Seminole County FL ARES / RACES Group

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US National Weather Service Melbourne Florida is offering its popular SKYWARN training for our region.

Amateur radio has long been a partner to our friends at NWS and LARA has been involved with the program for over 25 years.

See the link below to signup! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Update: August 2 is the new implementation date for this capability.

Starting July 28, Severe Thunderstorms deemed “destructive” will activate a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) on smartphones. Criteria for a destructive threat is at least 2.75 inch diameter hail and/or 80 mph thunderstorm winds.

Read more: weather.gov/news/072221-svr-wea

FRIDAY MORNING UPDATE: While impacts to Central Florida remain uncertain, Seminole County Emergency Management continues to closely monitor NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center and U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) updates related to Tropical Storm Elsa.

Stay informed by registering for local emergency alerts at AlertSeminole.org. For text alerts for Elsa only, send keyword ELSAINFO to 888-777.

Find preparation tips and more here:
https://www.seminolecountyfl.gov/departments-services/county-managers-office/prepare-seminole/

Amateur Radio Exams Get or upgrade your amateur radio license at HamCation

SKYWARN partners,

As you know, the NWS has not been conducting in-person SKYWARN classes since mid March, but we are continuing to offer virtual (live, online) classes.

We've scheduled Basic classes for Thursday, October 15 (late afternoon) and Wednesday, October 28 (early evening) and would like your assistance to help spread the word.

Attached is a flyer, including a link for class registration. Please help us advertise these classes using whatever resources you have available (email forwarding, ham nets, word of mouth, etc.).

Note: approximately one week prior to the class, those that have registered will receive an email with specific instructions on how to participate in the virtual class via a home PC/laptop and telephone/cellphone.

After participating in an online class, we will email attendees a SKYWARN spotter ID that can be printed. Attending a virtual/online class will count the same as attending one of our in-person classes, i.e. new spotters will receive a card by email, and current spotters will have their certifications extended for an additional three years and they will also receive a new card/ID number by email following the class.

Thank you for your assistance and 73,

Scott

--
Scott M. Spratt
Warning Coordination Meteorologist

Here are the Key Messages regarding Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine, issued by NHC on Tuesday at 5 p.m. AST - www.hurricanes.gov

HURRICANE SEASON LIVE CHATS: Join Seminole County Emergency Management staff at 12:30p.m. from June 8-12 for a Facebook Live series providing tips to prepare for Hurricane Season.

Each day, a topic related to storm preparedness or recovery will be presented, as staff welcome questions related to the topic noted.

Visit Facebook.com/seminolecounty to participate in Live Chats, or go to prepareseminole.org to learn more.

Another virtual SKYWARN class has been scheduled for east central Florida residents on Thursday, June 18th!

Interested? You must:
-Be a resident of ECFL
-Register ahead of time at https://go.usa.gov/xvH9a

RVSP today! 😄

Today, June 1, marks the first day of the Atlantic hurricane season, which will run through November 30. Two tropical storms, Arthur and Bertha, already formed this year in May. The next named storm that develops this season will be Cristobal.

The CDC offers the following as it relates to hurricane preparation and COVID-19: Preparing for Hurricanes During the COVID-19 Pandemic https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/covid-19/prepare-for-hurricane.html

All National Hurricane Center text and graphical products are
available on the web at www.hurricanes.gov. You can also
interact with NHC on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NWSNHC.
Notifications are available via Twitter when select National
Hurricane Center products are issued. Information about our
Atlantic Twitter feed () is available at
www.hurricanes.gov/twitter.shtml.

If you've lost track of time like the best of us, here's your reminder:

The *OFFICIAL* start to the 2020 Hurricane Season is THIS MONDAY.

To help with your preparation, the State of FL is offering a Sales Tax Holiday this weekend. Check out the items below!

It only takes one storm to change your life and community. Tropical cyclones are among nature’s most powerful and destructive phenomena. If you live in an area prone to tropical cyclones, you need to be prepared.

Learn how during Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 3-9, 2020).

hurricanes.gov/prepare

The meeting for 3/19/20 has been canceled.

That National Weather Service has informed that the Daytona Beach NOAA weather radio transmitter KIH-26, operating on a frequency of 162.400 megahertz is temporarily out of service due to a communication line problem. Seminole County is included in the service area of this transmitter. Maintenance is being conducted to repair the outage, however a time frame has not been given.

With the potential for severe weather this evening, alternate transmitters with coverage extending to the Seminole County service area are:
162.475 MHz in Orlando
162.425 MHz in Palatka
162.500 MHz in Sumterville
162.550 MHz in Melbourne
162.475 MHz in Gainesville

As always, multiple forms of receiving notations and alerts are encouraged. www.alertseminole.org

member.everbridge.net

STORMS: The US National Weather Service Melbourne Florida advises of a strong, cold weather front moving into the area this evening and into tomorrow morning. The highest threats for isolated tornadoes and damaging straight line winds (60+mph) exist from Lake County to the Interstate 4 corridor and east to the Space Coast.

Storm impacts are expected as early as 8:00pm tonight and as late as 3:00am Friday morning. The period of storm activity will only last 1-2 hours.

