ON THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII.

...WATCHES AND WARNINGS...
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE BIG ISLAND OF
HAWAII.

A HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII
THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

...STORM INFORMATION...
AT 800 AM HST...THE CENTER OF HURRICANE FLOSSIE WAS NEAR LATITUDE
17.0 NORTH...LONGITUDE 154.4 WEST...OR ABOUT 190 MILES
SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF HILO...HAWAII. FLOSSIE IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST
NORTHWEST AT 11 MPH AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH
TONIGHT. GIVEN THIS TRACK...THE CENTER OF FLOSSIE WILL PASS ABOUT 80
MILES SOUTH OF SOUTH POINT ON THE BIG ISLAND LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 110 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME
WEAKENING IS EXPECTED OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

...PRECAUTIONARY AND PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
COUNTY OF HAWAII CIVIL DEFENSE REPORTED THAT PUNALUU BEACH
PARK...SOUTH POINT...VACATIONLAND...WHITTINGTON BEACH PARK AND THE
MAUNA KEA ACCESS ROAD FROM THE 9000 FT ELEVATION HAVE BEEN CLOSED.
ALL SCHOOLS...INCLUDING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII-HILO AND BOTH HAWAII
COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUSES...AND ALL PUBLIC PARKS ON THE BIG
ISLAND OF HAWAII WILL BE CLOSED ON TUESDAY.

IF YOU ARE ON THE BIG ISLAND...PREPARATIONS FOR TROPICAL STORM
CONDITIONS SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION EARLY THIS MORNING. STAY
TUNED TO YOUR LOCAL RADIO STATION FOR INFORMATION ON EVACUATIONS
AND OTHER PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS.

...STORM SURGE FLOOD AND STORM TIDE IMPACTS...
RECENT MEASUREMENTS FROM A BUOY LOCATED 185 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
HILO SHOW OPEN OCEAN WAVES OF UP TO 18 FT HAVE BEEN GENERATED BY
HURRICANE FLOSSIE. AS THESE WAVES APPROACH THE SOUTHEAST COAST OF
THE BIG ISLAND...SURF OF 20 TO 25 FEET WILL RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT
FLOODING AND DUE TO WAVE RUNUP. SUBSTANTIAL SHORELINE EROSION IS
ALSO LIKELY. ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE AREAS INCLUDE PUNALUU...
VACATIONLAND AND COASTAL PROPERTIES IN THE KAPOHO BEACH AREA.

SURF ALONG NORTHEAST FACING SHORES OF THE BIG ISLAND WILL RISE TO 10
TO 15 FT TODAY...AND WILL RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING AND SHORELINE
EROSION. AVOID ENTERING THE WATER AND STAY AWAY FROM
COASTAL AREAS.

...WIND IMPACTS...
THE CURRENT FORECAST BRINGS EAST TO SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 40 TO 50
MPH WITH GUSTS TO 60 MPH TO THE SOUTHERN BIG ISLAND AFTER NOON
TODAY. WINDS OF THESE INTENSITIES WILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO LIGHT
STRUCTURES AND TREES.

HOWEVER...IF THE TRACK OF FLOSSIE SHIFTS NORTHWARD...HURRICANE FORCE
WINDS OF 74 MPH OR GREATER COULD AFFECT SOME AREAS OF THE SOUTHERN
BIG ISLAND...RESULTING IN MUCH GREATER DAMAGE POTENTIAL.

...FLOODING IMPACTS...
OUTER RAIN BANDS WILL BEGIN TO PASS OVER THE BIG ISLAND THIS
MORNING...WITH THE BULK OF THE HEAVIEST RAIN EXPECTED LATE TUESDAY
AFTERNOON AND INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. EXPECT RAINFALL TOTALS OF 10
INCHES OR GREATER IN THE KAU DISTRICT...AND 5 TO 10 INCHES IN THE
PUNA AND SOUTH HILO DISTRICTS THROUGH TONIGHT. THESE HEAVY RAINS MAY
PRODUCE FLASH FLOODING...ESPECIALLY IN THE KAU DISTRICT. A
PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE SPOT WILL BE HIGHWAY 11 NEAR MILE POST 58.
SIGNIFICANT FLOODING IN THIS AREA WILL RESULT IN CLOSURE OF THE
HIGHWAY FOR SEVERAL HOURS.

