WX1BOX – Amateur Radio Station at NWS Boston/Norton

Special Announcement: SKYWARN Email List Issues Over the Past Year Will Be Addressed By the End of September 2024

July 22, 2024 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

Please propagate widely to folks and we have posted this message at the top of our wx1box.org web site.

We have continued to receive a number of questions and problems with regard to our SKYWARN Announcement email list within the last few weeks and we wanted to provide an additional update. As stated previously, over the last year, we have had chronic email server issues with the SKYWARN Announcement list due to new spam prevention techniques launched by some of the larger email providers. At first, it was just Microsoft email addresses but it has now spread to Comcast and some gmail users as well.

Our email administrator, Phil McNamara, is looking to address the issue with a new email server that will have new hardware and software that should fix it completely by the end of September 2024. It has taken longer than expected due to unexpected technical glitches and vacation time of a key professional resource that has been assisting on the new email server software and hardware installation. We are sorry for the issues this causes you or others that are on the announcement email list that haven’t been receiving messages and how its extended into September. All our coordination messages for severe weather are posted via https://www.wx1box.org and via our Facebook and Twitter feeds under WX1BOX on social media until we address the email issues being seen and this has been a standard protocol for years so please look to these sources if you don’t see emails regarding severe weather potential until this problem is addressed.

We appreciate your understanding during this time and we will send an updated message once the enhancements are completed. Thanks to all for your support of the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN program and your support of Amateur Radio!

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)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
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Storm Coordination Message #2 – Wednesday Evening 12/4/24-Thursday 12/5/24 Accumulating Snow/Snow Squall & Strong Wind Gust Potential

December 4, 2024 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..We will be announcing our SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD)’24 plans later tonight or Thursday Morning as we are pulling together are plans for this year and the recent uptick in storm activity has taken priority over our SRD planning..
..A light to low-end moderate accumulating snowfall is expected overnight Wednesday Night into Thursday AM with strong wind gusts of 40-50 MPH possible later Thursday through Friday in portions of Southern New England and the potential for a few snow squalls in interior Southern New England later Thursday PM and evening..
..A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect from 8 PM Wednesday Evening to 10 AM Thursday Morning for Franklin, Hampshire, Western Hampden, Worcester and Northern Middlesex Counties of Massachusetts and has been expanded to Eastern Hampden County Massachusetts and Tolland County Connecticut for 2-5″ of snow with isolated higher amounts of up to 6″ in the higher terrain. Areas closest to the Winter Weather Advisory area could see a coating to 2″ of snow before a changeover to rain. Areas of the I-95 corridor south and east could see a bit of snow or rain/snow mix but little to no accumulation expected there..
..A Wind Advisory is now in effect for Cape Cod and the Islands from 7 PM Wednesday Evening through 10 PM Thursday Evening for sustained winds 20-25 MPH with gusts of 40-50 MPH. A Wind Advisory is now in effect from 10 AM Thursday Morning through 10 PM Thursday Evening for Western and Central Massachusetts including Northern Middlesex County Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut for sustained winds of 20-30 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH. Areas outside of the wind advisory area could see wind gusts of around 40 MPH with isolated higher gusts. These winds could cause isolated pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets for snowfall amounts will occur particularly Thursday AM for snowfall amounts. SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor strong wind potential later Thursday into Friday. Amateur Radio Call-Up Net info is listed below. This will be the last coordination message as we shift into operations mode. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Winter Weather Advisory Statement, Snowfall Map, Wind Advisory Statement and Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook..

