Special Announcement: WFCR 88.5 FM Amherst Massachusetts Talk Show on Western Massachusetts Tornadoes 6/29/11 4-5 PM

Hello to all..

There will be a program on WFCR 88.5 FM Amherst Massachusetts on the Western Massachusetts Tornadoes on Wednesday June 29th from 4-5 PM. One of the guests will be Rob Macedo-KD1CY, ARES SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS Taunton. This broadcast will also be available via a live stream and archived for folks that cannot make this timeframe. The Press Release and live stream links are listed below. Please note the web site press release may not reflect all the speakers yet as contact was made Tuesday evening over Rob’s appearing on this show.

Live Stream link:
http://www.wfcr.org/programs/focus.php

DATE/TIME: TOMORROW Wednesday, June 29 at 4 p.m. on 88.5FM WFCR

*Repeats at 6 p.m. on AM 640 and 91.7 FM all-news WNNZ 

DETAILS: It’s been a month since the June 1st tornadoes ripped through towns and cities in western and central Massachusetts. Some residents are back in their homes but many are still living in shelters, motels, or with friends. FEMA and MEMA have committed funds and other resources, but how do individuals and communities rebuild, in some pockets, literally, from the ground up?

GUESTS: 

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno,
Monson Town Administrator Gretchen Neggers
Brenda Brouillette of The American Red Cross
Rob Macedo ARES SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS Taunton Massachusetts

Guests will join host Jill Kaufman to talk about the challenges and outreach they’ve seen over the past four weeks, and about what’s ahead.

Listeners are invited join the conversation by calling toll free: 877-522-8850.

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://beta.wx1box.org

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Amateur Radio Field Day/Severe Weather Coordination Message #3B – June 25th, 2011 315 PM Post

Hello to all..

..After a call from NWS Taunton forecasters, SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence at 4 PM ET to monitor activity in Eastern New York that will move into Western New England after 4 PM ET. Isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible starting in Western New England after 4 PM and in Central and Eastern New England after 5-6 PM ET. Damaging winds, hail urban/poor drainage flooding and lightning are the main threats. Please follow safety instructions in previous complete Amateur Radio Field Day/Severe Weather Coordination Messages if threatening weather approaches..
..This will likely be the last Amateur Radio Field Day/Severe Weather Coordination Message for Field Day since Sunday’s weather is expected to be tranquil and we will be moving into Activation/Operations mode for Saturday’s activity..

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Pager #: (508) 354-3142
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 1-800-445-2588 Ext.: 72929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://beta.wx1box.org

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Amateur Radio Field Day/Severe Weather Coordination Message #3A – June 25th, 2011 230 PM Post

Hello to all..

..The following is a shortened Amateur Radio/Severe Weather Coordination Mesage to cover current convective trends..
..Satellite Imagery as of 215 PM shows breaks of sunshine are covering much of Southern New England this afternoon and evening. In areas of most heating, temperatures have risen to the upper 60s to mid 70s. This is allowing for atmosphere destablization particularly in Western Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Doppler Radar at 215 PM is showing an area of showers and possible weak thunderstorms over Eastern New York. This will be monitored as it moves east into portions of Western New England around or after 4 PM ET, possibly reaching Central and Eastern New England after 6-7 PM ET..
..SKYWARN continues to monitor for possible thunderstorm or isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorm activity for this afternoon/evening. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton remains possible for later this afternoon and evening. Another shortened coordination message will be posted if Ops at NWS Taunton are initiated or as thunderstorm/convective trends dictate an update most likely around 5-6 PM ET this evening..

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Pager #: (508) 354-3142
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 1-800-445-2588 Ext.: 72929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://beta.wx1box.org

 

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Amateur Radio Field Day/Severe Weather Coordination Message #3 – June 25th, 2011 940 AM Post

Hello to all..

