Amateur Radio operators activated on Sunday, August 20, 2023 to provide communications and information for Tropical Storm Hilary. As of mid-morning Sunday, the system was moving up the Baja Peninsula of Mexico, expected to cross into Southern California. Heavy rains were falling in San Diego, and local media reported that 250 airline flights had been cancelled.

Amateur radio operations began Sunday morning. The WX4NHC amateur radio station at the National Hurricane Center was on air.

The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) was also activated Sunday morning.

HWN seeks reports to relay to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. They have operators who are fluent in English and Spanish to take reports.

HWN also exists to provide backup communications to official agencies such as emergency operations centres, Red Cross officials, and storm shelters in the affected area and relays damage reports.

The primary frequencies the net uses center on 14.325.00 MHz and 7.268.00 MHz, depending on propagation. HWN thanks radio amateurs for yielding those frequencies during operation

ARRL will continue to monitor the situation and update this page. HQ staff members are in contact with WX4NHC, The Hurricane Watch Net, and VoIP Hurricane Net officials.

ARRL - http://www.arrl.org/news/tropical-storm-hilary-amateur-radio-activates