Hello to all..

The following is a Drought Information Statement issued by NWS Taunton which is showing improved conditions due to recent rainfall from late April through mid May. Another Drought Information Statement will be issued by Friday June 15th or sooner if conditions warrant. See the latest NWS Taunton Drought Information Statement below:

http://www.wx1box.org/local/drought_5_17_12.txt

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org

Hello to all..

..Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms now likely across Southwest New Hampshire, Western Massachusetts, and Northwest Connecticut..
..A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is now in effect until 900 PM for Cheshire County NH, Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire Counties of Massachusetts and Litchfield and Hartford Counties of Connecticut. Damaging winds, large hail and urban and poor drainage flooding from heavy downpours are the primary threats. Areas close to the current watch area should also monitor the situation..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence by 3 PM through the watch expiration timeframe. Below is the Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 280 statement, NWS Taunton County Outline and NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook..

SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 280 Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KWNS/1205161718.wwus20.html

NWS Taunton Severe Thunderstorm Watch County Outline:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus61.KBOX.html

NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.flus41.KBOX.html

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org

Hello to all..

..Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms remain possible across Southwest New Hampshire, Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut late Wednesday Afternoon into Wednesday Evening. Damaging Winds and hail are the primary threats with heavy downpours and urban/poor drainage flooding also possible..
..The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) and NWS Taunton continue to be in agreement on a slight risk for severe weather in Southwest New Hampshire, Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut for late Wednesday Afternoon into Wednesday Evening..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton remains possible late Wednesday Afternoon into Wednesday Evening..

At 735 AM, Doppler Radar showed an area of heavy rainfall over Rhode Island and Southeast Massachusetts extending to the eastern tip of Long Island NY with lighter showers moving eastward across Southwest Massachusets and Northwest Connecticut. This activity should move out of these areas by late morning. Also, at 735 AM, satellite imagery shows clearing moving into East-Central New York into Western New York with the cold front about to enter Western New York. This cold front will move into Eastern New York and Western New England late Wednesday Afternoon into Wednesday Evening.

Based on Satellite imagery and computer model trends, conditions are expected to clear out over the area to allow for sufficient heating and destablization with temperatures going into the 70s to possibly 80 degrees. Wind fields should be strong enough to support isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms in a continuous squall line of strong to severe thunderstorms or as one or two short lines of isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms. Damaging winds and hail are the primary threats with heavy downpours and urban and poor drainage flooding also possible. The greatest threat for severe weather remains in Southwest New Hampshire and Western Massachusetts from the Worcester area west and in Northern Connecticut through Hartford and Tolland Counties. The timeframe of severe weather appears to be after 4 PM this afternoon. SPC and NWS Taunton are in agreement on a slight risk for severe weather for late Wednesday Afternoon into Wednesday evening for this area.

Further east, the loss of daytime heating should mitigate the overall threat but an isolated strong or severe thunderstorm could occur in these areas. The overall threat in the east, however, is much less due to coastal influence and the timing of the front past peak heating.

Current caveats to the severe weather potential remain and include the amount of cooling aloft, degree of heating and destablization if clearing doesn't occur by midday/early afternoon and the timing of the cold front into the area. This will be monitored throughout the day today.

SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton remain possible late Wednesday Afternoon into Wednesday evening. This will be the last complete coordination message on this threat. A shortened coordination message will be issued as time allows and Ops at NWS Taunton are initiated. Below is the NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook:

NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.flus41.KBOX.html

SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook:
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk.html

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org

Hello to all..

..Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms possible across Southwest New Hampshire, Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut Wednesday Afternoon into Early Wednesday Evening. Damaging Winds and hail are the primary threats with heavy downpours and urban/poor drainage flooding also possible..
..The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) and NWS Taunton are in agreement on a slight risk for severe weather in Southwest New Hampshire, Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut for Wednesday Afternoon into early Wednesday Evening..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible Wednesday Afternoon into early Wednesday Evening..

Tonight, showers are moving through portions of Southern New England ahead of warm front which will move through the area overnight into early Wednesday Morning. A cold front will move into Eastern New York and Western New England Wednesday Afternoon into early Wednesday Evening. At this time, conditions are expected to clear out over the area to allow for sufficient heating and destablization. Wind fields should be strong enough to support isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms in a continuous line or one or two short lines of isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms. Damaging winds and hail are the primary threats with heavy downpours and urban and poor drainage flooding also possible. The greatest threat for severe weather is in Southwest New Hampshire and Western Massachusetts from the Worcester area west and in Northern Connecticut through Hartford and Tolland Counties. SPC and NWS Taunton are in agreement on a slight risk for severe weather for Wednesday Afternoon into early evening for this area.

Caveats to the severe weather potential include the amount of cooling aloft, degree of heating and destablization if clearing doesn't occur as quickly as currently anticiapted and location and intensity of the wind fields over the current SPC depicted slight risk area. This will be better understood on Wednesday Morning.

SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible Wednesday Afternoon into early evening. Another Coordination Message will be issued by 900 AM Wednesday to update the threat. Below is the NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-2 Convective Outlook:

NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.flus41.KBOX.html

SPC Day-2 Convective Outlook:
http://kamala.cod.edu/spc/latest.acus02.KWNS.html

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org

Hello to all..

Amateur Radio SKYWARN Rainfall Reports - Storm Totals over the past 2 days.