..The following is the third in a series of messages on Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend. Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend is an annual event where Ham Operators across the United States setup at Emergency Operations Centers, field locations, home locations etc. to operate and test their equipment and skills and make as many radio contacts as possible during the weekend. Many locations can be visited by the public and Amateur Radio Field Day can be a form of outreach to Ham and non-Ham Operators. It is also noted that several states have given proclamations to Amateur Radio/Ham Radio Operators for either an ‘Amateur Radio Week’ during the month of June or ‘Amateur Radio Month’ for this month. It is both a fun/preparatory event for Ham Radio Operators for Emergency Communications scenarios..
..As have been done over the past 10 plus years, this will be the third in a series of Severe Weather/Amateur Radio Field Day Coordination Messages to pass instructions to Amateur Radio Field Day sites on what to do if threatening weather approaches and to have Field Day sites guard their SKYWARN repeaters as required if threatening weather approaches..
..Friday’s weather was cool and cloudy for the period precluding any thunderstorm development. As we move into the Saturday of Field Day Weekend, unsettled weather is still expected for the region with periods of showers and thunderstorms possible Saturday Afternoon and Evening though a total washout is not expected. At this time, Sunday is still expected to be dry and the nicest day of the weekend. There is the potential for isolated to scatterred strong to severe thunderstorms over portions of interior Southern New England with damaging winds, large hail, urban/poor drainage flooding and lightning all threats during the afternoon and evening if sufficient heating and destablization can occur. If sufficient heating doesn’t occur, thunderstorms with a lightning risk will still be possible this Saturday Afternoon and evening as some thunderstorm activity moved through portions of the region early Saturay Morning..
..This Week is also Lightning Awareness Week and safety information on lightning gets propagated during this period and has coincidentally coincided with Amateur Radio Field Day weekend and that information is included in this coordination message..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible this Saturday Afternoon and Evening. SKYWARN monitoring for even non-severe thunderstorms will be done over the weekend to protect Amateur Radio Field Day sites as best as possible..

There are a large number of Amateur Radio Field Day sites across the NWS Taunton County Warning Area and adjacent NWS County Warning Areas. Here are some links to information on these Amateur Radio Field Day Sites from across the region and links to the Amateur Radio Week Proclamation given by the Governor of Massachusetts for Amateur Radio Field Day 2011:

Amateur Radio Field Day Information: http://www.arrl.org/field-day

Amateur Radio Field Day National Locator: http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator

Eastern Massachusetts Field Day Home Page: http://fd.ema.arrl.org/

Massachusetts Proclamation for Amateur Radio Week:
http://wma.arrl.org/news.php
http://ema.arrl.org/node/1861

New Hampshire has put out a notice on their Field Day sites. See link below on the post that was written by the New Hampshire Section/Tom Richardson-AB1CL:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/nh_arrl_section_field_day_announcement.pdf

Field Day Info for the Hampden County Radio Association (HCRA):
http://n1kxr.webs.com/hcra_fieldday_2011.htm

Field Day Info from the Central Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association (CMARA) as provided by NE1R-Tom Carrigan:
The Central Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association, (W1BIM) celebrating
75 years of existance, will be participating in Field Day (rain or
shine) on the athletic field of David Prouty High School on Route 9 in
Spencer, MA. The public is cordially invited to visit between 2:00 pm
Saturday and about 12:00 noon on Sunday. Amateur Radio operators are
welcome to come and pitch-in, even if they have not yet joined the
CMARA. Access is by a driveway at the left side of the parking area on
Route 9.

Field Day Info from the Charlestown, RI EOC Ham Radio Team as provided by W1JPZ-John Zabriskie:
The Charlestown RI EOC Ham Team will be operating around the clock from Ninigret Park in Charlestown, RI ( the old Charlestown Naval Air Station ). The public is invited to visit from 1:00pm to 4:00pm on Saturday and from 10:00am to 2:00pm on Sunday. Of course we would be glad to show the operation to any one who shows up at any time during park hours. The park closes at Sunset and re-opens at Sunrise to the general public.