...NEXT UPDATE...
THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED AT 1145 AM HST OR SOONER IF
NECESSARY.

$$

KODAMA

Dean:

00
WTNT34 KNHC 142045
TCPAT4
BULLETIN
TROPICAL STORM DEAN ADVISORY NUMBER 6
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL AL042007
500 PM AST TUE AUG 14 2007

...DEAN MOVING WESTWARD ACROSS THE CENTRAL TROPICAL ATLANTIC...

INTERESTS IN THE LESSER ANTILLES SHOULD MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF
DEAN.

AT 500 PM AST...2100Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM DEAN WAS
LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 11.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE 41.0 WEST OR ABOUT 1140
MILES...1830 KM...WEST OF THE SOUTHERNMOST CAPE VERDE ISLANDS AND
ABOUT 1390 MILES...2235 KM...EAST OF THE LESSER ANTILLES.

DEAN IS MOVING QUICKLY TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 21 MPH...33 KM/HR...AND
THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DURING THE NEXT 24
HOURS.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 40 MPH...65 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 35 MILES...55 KM
FROM THE CENTER.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1004 MB...29.65 INCHES.

REPEATING THE 500 PM AST POSITION...11.6 N...41.0 W. MOVEMENT
TOWARD...WEST NEAR 21 MPH. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...40 MPH.
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1004 MB.

THE NEXT ADVISORY WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER AT
1100 PM AST.

$$
FORECASTER LANDSEA/KNABB

Links:

(Also in this blog's right hand column)

TCPOD:
http://twister.sbs.ohio-state.edu/text/tropical/atlantic/NOUS42.KNHC

NHC:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

STS-118 BRV's on 5711 and 9043 USB

Chris Corley on UDXF reports Booster Recovery Vessel Freedom Star on 5711 kHz USB, moving to 9043 USB with Cape Radio (Cape Canaveral AFS) as band conditions change.

It's probably worth also keeping a watch on 10780 USB, another Cape Radio primary.

NASA Announces STS-118 Web Coverage

08.03.07

Allard Beutel
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-4769
allard.beutel@nasa.gov

Jeanne Ryba
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
jeanne.m.ryba@nasa.gov

MEDIA ADVISORY: 44-07

NASA ANNOUNCES WEB COVERAGE OF NEXT SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - A prelaunch webcast, live blogs, podcasts, pictures and videos highlight NASA's Web coverage of space shuttle Endeavour's STS-118 mission to the International Space Station. NASA will provide continuous online updates at:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

A live webcast featuring STS-116 astronaut Joan Higginbotham will start the in-depth coverage of the mission at 11:30 a.m. EDT on Aug. 7.

A blog will update the countdown beginning about six hours before Endeavour is scheduled to lift off on Aug. 8 at 6:36 p.m. EDT. Originating from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the blog is the definitive Internet source for information leading up to launch.

During the 11-day mission, Endeavour's crew of seven astronauts will add a segment to the right side of the station's backbone, or truss, deliver 5,000 pounds of supplies and conduct at least three spacewalks to install the new components and to replace one of the station's attitude control gyroscopes. Visitors to NASA's shuttle Web site can read about the crew's progress and watch the spacewalks live from the space station.

As Endeavour's flight wraps up, NASA will offer a blog detailing the spacecraft's return to Earth.


-end-

US Military Exercise In Progress - Monitor 11175 USB

Jeff Haverlah is hearing exercise EAMs on 11175 kHz USB, the US Air Force HF-GCS. I just dialed up triple-one and I'm hearing similar, plus the "standing by for traffic" procedure. Larry Van Horn posted similar to his blog a few hours ago.

Callsigns indicate likely US Strategic Command.

STS-118 Postponed to Wednesday 8/8

MEDIA ADVISORY: 43-07

NASA'S SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION POSTPONED BY 24 HOURS

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The launch of space shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-118 has been postponed 24 hours to allow the shuttle processing team additional time to complete routine work before liftoff. The new launch is targeted for Wednesday, Aug. 8, at 6:36 p.m. EDT.

The additional day will provide time to complete the processing and allow the countdown to begin at 8 p.m. Sunday. Despite the delay, the STS-118 crew will still arrive at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., at 5 p.m. EDT Friday. NASA TV will have live coverage of the arrival. On launch day, live coverage starts at 8:30 a.m.

For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling information, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For STS-118 crew and mission information, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle

-end-

Two Earthquakes In North Pacific, With Small Tsunami

A second large Pacific Ocean earthquake occurred in the Aleutians at 0322 UTC, magnitude 6.9, and a third near Sakhalin Island at 0238 UTC, magnitude 6.4.