Amateur Radio Call-Up Net Info – Thursday:
146.940-Mt. Tom Repeater – 7 AM, 9 AM, 11 AM
146.970-Paxton Repeater – 730 AM, 930 AM, 1130 AM
Rte 2 Corridor System Repeaters (145.370-Gardner & 145.450-Fitchburg): 7 AM, 9 AM, 11 AM
The *NEW-ENG3* Echolink conference node: 7203/IRLP 9123 will be monitored starting at 7 AM
The 146.790-Vernon CT Repeater may have nets as necessary Thursday AM

NWS Boston/Norton Winter Weather Advisory Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=WSW&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1&highlight=off

NWS Boston/Norton Snowfall Map:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NWS-Norton-Snowfall-Map-12-5-24.jpg

NWS Boston/Norton Wind Advisory Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=NPW&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1&highlight=off

NWS Boston/Norton Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=box

Respectfully Submitted,

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Storm Coordination Message #1 – Wednesday Evening 12/4/24-Thursday 12/5/24 Accumulating Snow/Snow Squall Potential/Thursday PM 12/5/24-Friday 12/6/24 Strong Wind Gust Potential

December 3, 2024 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..A light to low-end moderate accumulating snowfall is expected overnight Wednesday Night into Thursday AM with strong wind gusts of 40-50 MPH possible in portions of Southern New England later Thursday through Friday and the potential for a few snow squalls in interior Southern New England later Thursday PM and evening..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is now in effect from 8 PM Wednesday Evening to 10 AM Thursday Morning for Franklin, Hampshire, Western Hampden, Worcester and Northern Middlesex Counties of Massachusetts for 2-5″ of snow with isolated higher amounts of up to 6″ in the higher terrain. Areas closest to the Winter Weather Advisory area could see a coating to 2″ of snow before a changeover to rain. Areas of the I-95 corridor south and east could see a bit of snow or rain/snow mix but little to no accumulation expected there..
..Wind headlines may be posted for the Thursday PM to Friday timeframe if confidence increases on wind gusts greater than 46 MPH..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets for snowfall amounts will occur particularly Thursday AM but possibly as earlier as Wednesday Evening for snowfall amounts. SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor strong wind potential later Thursday into Friday. Another coordination message will be posted by 11 AM Wednesday Morning. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Winter Weather Advisory Statement, Snowfall Map and Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook..

NWS Boston/Norton Winter Weather Advisory Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=WSW&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1&highlight=off

NWS Boston/Norton Snowfall Map:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/StormTotalSnow-12-3-24.jpg

NWS Boston/Norton Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=box

Respectfully Submitted,

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Storm Coordination Message #1 – Thursday 11/28/24 Thanksgiving Day Storm Hazards

November 28, 2024 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..On behalf of the NWS Boston/Norton MA forecast staff and the WX1BOX Amateur Radio Volunteer Team, we wish everyone a very Happy and Safe Thanksgiving! We appreciate all your help and support through another year of Southern New England weather in 2024..
….Thanksgiving Day will feature largely a beneficial rain event of 0.50-1″ of rain with isolated higher amounts for Southern New England except for Northwest Massachusetts and possibly the Worcester Hills above around 1000-1200 feet, where a period of accumulating snow may bring 1-4″ of accumulation with possibly higher amounts if cold enough and falls heavily enough. This would be in the higher elevations of Western Franklin, Western Hampshire and Northern Worcester Counties of Massachusetts..
..It is noted for anyone traveling to nearby areas of the Northeast that much of Northeast New York, Vermont, Western, Central and Southwest New Hampshire into Maine have Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories in effect for significant snowfall, hazardous travel and the potential for isolated pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages from the weight of the heavy wet snow. See the respective NWS office web pages for NWS Albany NY, Burlington VT, Gray ME and Caribou ME for details..
..East and South Coastal Massachusetts, South Coastal Rhode Island and Cape Cod and the Islands could see a brief period of wind gusts 30-40 MPH with isolated higher gusts as the storm system moves out and gradually intensifies late Thursday Afternoon into Thursday Night..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor for snowfall, rain gauge, wet snow and wind damage reports from the region on Thanksgiving Day. If significant changes to the situation occur, another coordination message will be posted by 11 AM Thanksgiving Morning. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion and Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:

NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=AFD&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1&highlight=off

NWS Boston/Norton Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=box

Respectfully Submitted,

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Fire Weather Coordination Message #8 – Red Flag Warning Thru 6 PM Tuesday Evening for Massachusetts & Elevated Fire Weather in Rhode Island & Connecticut