If there is additional Amateur Radio Field Day information that you would like to appear in these coordination messages, please contact me and I will add it to this section of the Amateur Radio Field Day Coordination Message.

On Friday, the cool marine air mass was able to preclude any thunderstorm development across the region. This resulted in a cool, dreary day but a day where equipment for Field Day could be setup without issues.

As we get into Saturday, conditions will remain unsettled though the entire day is not expected to be a washout. Showers and thunderstorms moved through portions of Southern New England and are moving offshore of Essex County Massachusetts as of 910 AM. Satellite Imagery as of 910 AM, shows clouds over much of Southern New England but breaks in the clouds over Northeast Pennsylvania and Southeast New York that models indicate will move through the area. This will occur as the warm front which has been stalled out to the west of the region will move through and there should be a bit more sunshine then the past few days and temperatures into the 70s. This will be especially true over Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut. While this sounds like good news, if enough sunshine develops, the atmosphere will cool aloft as a cold front approaches the region and wind shear profiles will be fairly strong. If enough sun and destablization occurs, isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms, possibly organizing into short lines may develop by afternoon and evening affecting much of interior Southern New England. At the coast, thunderstorms with a lightning risk would be possible later Saturday Afternoon and Evening. Again, any severe threat will depend on any sun and heating that could destablize the atmosphere. Non-severe thunderstorms could be the main threat if heating doesn’t occur which pose a lightning safety risk to Field Day sites. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will be possible again Saturday Afternoon into Saturday Evening. As we get into late Saturday Night into Sunday, drier conditions will return to the area and the threat for thunderstorms and severe weather will have passed. Sunday is expected to be a pleasant day and the better of the 2 days for Field Day weekend.

Amateur Radio Field Day sites active on Saturday should use caution and keep an eye to the sky and monitor their local SKYWARN Repeater, NOAA Weather Radio or weather information via Internet and media resources to guard against safety issues if thunderstorms, even if they are non-severe, occur in the region due to the potential lightning risk on radio equipment and antennas. Proper grouding of antennas is essential to help reduce any risk from lightning. As passed on by a fellow Amatuer Radio Operator and SKYWARN Spotter, Tom Carrigan-NE1R, here is an additional safety tip to prevent damage to equipment:

Before reconnecting your antenna after a thunder storm has passed, ground the transmission line connector to discharge built-up static charges before reconnecting it to the radio. Failure to do this can damage some radios.

Below is the NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook:

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

SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton is possible Saturday Afternoon and Evening. A shortened or updated coordination message will be issued if Ops at NWS Taunton are initiated today. SKYWARN monitoring for non-severe thunderstorms and their lightning risk will be done throughout the weekend to protect Amateur Radio Field Day sites as required.

Also, as stated previously, remember that non-severe thunderstorms can pose a threat to Amateur Radio Field Day sites due to the threat of lightning. Please keep this in mind if you have an outdoor Field Day site. This week is Lightning Awareness Week and the National Weather Service in Taunton has posted information on Lightning Safety Awareness Week. See links below for this information:

NWS Taunton Latest Lightning Safety Awareness Week Statement: http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.nous41.KBOX.html

NWS Taunton Thursday 6/23/11 Lightning Safety Awareness Week Statement: http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KBOX/1106231315.nous41.html

NWS Taunton Wednesday 6/22/11 Lightning Safety Awareness Week Statement: http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=PNS&format=CI&version=5&glossary=0

NWS Taunton Tuesday 6/21/11 Lightning Safety Awareness Week Statement: http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=PNS&format=CI&version=6&glossary=0

NWS Lightning Safety Awareness Home Page: http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/

Again, Field Day sites are encouraged to bring a NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio and a dedicated Ham Radio that can monitor their local SKYWARN Frequency for their area or if they have mobile Internet capability, that is also a way to monitor for weather information if thunderstorms, even that are non-severe, approach your area. With Mobile Internet capability, utilizing Echolink to monitor the New England Reflector system on Echolink Conference Node: 9123/IRLP 9123 would be helpful. Please see the link below for the latest SKYWARN Frequency information for the region:
http://beta.wx1box.org/node/37

Another coordination message either in shortened or complete form, likely the last one for this event given benign weather conditions for Sunday, will be sent prior to 2 PM Saturday Afternoon and will likely contain information on potential SKYWARN Activation and Ops at NWS Taunton information for Saturday.