The Sakhalin Island event, while comparatively small, has resulted in the Japan Meteorological Agency issuing a "Tsunami Attention" bulletin for the west coast of Hokkaido. A small tsunami of 30 centimeters was measured in Hokkaido, and more on a similar scale are possible. These are way too small to cause the kind of damage associated with Thailand a couple of years back.

The Sakhalin earthquake itself has caused at least one fatality on the island, which is off Russia.

Tsunami Warning/Advisory

Issued at 13:37 JST 02 Aug 2007

******************Headline******************
Tsunami Attension has been issued.
NORTHERN PART OF JAPAN SEA COAST OF HOKKAIDO

Vanuatu Earthquake 1708 UTC

The following is a release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: An earthquake occurred about 45 km (30 mi) east-southeast of Luganville, Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu at 11:08 AM MDT, Aug 1, 2007 (Aug 02 at 4:08 AM local time in Vanuatu). The magnitude and location may be revised when additional data and further analysis results are available. No reports of damage or casualties have been received at this time; however, this earthquake may have caused damage due to its location and size.

Earthquake Details
Magnitude 7.2
# Date-Time Wednesday, August 1, 2007 at 17:08:57 (UTC)
= Coordinated Universal Time
# Thursday, August 2, 2007 at 4:08:57 AM
= local time at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location 15.651°S, 167.542°E
Depth 172.7 km (107.3 miles)
Region VANUATU
Distances 45 km (30 miles) ESE of Luganville, Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu
245 km (155 miles) NNW of PORT-VILA, Efate, Vanuatu
470 km (290 miles) NNW of Isangel, Tanna, Vanuatu
1995 km (1240 miles) NE of BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia
Location Uncertainty horizontal +/- 12 km (7.5 miles); depth +/- 23.7 km (14.7 miles)
Parameters Nst=162, Nph=162, Dmin=>999 km, Rmss=1.47 sec, Gp= 43°,
M-type=moment magnitude (Mw), Version=6
Source

USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)

Event ID us2007fmba

The earthquake locations and magnitudes cited in these bulletins are very preliminary, and may disagree with the more accurate USGS locations and magnitudes computed using more extensive data sets.

No tsunami warnings have been issued at this time.

If the preliminary depth measurements hold up, this would be an extremely deep earthquake, which often means less damage than an event of this size near the surface.

Interesting German 27 MHz Allocations

Tom, DL8AAM, posted a message to UDXF, containing, among other things, this allocation of the 11 meter band for Germany. The 11-meter situation is similar in a lot of countries, and it's a good demonstration of the pressures on all utility radio spectrum above maybe 25 MHz. Note the international vs local (more detailed) spectrum uses, plus the many overlapping subbands and shared ranges:

26175-27500
Mobile (Maritime)

26175-27500
Mobile (Military)

26175-27500
Fixed (Data)

26560-27410
CB-type channels spaced 10 kHz, except on 26995 and 27145,
which are not authorized. FM authorized on all channels. AM and SSB
also authorized 26965-27405. Digital modes on 26565, 26675,
26685, 29915, 26925, 27025, 27035, 27235, and 27245 kHz.
Internet gateways on 26665, 26765, 27085, and 27215.

26957-27283
Data and tone signals for remote control, can share with other
services, power limited to 10 mW ERP.

26957-27283
Educational demonstrations of RF pheonmena and circuitry for
class uses by schools and universities, 5 watts or under.

26995-27145
Radio controlled models, 10-kHz channels, 100 mW or under.

26995-27195
Local area voice communications and "switching," 50 mW or under.

27090-27100
Train control data by public railways, max +42 dB ref. 1 uA/m at 10m.

27195
Radio controlled models, 100 mW or under.

27255
Radio controlled models, 100 mW or under.

27500-28000
Mobile (Military)

27510
Local area voice or data paging inside compounds, building
complexes, etc, 5 W ERP or under.

27525-27565
Voice commands by motorcycle driving instructors to students
alone on the bike, 10-kHz channels.

27575, 27585, 27595
Voice commands, simplex answers allowed, 50 mW or under.

UK Flood Activity

Peter Thompson and other listeners on the UDXF list have heard HF transmissions from rescue helicopters working the floods in England. Callsigns are the usual "RESCUE" plus a number. They are working Kinloss Rescue.

News broadcasts continue to show helicopter rescues in the UK, so I would imagine the activity is ongoing.