WEATHER RADIO OUTAGE: NWS advises that the Daytona Beach National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio transmitter KIH-26, operating on a frequency of 162.400 megahertz is temporarily out of service due to a communication line problem. Seminole County is included in the service area of this transmitter. Maintenance is being conducted to repair the outage, however a time frame has not been given.

With the potential for severe weather this evening, alternate transmitters with coverage extending to the Seminole County service area are:
162.475 MHz in Orlando
162.425 MHz in Palatka
162.500 MHz in Sumterville
162.550 MHz in Melbourne
162.475 MHz in Gainesville

As always, multiple forms of receiving notations and alerts are encouraged.

Be prepared by registering for AlertSeminole. Text SEMINOLE to 888777 to receive a registration link or visit AlertSeminole.org.

Jan 21, 1050 am | In case you haven't heard, it will be very cold overnight tonight into Wednesday morning. In fact, it will be the coldest night for some interior locations in nearly 2 years. A Freeze WARNING has been issued for Lake and Inland Volusia counties as well as a Wind Chill Advisory for all of east central Florida.

UPDATE: The event on 2/1 has been canceled. A new date will be announced once determined.

*Original Post*
SAVE THE DATE: Join Seminole County's Office of Emergency Management and partners for the 2020 Touch-a-Truck Disaster Equipment Showcase. Nearly 50 displays will be on hand for families to experience!

WHEN: Saturday, February 1, 10:00am-2:00pm
WHERE: Sanford Riverwalk
COST: Free to attend

Thank you to our event sponsors, including OneBlood, City of Sanford, FL Government, Z88.3, Orlando FL and News 13!

A strong system that will move into the Central Florida area this weekend. Heavy rainfall is expected throughout the weekend. Localized flooding is likely during the event. The most likely time for tornadic activity will be on Sunday.

TONIGHT: US National Weather Service Melbourne Florida advises of a low pressure system moving northeast through the area with the potential for producing strong to severe storms overnight and into Saturday morning.

Thunderstorms will move to the northeast at 25 to 30 mph, producing wind gusts of 35 to 40 mph and frequent lightning strikes. The strongest storms could be capable of producing damaging wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph and heavy rainfall of 1 to 2 inches. A slight risk has for tornado activity has been identified.

The window of potential strong / severe weather impact to Seminole County is expected to be late this evening and into the early hours of Saturday morning. Emergency Management on-call staff will be monitoring the system as it moves through the area.

Stay informed; register for alerts at alertseminole.org.

SATURDAY: Join Seminole County Emergency Management and U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists for a free SKYWARN training this Saturday.

One of the most important assets to the NWS warning, forecast, and verification process is the SKYWARN Spotter Network. NWS trained weather spotters provide real-time reports of tornadoes, hail, winds, flooding and hurricane damage. SKYWARN spotters include Ham Radio operators, emergency responders and communication dispatchers, and citizen groups.

NWS will discuss various aspects of severe weather, storm spotting, and severe weather safety.

In order to receive a Storm Spotter ID, participants must be at least 18 years of age. Younger children and teenagers are welcome to attend for an educational experience.

WHEN: Saturday, September 21, 10:00AM-12:00PM
WHERE: Seminole County Emergency Operations Center, 15- Eslinger Way, Sanford
COST: Free to attend, registration is required (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/skywarn-basic-training-registration-092119-sanford-tickets-65672904425)

For more information, please call 407-665-5102.

TOMORROW: Tuesday, September 10, between 8:30–10:00am, Seminole County, FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will test HazCollect, a new U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) Emergency Message System.

An Emergency Alert System message will be transmitted to cell phones, televisions, AM/FM and weather radios indicating that a test is being conducted. No further action will be required by residents.

Seminole County is proud to be one of only three communities in the Nation to be part of this test. If the test is successful, this new technology will be implemented nationwide.

Seminole County Fire Department
Seminole County Sheriff's Office

11PM SUNDAY: Seminole County reminds residents to stay informed by watching local weather reports.

Make a plan, get a kit, stay informed: www.seminolecountyfl.gov/dorian.

TS WATCH: Seminole County is currently under a tropical storm watch. Seminole County Office of Emergency Management encourages residents to stay vigilant and monitor local weather reports.

An announcement with the locations and opening times of the four general population shelters (including one pet-friendly shelter) and three Special Needs shelters (including one pet-friendly shelter) will be made tomorrow afternoon. The shelters are fully prepared and on standby. Visit www.seminolecountyfl.gov/dorian for updates.

Know the difference between a WATCH and a WARNING:

TROPICAL STORM WATCH
A Tropical Storm Watch is issued when a tropical cyclone containing winds of 34 to 63 kt (39 to 73 mph) or higher poses a possible threat, generally within 48 hours. These winds may be accompanied by storm surge, coastal flooding, and/or river flooding.

The watch does not mean that tropical storm conditions will occur. It only means that these conditions are possible.

TROPICAL STORM WARNING
A Tropical Storm Warning is issued when sustained winds of 34 to 63 kt (39 to 73 mph) or higher associated with a tropical cyclone are expected in 36 hours or less. These winds may be accompanied by storm surge, coastal flooding, and/or river flooding.