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Pager #: (508) 354-3142
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 1-800-445-2588 Ext.: 72929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://beta.wx1box.org

 

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Amateur Radio Field Day/Severe Weather Coordination Message #2 – June 24th, 2011 8 AM Post

Hello to all..

..The following is the second in a series of messages on Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend. Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend is an annual event where Ham Operators across the United States setup at Emergency Operations Centers, field locations, home locations etc. to operate and test their equipment and skills and make as many radio contacts as possible during the weekend. Many locations can be visited by the public and Amateur Radio Field Day can be a form of outreach to Ham and non-Ham Operators. It is also noted that several states have given proclamations to Amateur Radio/Ham Radio Operators for either an ‘Amateur Radio Week’ during the month of June or ‘Amateur Radio Month’ for this month. It is both a fun/preparatory event for Ham Radio Operators for Emergency Communications scenarios..
..As have been done over the past 10 plus years, this will be the second in a series of Severe Weather/Amateur Radio Field Day Coordination Messages to pass instructions to Amateur Radio Field Day sites on what to do if threatening weather approaches and to have Field Day sites guard their SKYWARN repeaters as required if threatening weather approaches..
..Field Day Weekend is still expected to bring unsettled weather to the region with periods of showers and thunderstorms possible on both Friday Afternoon and Evening and Saturday Afternoon and Evening though a total washout is not expected. At this time, Sunday is still expected to be dry. For Field Day sites setting up during Friday Afternoon and Evening, there is also the potential across Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut of isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms with damaging winds, large hail and urban/poor drainage flooding as the primary threats. Outside of this area, thunderstorms with lightning are possible towards this afternoon and evening. On Saturday, the threat of severe weather could expand to much of interior Southern New England with damaging winds, large hail, urban/poor drainage flooding and lightning all threats during the afternoon and evening if sufficient heating and destablization can occur..
..This Week is also Lightning Awareness Week and safety information on lightning gets propagated during this period and has coincidentally coincided with Amateur Radio Field Day weekend and that information is included in this coordination message..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible on Friday Afternoon and Evening as well as Saturday Afternoon and Evening. SKYWARN monitoring for even non-severe thunderstorms will be done over the weekend to protect Amateur Radio Field Day sites as best as possible..

There are a large number of Amateur Radio Field Day sites across the NWS Taunton County Warning Area and adjacent NWS County Warning Areas. Here are some links to information on these Amateur Radio Field Day Sites from across the region and links to the Amateur Radio Week Proclamation given by the Governor of Massachusetts for Amateur Radio Field Day 2011:

Amateur Radio Field Day Information: http://www.arrl.org/field-day

Amateur Radio Field Day National Locator: http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator

Eastern Massachusetts Field Day Home Page: http://fd.ema.arrl.org/

Massachusetts Proclamation for Amateur Radio Week:
http://wma.arrl.org/news.php
http://ema.arrl.org/node/1861

New Hampshire has put out a notice on their Field Day sites. See link below on the post that was written by the New Hampshire Section/Tom Richardson-AB1CL:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/nh_arrl_section_field_day_announcement.pdf

Field Day Info from the Central Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association (CMARA) as provided by NE1R-Tom Carrigan:
The Central Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association, (W1BIM) celebrating
75 years of existance, will be participating in Field Day (rain or
shine) on the athletic field of David Prouty High School on Route 9 in
Spencer, MA. The public is cordially invited to visit between 2:00 pm
Saturday and about 12:00 noon on Sunday. Amateur Radio operators are
welcome to come and pitch-in, even if they have not yet joined the
CMARA. Access is by a driveway at the left side of the parking area on
Route 9.