November 19, 2024 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Dry conditions and strong wind gusts to 25 MPH with isolated higher wind gusts will set the stage for continued critical fire weather conditions for Southern New England once again on Friday. A Red Flag Warning is in effect from through 6 PM Tuesday for Massachusetts with elevated fire weather in Rhode Island and Connecticut due to the potential for fire spread if any sort of outdoor brush fire is ignited. Outdoor burning is banned in Southern New England until further notice..
..Elevated fire conditions are expected to continue right through the weekend with little appreciable/measurable rainfall expected during this time period..
..There is no reporting criteria for fire weather so this message is sent out for public safety purposes, however, Amateur Radio SKYWARN Coordinators will be monitoring reports of brush fires and their spread in the region. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Red Flag Warning Statement, Special Weather Statement and Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook..

NWS Boston/Norton Red Flag Warning Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&product=RFW&issuedby=BOX

NWS Boston/Norton Special Weather Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&product=SPS&issuedby=BOX

NWS Boston/Norton Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=box

Respectfully Submitted,

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Fire Weather/Coastal Flood Coordination Message #7 – Red Flag Warning Thru 6 PM Saturday Evening/Minor Coastal Flood Potential – Saturday Late AM High Tide

November 16, 2024 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Dry conditions and strong wind gusts 25-35 MPH with isolated higher wind gusts will set the stage for continued critical fire weather conditions for Southern New England once again on Friday. A Red Flag Warning is in effect from through 6 PM Saturday for all of Southern New England due to the potential for fire spread if any sort of outdoor brush fire is ignited. Outdoor burning is banned in Southern New England until further notice..
..Elevated fire conditions are expected to continue right through the weekend with little appreciable/measurable rainfall expected during this time period..
..A Coastal Flood Advisory is now in effect from 9 AM to 1 PM Saturday for East Coastal Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands for the late Saturday AM high tide cycle for minor coastal flooding of shore roads at the time of high tide. SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor for any minor coastal flood reports/pics/videos..
..There is no reporting criteria for fire weather so this message is sent out for public safety purposes, however, Amateur Radio SKYWARN Coordinators will be monitoring reports of brush fires and their spread in the region. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Red Flag Warning Statement, Coastal Flood Advisory Statement, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-1 and Day-2 Fire Weather Outlooks..

NWS Boston/Norton Red Flag Warning Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&product=RFW&issuedby=BOX

NWS Boston/Norton Coastal Flood Advisory Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&product=CFW&issuedby=BOX

NWS Boston/Norton Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=box

SPC Day-1 and Day-2 Fire Weather Forecasts:
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/fire_wx/fwdy1.html
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/fire_wx/fwdy2.html

Respectfully Submitted,

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Fire Weather Coordination Message #6 – Red Flag Warning Friday 11/15/24 7 AM-6 PM ET

November 14, 2024 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Dry conditions and strong wind gusts 20-30 MPH with isolated higher wind gusts will set the stage for continued critical fire weather conditions for Southern New England once again on Friday. A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 7 AM through 6 PM Friday for all of Southern New England due to the potential for fire spread if any sort of outdoor brush fire is ignited. Outdoor burning is banned in Southern New England until further notice..
..Elevated fire conditions are expected to continue right through the weekend with little appreciable/measurable rainfall expected during this time period..
..There is no reporting criteria for fire weather so this message is sent out for public safety purposes, however, Amateur Radio SKYWARN Coordinators will be monitoring reports of brush fires and their spread in the region. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Red Flag Warning Statement, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-2 and Days-3 through 8 Fire Weather Outlooks..