Another UDXF user named "Paul" passes along this freq list for Kinloss Rescue (all USB):

2182 Distress
3023 Night (pri)
3089 Night (sec)
5680 Day (Pri)
5699 Day (sec)
6760 Discrete
8980 Discrete
9001 Discrete

4706 kHz USB has also been reported, by "David" on UDXF, who adds that 6736 (day) and 4718 (night) are also known USB backup frequencies.

More Long EAMs

Jeff Haverlah continues to monitor long Emergency Action Message transmissions on the US Air Force High-Frequency Global Communications System.

On July 22, the hour/half hour restoral EAM from McClellan Global consisted of two messages of 52 characters each.

At 1721 UTC, Andrews broadcast the longest EAM yet - 287 characters! It had the distinctive repeating formating and the typical 14-character ending block. Unlike the usual Saturday activity, this was on a Sunday, and not by a Nightwatch player using a tactical callsign.

I wonder how long THAT one took to transmit, in the slow US Air Force drawl.

[UPDATE 03 AUG: Sometime in July, Tom Sevart heard Andrews with 270 characters at 1800.]

Large Joint Exercise Begins Today, Off US East Coast

Named "Bold Step 2007," the Joint Task Force Exercise, or JTFEX, will involve some 15,000 personnel from the U.S. and British navies.

Participating units:

USN Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group
USN Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group
Royal Navy Carrier HMS Illustrious
Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Manchester
USN attack submarine USS Boise
USN attack submarine USS Montpelier

The exercise begins July 26, and lasts 5 days.

Long Saturday EAMs Continue in July

As if we needed any further proof that long Emergency Action Messages on UTC Saturdays are nothing remarkable, we got another one in July. Jeff Haverlah again:

1823z 14 Jul 07

11175.0 was active at 1758z+/- with unknown HFGCS station (too
weak/"muddy" to id) with a 200-character count ± EAM (M4GSLB maybe; missed the number in the mud but sounded like ? zero zero; and, it was long enough for it) containing distinctive repetitive formatting and apparently ending in the common 14-character ending block. Typical Saturday activity.

You have that right, Jeff.

Log Extract: Long EAMs Are Not Remarkable

As I suspected, previous reports published in our Utility Logs column have indeed shown Emergency Action Messages (EAMs) that were as long as, or longer than, the 174-character one of June 26 that has aroused attention. Recall from my previous blog entry that this EAM has been cited by unknown Internet sources as the longest since the first Persian Gulf War.

It isn't.

This would tend to reinforce the argument made by a writer to Bill Gertz's column, who was quoted in the same post, that long EAMs generated by periodic exercises "should not be considered unusual."


Long EAM Examples:

Jeff Haverlah, a long-time Utility Logs contributor and generally Mr. EAM in this hobby, reported the following on February 17, 2007:

1729z 17 Feb 07

11175.0 was active at 1431z with OFFUTT bcsting a 248-character
EAM (TOXRB7) containing common, repetitive, distinctive formatting,
including the 14-character ending block common to these strings.

11175.0 was active at 1717z with OFFUTT bcsting a 163-character
EAM (TO57UN) containing distinctive (but not apparently repeating)
formatting including the 14-character ending block common to these
strings.

(Emphasis mine, for readability.)

Also from Jeff, this report of March 10:

0039z 11 Mar 07

11175.0 was active at 101722z+/- with OFFUTT (weak with deep
fading) bcsting a 201-character EAM (TOCDIJ) containing distinctive formatting and ending in a common 14-character ending block.

And, on 26 May, again from Jeff:

1555z 26 May 07

11175.0 was active at 1447z with ANDREWS (good levels here)
bcsting a 202-character EAM (IV3PR6) containing distinctive repetitive formatting (but did not end in the 14-character ending block common to these strings.) Activity common to utc Saturday's (1447z 28 Apr 07 245-character IVLZ7S) for example.) All Andrews xmsns are keying off with a soft pop/thump.

And, on June 23 near the beginning of the June 25 period in question, from Jeff:

1434z 23 Jun 07

8992.0 was active at 1418z with ANDREWS (good/fair levels here)
bcsting a 121-character EAM (IVSAD2) containing distinctive, repetitive formatting.

Conclusion:

It seems significant that all of these long messages appeared at roughly one-month intervals, and on UTC Saturdays. There is a suggestion here of a monthly activity (likely a communications exercise) that generates long EAMs. We can therefore conclude that, while the June 25 activity was noteworthy for call signs, traffic volume, and a special test string, it was very much not noteworthy for EAM length. The writer to the Inside the Ring column appears correct.