Field Day Info from the Charlestown, RI EOC Ham Radio Team as provided by W1JPZ-John Zabriskie:
The Charlestown RI EOC Ham Team will be operating around the clock from Ninigret Park in Charlestown, RI ( the old Charlestown Naval Air Station ). The public is invited to visit from 1:00pm to 4:00pm on Saturday and from 10:00am to 2:00pm on Sunday. Of course we would be glad to show the operation to any one who shows up at any time during park hours. The park closes at Sunset and re-opens at Sunrise to the general public.

If there is additional Amateur Radio Field Day information that you would like to appear in these coordination messages, please contact me and I will add it to this section of the Amateur Radio Field Day Coordination Message.

On Friday, any Amateur Radio Field Day sites doing setup will see cloudy conditions with some breaks of sun possible over Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut. If these breaks of sun occur and a weak wave of low pressure is able to move into the region, isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms could potentially develop by afternoon with damaging winds, large hail and urban and poor drainage flooding as the primary threats. Outside of this area, thunderstorms with lightning are possible in the region. Temperatures will remain in the 60s but if any breaks of sunshine develop, temperatures could hit the lower 70s in those areas. The cool marine flow should protect most to possibly all areas from severe weather but areas out to the west may get some heating and if that occurs that may allow for an isolated severe thunderstorm or two and garden variety thunderstorms with lightning could be scattered across much of the region despite the cool marine flow. Any thunderstorms that do develop will have the attendant risk of lightning which is a danger to all Amateur Radio Field Day sites setting up during Friday Afternoon and evening regardless of whether thunderstorms become severe. The threat will be monitored with SKYWARN Activation and Ops at NWS Taunton possible during Friday Afternoon and Evening. A shortened message will be sent if time allows and Ops at NWS Taunton are initiated for this afternoon and evening.

As we get into Saturday, conditions will remain unsettled though the entire day is not expected to be a washout. The warm front which has been stalled out to the west of the region will move through and there should be a bit more sunshine then the past few days and temperatures into the 70s. While this sounds like good news, if enough sunshine develops, the atmosphere will cool aloft as a cold front approaches the region and wind shear profiles will be fairly strong. If enough sun and destablization occurs, isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms, perhaps even a squall line of strong to severe thunderstorms may develop by afternoon and evening affecting much of interior Southern New England. At the coast, thunderstorms with a lightning risk would be possible later Saturday Afternoon and Evening. This will be watched very closely. Again, any severe threat will depend on any sun and heating that could destablize the atmosphere and that will be better understood in future forecasts. Non-severe thunderstorms could be the main threat if heating doesn’t occur which pose a lightning safety risk to Field Day sites. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will be possible again Saturday Afternoon into Saturday Evening. As we get into late Saturday Night into Sunday, drier conditions will return to the area and the threat for thunderstorms and severe weather will have passed though isolated showers cannot be ruled out.

Amateur Radio Field Day sites setting up on Friday and active on Saturday should use caution and keep an eye to the sky and monitor their local SKYWARN Repeater, NOAA Weather Radio or weather information via Internet and media resources to guard against safety issues if thunderstorms, even if they are non-severe, occur in the region due to the potential lightning risk on radio equipment and antennas. Proper grouding of antennas is essential to help reduce any risk from lightning.

Below is the NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook:

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

SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton is possible on Friday Afternoon into the evening as well as Saturday Afternoon and Evening. A shortened coordination message will be issued if time allows and Ops at NWS Taunton are initiated on Friday. SKYWARN monitoring for non-severe thunderstorms and their lightning risk will be done throughout the weekend to protect Amateur Radio Field Day sites as required.