Rainfall Amounts 2" or More:
Westerly, RI: 3.27"
Charlestown, RI: 2.59"
Narragansett, RI: 2.40"
Newport, RI: 2.16"
Centerville, Mass: 2.85"
North Falmouth, Mass: 3.28"
New Bedford, Mass: 3.25"
Waqouit, Mass: 2.36"
Acushnet, Mass: 2.74"
Fairhaven, Mass (Pope Beach): 3.46"
Cedarville, Mass: 2.60"
Middletown, RI: 2.59"
Narragansett, RI: 3.29"
Bourne, Mass: 2.29"
Falmouth, Mass: 2.56"
Fairhaven, Mass (West Island): 3.65"
Vineyard Haven, Mass: 3.32"
Duxbury, Mass: 2.32"
Plymouth, Mass: 2.30"
Middleboro, Mass: 2.13"
Berkley, Mass: 2.37"
South Dennis, Mass: 2.58"
West Tisbury, Mass: 3.15"
Hyannis, Mass: 2.43"

Rainfall Amounts 1" or More:
Brewster, Mass: 1.76"
Chatham, Mass: 1.67"
Warwick, RI: 1.04"
Coventry, RI: 1.20"
Providence, RI: 1.34"
Woonsocket, RI: 1.53"
Scituate, Mass: 1.20"
Marshfield, Mass: 1.03"
Hanson, Mass: 1.51"
West Brdigewater, Mass: 1.45"
Brockton, Mass: 1.61"
Attleboro, Mass: 1.74"
Watertown, Mass: 1.31"
Medford, MasS: 1.02"
Arlington, Mass: 1.08"
Wrentham, Mass: 1.23"
Walpole, Mass: 1.28"
Medway, Mass: 1.09"
Medfield, Mass: 1.30"
Wellesley, Mass: 1.17"
Shrewsbury, Mass: 1.22"
Worcester, Mass: 1.27"
Auburn, Mass: 1.07"
Peabody, Mass: 1.28"
Ipswich, Mass: 1.00"
Methuen, Mass: 1.04"
Boxford, Mass: 1.24"
North Reading, Mass: 1.28"
Wayland, Mass: 1.13"
Tewksbury, Mass: 1.26"
Westford, Mass: 1.31"
Carlisle, Mass: 1.34"
Littleton, Mass: 1.47"
Concord, Mass: 1.41"
Marlborough, Mass: 1.34"
Reading, Mass: 1.31"
Framingham, Mass: 1.11"
Lowell, Mass: 1.18"
Weston, Msas: 1.32"
Berlin, Mass: 1.03"
Hampton, CT: 1.07"

Regards,

Rob Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS Taunton Massachusetts

Hello to all..

Severe Weather Preparedness Week was Monday April 30th through Friday May 4th, 2012. The National Weather Service in Taunton issued Public Information Statements on Severe Weather Preparedness Week covering severe weather safety tips, various facets of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes and covered the June 1st, 2011 Tornado Outbreak affecting Western Massachusetts. The NWS Taunton Public Information Statements from Severe Weather Preparedness Week are listed below:

http://www.wx1box.org/local/severe_weather_preparedness_week_2012.txt

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org

Hello to all..

SKYWARN Newsletter #270 is now available in the SKYWARN Newsletter archive off the main menu of the web site. The direct link is listed below: http://www.wx1box.org/local/news270.htm

Regards,

Rob Macedo (KD1CY)

ARES SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS Taunton Massachusetts

Hello to all..

As has been the case for the past 9 years, Amateur Radio Operators were present
at WX1BOX, the Amateur Radio Station at the NWS Taunton Forecast Office. 500
total contacts were made with 460 unique contacts made earning the operation
the 'Category 1 Hurricane Certificate'. This was the best operation in
terms of total contacts and NWS offices contacted. A total of 12 Amateur
Operators participated in the operation including ARRL HQ Manager of
Preparedness and Response, Mike Corey-KI1U and Assistant ARRL HQ
Manager of Preparedness and Response, Ken Bailey-K1FUG. The complete
report of the operation can be seen via the following link:

http://www.wx1box.org/local/SKYWARN_Recognition_Day_2011_Report.pdf

The national web site, which features statistics from the event at a national
level as well as photos from the NWS Taunton-WX1BOX operation as well as other
NWS offices can be seen via the following link:

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mtr/hamradio/

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator    
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org

Hello to all..

We have confirmed two additional SKYWARN Training sessions this week. The Attleboro session has been rescheduled to June 21st from 7-10 PM at Sturdy Memorial Hospital and a session in Nashua NH has been scheduled. Additional sessions are still being scheduled for the June and July timeframe. The complete schedule of SKYWARN Training sessions can be seen via the links below:

NWS Taunton SKYWARN Training Schedule Listing on WX1BOX:
http://www.wx1box.org/node/36

NWS Taunton SKYWARN Training Schedule listing on the NWS Taunton Web Site:
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/box/officePrograms/skywarn/skywarnTraining.shtml

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org

Hello to all..

Two updates to the SKYWARN Training Schedule.

1.) The Attleboro session will need to be rescheduled and it will likely be in the June timeframe. The hospital called the sponsoring Sturdy Memorial Amateur Radio Club and notified them of a last minute conflict. We apologize for the inconvience this causes but occasionally this happens. We will update everyone when the class has been rescheduled.

2.) We have added a training session on Nantucket Island for Saturday May 19th from 1-4 PM for those living on the island and anyone happening to visit who may want to attend the session.

The complete training schedule can be seen at:
http://www.wx1box.org/node/36

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://www.wx1box.org