NWS Boston/Norton Red Flag Warning Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&product=RFW&issuedby=BOX

NWS Boston/Norton Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=box

SPC Day-2 and Day-3 through 8 Fire Weather Forecasts:
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/fire_wx/fwdy2.html
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/exper/fire_wx/

Respectfully Submitted,

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Fire Weather Coordination Message #5 – Red Flag Warning Through Wednesday 11/13/24 6 PM ET

November 13, 2024 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Strong Wind Gusts Tuesday continued red flag fire conditions and resulted in isolated pockets of tree and wire damage with wind gusts 30-45 MPH with isolated higher gusts that occurred in the region. A report on the wind gusts and isolated wind damage reports are provided in a link below..
..Dry conditions and strong wind gusts 20-35 MPH with isolated higher wind gusts will set the stage for continued critical fire weather conditions for Southern New England once again on Wednesday. A Red Flag Warning is in effect through 6 PM Wednesday Evening for all of Southern New England due to the potential for fire spread if any sort of outdoor brush fire is ignited. Outdoor burning is banned in Southern New England until further notice..
..Elevated fire conditions are expected to continue right through the weekend with little appreciable/measurable rainfall expected during this time period..
..There is no reporting criteria for fire weather so this message is sent out for public safety purposes, however, Amateur Radio SKYWARN Coordinators will be monitoring reports of brush fires and their spread in the region. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Red Flag Warning Statement, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-1 and Days-3 through 8 Fire Weather Outlooks..

WX1BOX Amateur Radio Report Log:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/reports_11_13_24.pdf

NWS Boston/Norton Red Flag Warning Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&product=RFW&issuedby=BOX

NWS Boston/Norton Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=box

SPC Day-1 and Day-3 through 8 Fire Weather Forecasts:
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/fire_wx/fwdy1.html
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/exper/fire_wx/

Respectfully Submitted,

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Fire Weather Coordination Message #4 – Red Flag Warning Tuesday 11/12/24 9 AM-6 PM ET

November 11, 2024 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Sunday Evening’s rainfall did very little to quell continued very dry conditions. These dry conditions and strong wind gusts 30-40 MPH with isolated higher wind gusts will set the stage for continued critical fire weather conditions for Southern New England once again on Tuesday. A Red Flag Warning is in effect from 9 AM to 6 PM Tuesday for all of Southern New England due to the potential for fire spread if any sort of outdoor brush fire is ignited. Outdoor burning is banned in Southern New England until further notice..
..There is no reporting criteria for fire weather so this message is sent out for public safety purposes, however, Amateur Radio SKYWARN Coordinators will be monitoring reports of brush fires and their spread in the region. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Red Flag Warning Statement and Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook..

NWS Boston/Norton Red Flag Warning Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&product=RFW&issuedby=BOX

NWS Boston/Norton Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=box

Respectfully Submitted,

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Fire Weather Coordination Message #3 – Red Flag Warning Through 11/10/24 6 PM Sunday Evening

November 10, 2024 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Continued very dry conditions and strong wind gusts up to 25-30 MPH will set the stage for continued critical fire weather conditions for Southern New England through Saturday. A Red Flag Warning is in effect through 6 PM Sunday Evening for all of Southern New England due to the potential for fire spread if any sort of outdoor brush fire is ignited. Outdoor burning is not recommended..
..There is no reporting criteria for fire weather so this message is sent out for public safety purposes, however, Amateur Radio SKYWARN Coordinators will be monitoring reports of brush fires and their spread in the region. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Red Flag Warning Statement and Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook..

NWS Boston/Norton Red Flag Warning Statement & Graphic:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&product=RFW&issuedby=BOX
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Red_flag_warning_11_10_24.jpg

NWS Boston/Norton Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=box

Respectfully Submitted,

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Fire Weather Coordination Message #2 – Friday Evening 11/8/24 Through Saturday 11/9/24 Fire Weather & Strong Wind Gust Potential

November 8, 2024 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Continued very dry conditions and strong wind gusts of 30-40 MPH with isolated higher wind gusts will set the stage for continued critical fire weather conditions for Southern New England through Saturday. A Red Flag Warning is now in effect through 6 PM Saturday Evening for all of Southern New England due to the potential for fire spread if any sort of outdoor brush fire is ignited. Outdoor burning is not recommended..
..There is no reporting criteria for fire weather so this message is sent out for public safety purposes, however, Amateur Radio SKYWARN Coordinators will be monitoring reports of brush fires and their spread in the region. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Red Flag Warning Statement and Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook..

NWS Boston/Norton Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=box

Respectfully Submitted,

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