Also, as stated previously, remember that non-severe thunderstorms can pose a threat to Amateur Radio Field Day sites due to the threat of lightning. Please keep this in mind if you have an outdoor Field Day site. This week is Lightning Awareness Week and the National Weather Service in Taunton has posted information on Lightning Safety Awareness Week. See links below for this information:

NWS Taunton Latest Lightning Safety Awareness Week Statement: http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.nous41.KBOX.html

NWS Taunton Thursday 6/23/11 Lightning Safety Awareness Week Statement: http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KBOX/1106231315.nous41.html

NWS Taunton Wednesday 6/22/11 Lightning Safety Awareness Week Statement: http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KBOX/1106221959.nous41.html

NWS Taunton Tuesday 6/21/11 Lightning Safety Awareness Week Statement: http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=PNS&format=CI&version=5&glossary=0

NWS Lightning Safety Awareness Home Page: http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/

Again, Field Day sites are encouraged to bring a NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio and a dedicated Ham Radio that can monitor their local SKYWARN Frequency for their area or if they have mobile Internet capability, that is also a way to monitor for weather information if thunderstorms, even that are non-severe, approach your area. With Mobile Internet capability, utilizing Echolink to monitor the New England Reflector system on Echolink Conference Node: 9123/IRLP 9123 would be helpful. Please see the link below for the latest SKYWARN Frequency information for the region:
http://beta.wx1box.org/node/37

The next coordination message will be posted either by 1130 PM Friday Evening or by 1000 AM Saturday Morning.

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Pager #: (508) 354-3142
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 1-800-445-2588 Ext.: 72929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://beta.wx1box.org

Read more

Amateur Radio Field Day/Severe Weather Coordination Message #1 – June 23rd, 2011

Hello to all..

..The following is the first in a series of messages on Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend. Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend is an annual event where Ham Operators across the United States setup at Emergency Operations Centers, field locations, home locations etc. to operate and test their equipment and skills and make as many radio contacts as possible during the weekend. Many locations can be visited by the public and Amateur Radio Field Day can be a form of outreach to Ham and non-Ham Operators. It is also noted that several states have given proclamations to Amateur Radio/Ham Radio Operators for either an ‘Amateur Radio Week’ during the month of June or ‘Amateur Radio Month’ for this month. It is both a fun/preparatory event for Ham Radio Operators for Emergency Communications scenarios..
..As have been done over the past 10 plus years, this will be the first in a series of Severe Weather/Amateur Radio Field Day Coordination Messages to pass instructions to Amateur Radio Field Day sites on what to do if threatening weather approaches and to have Field Day sites guard their SKYWARN repeaters as required if threatening weather approaches..
..Field Day Weekend will bring unsettled weather to the region with periods of showers and thunderstorms possible on both Friday Afternoon and Evening and Saturday Afternoon and Evening though a total washout is not expected. At this time, Sunday is expected to be dry. For Field Day sites setting up during Friday Afternoon and Evening, there is also the potential across Western Massachusetts, Northern Connecticut and possibly Southwest New Hampshire of isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms with damaging winds, large hail and urban/poor drainage flooding as the primary threats..
..This Week is also Lightning Awareness Week and safety information on lightning gets propagated during this period and has coincidentally coincided with Amateur Radio Field Day weekend and that information is included in this coordination message..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible on Friday Afternoon and Evening. SKYWARN monitoring for even non-severe thunderstorms will be done over the weekend to protect Amateur Radio Field Day sites as best as possible..

There are a large number of Amateur Radio Field Day sites across the NWS Taunton County Warning Area and adjacent NWS County Warning Areas. Here are some links to information on these Amateur Radio Field Day Sites from across the region and links to the Amateur Radio Week Proclamation given by the Governor of Massachusetts for Amateur Radio Field Day 2011:

Amateur Radio Field Day Information: http://www.arrl.org/field-day

Amateur Radio Field Day National Locator: http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator

Eastern Massachusetts Field Day Home Page: http://fd.ema.arrl.org/

Massachusetts Proclamation for Amateur Radio Week:
http://wma.arrl.org/news.php
http://ema.arrl.org/node/1861

If there is additional Amateur Radio Field Day information that you would like to appear in these coordination messages, please contact me and I will add it to this section of the Amateur Radio Field Day Coordination Message.

On Friday, any Amateur Radio Field Day sites doing setup will see cloudy conditions with some breaks of sun. The breaks of sun may be most prevelant over Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut possibly getting into Southwest New Hampshire. If these breaks of sun occur and a cold front is able to move into the region, isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms could potentially develop by afternoon with damaging winds, large hail and urban and poor drainage flooding as the primary threats. Any thunderstorms that do develop will have the attendant risk of lightning which is a danger to all Amateur Radio Field Day sites setting up during Friday Afternoon and evening regardless of whether thunderstorms become severe. The exact threat risk is uncertain due to the position of the front and whether or not sufficient drying for sunshine and destablization occurs. The threat will be monitored with SKYWARN Activation and Ops at NWS Taunton possible during Friday Afternoon and Evening.

As we get into Saturday, conditions will remain unsettled though the entire day is not expected to be a washout. There could be showers and thunderstorms with an attendant lightning risk during the afternoon and evening as a cold front slowly swings through the remainder of the region. Any severe threat will depend on any sun and heating that could destablize the atmosphere and that will be better understood in future forecasts. As we get into late Saturday Night into Sunday, drier conditions will return to the area and the threat for thunderstorms and severe weather will have passed.

Amateur Radio Field Day sites setting up on Friday and active on Saturday should use caution and keep an eye to the sky and monitor their local SKYWARN Repeater, NOAA Weather Radio or weather information via Internet and media resources to guard against safety issues if thunderstorms, even if they are non-severe, occur in the region due to the potential lightning risk on radio equipment and antennas. Proper grouding of antennas is essential to help reduce any risk from lightning. Below is the NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook:

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

SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton is possible on Friday Afternoon into the evening and future coordination messages will better define the activity for Saturday as mentioned previously. SKYWARN monitoring for non-severe thunderstorms and their lightning risk will be done throughout the weekend to protect Amateur Radio Field Day sites as required.

Also, as stated previously, remember that non-severe thunderstorms can pose a threat to Amateur Radio Field Day sites due to the threat of lightning. Please keep this in mind if you have an outdoor Field Day site. This week is Lightning Awareness Week and the National Weather Service in Taunton has posted information on Lightning Safety Awareness Week. See links below for this information:

NWS Taunton Latest Lightning Safety Awareness Week Statement: http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.nous41.KBOX.html

NWS Taunton Wednesday 6/22/11 Lightning Safety Awareness Week Statement: http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KBOX/1106221959.nous41.html

NWS Taunton Tuesday 6/21/11 Lightning Safety Awareness Week Statement: http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KBOX/1106211549.nous41.html

NWS Lightning Safety Awareness Home Page: http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/

Field Day sites are encouraged to bring a NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio and a dedicated Ham Radio that can monitor their local SKYWARN Frequency for their area or if they have mobile Internet capability, that is also a way to monitor for weather information if thunderstorms, even that are non-severe, approach your area. With Mobile Internet capability, utilizing Echolink to monitor the New England Reflector system on Echolink Conference Node: 9123/IRLP 9123 would be helpful. Please see the link below for the latest SKYWARN Frequency information for the region:
http://beta.wx1box.org/node/37

The next coordination message will be posted either by 1130 PM Thursday Evening or by 900 AM Friday Morning.

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Pager #: (508) 354-3142
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 1-800-445-2588 Ext.: 72929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://beta.wx1box.org

 

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