Hello to all..

..Isolated strong to possibly even severe thunderstorms are possible late this afternoon and evening as an upper level low pressure system slowly makes its way through the region over the next several days. Damaging Winds would be the primary threat. Also, areas of heavy rainfall and any embedded thunderstorms may also cause urban/poor drainage flooding over the area..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will likely be utilized to cover these possible threats today. Ops at NWS Taunton are possible if coverage of heavy rainfall or strong thunderstorms is greater than anticipated..

At 745 AM, Doppler radar showed an area of heavy rainfall and embedded thunderstorms straddling the New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut border. This area is moving north-northeast and appears as though it will stay west of the NWS Taunton County Warning area or scrape the east slopes of the Berkshires west of the Connecticut River Valley. Other areas of heavy rain and embedded thunderstorms are likely to pivot around the upper level low pressure system today and tonight. This may result in urban and poor drainage flooding with the issuance of urban and small stream flood advisories. Overnight, a number areas have received .50-1.50″ of rain with isolated higher amounts over interior Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Southern New Hampshire.

Shear aloft will increase by late afternoon and early evening. At this time, little breaks in the cloud cover are expected but if a few breaks in the clouds were to occur or simply the combination of the cold pool aloft with strong shear may compensate for the lack of heating and result in isolated strong to possibly even severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and urban/poor drainage flooding as the primary threats. This will be monitored throughout the day. A low probability threat area with ‘see text’ has been issued by the Storm Prediction Center for much of Western and Central Massachusetts Connecticut and Western Rhode Island and NWS Taunton is in agreement.

It is noted that there could be minor splashover for East Coastal areas of Massachusetts due to onshore flow and high astronomoical tides. No major issues are expected, however.

SKYWARN Self-Activation will likely be utilized to cover these possible threats today. Ops at NWS Taunton are possible if coverage of heavy rainfall and urban/poor drainage flooding or isolated strong to severe thunderstorms is greater than anticipated. Another coordination message will be issued if time allows and Ops are initiated or self-activation of SKYWARN over a large area occurs. Below is the NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook, NWS Taunton Coastal Hazard Message and SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook:

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

NWS Taunton Coastal Hazard Message:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.whus41.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://beta.wx1box.org

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Hello to all..

..New England Continues its Recovery from Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene exactly one month after Irene’s impact to the region. Federally declared disaster declarations have been assigned to portions of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire..
..Power was fully restored to all areas approximately one week after Irene impacted the region. Most areas had power restored over a 1-5 day period but some areas went a full week without power..
..An article on Amateur Radio efforts during Hurricane Irene has been posted in the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) E-Letter. The article link is listed below..
..An archive of the NWS Taunton Local Storm Report and Public Information Statement highlighting the damage, flooding and wind measurement and rainfall totals from Irene’s impact on the region remains on the WX1BOX web site. In addition, the NWS Taunton Post Tropical Cyclone Report has also been posted and archived to the WX1BOX web site and a link to that has been added below..
..Additional post storm information including information on After Action Reports on the response and recovery from Irene will be posted in a future SKYWARN post storm coordination message or SKYWARN Newsletter..

ARRL ARES E-Letter link:
http://www.arrl.org/ares-el?issue=2011-09-28

NWS Taunton Post Tropical Cyclone Report for Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/psh_9_1_11.txt

NWS Taunton Local Storm Report:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/LSR_8_28_11.txt

NWS Taunton Public Information Statement:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/pns_8_29_11.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://beta.wx1box.org

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Hello to all..

..Flood Watch Cancelled for the region. Rainfall amounts of 0.50-2″ occurred over portions of Southern New England with isolated amounts over 2″. Additional rainfall is expected Sunday and during the week and will be monitored for potential flooding if amounts in the coming days coupled with rain that has already fallen could result in flooding. Please forward any rainfall greater than 2″ to NWS Taunton..

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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Hello to all..

..Potential period of heavy rainfall Friday Afternoon into Saturday Afternoon may cause flooding of urban and poor drainage areas and small streams as a general 1-3″ of rainfall affects much of the region with isolated higher amounts or an axis of heavier rainfall affecting a portion of the region..
..A Flood Watch is in effect from Noon Friday Through Saturday Evening for Northern Connecticut, Rhode Island and Southeast Massachusetts except for Cape Cod and the Islands..
..A Flood Watch is in effect for the remainder of Massachusetts from Friday Evening through Saturday Evening..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible if county based flood or flash flood warnings are issued. SKYWARN Self-Activation would probably be utilized for county based urban and small stream flood advisories. Reports of any flooding and measured rainfall reports 1″ or more in an hour or 2″ or more in a 24-36 hour period would be appreciated. Another coordination message will be issued by 11 PM Friday Evening unless Ops at NWS Taunton are initiated, then a shortened coordination message will be issued on Ops activation. Below is the NWS Taunton Flood Watch Statement and Hazardous Weather Outlook:

NWS Taunton Flood Watch Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wgus61.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://beta.wx1box.org

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Hello to all..

The 12th Annual Southern New England Weather Conference will be Saturday October 22nd, 2011 at Meditech Corporation near the base of Blue Hill in Canton, Massachusetts. There will be many presentations and items of interest for Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters. A SKYWARN table will also be done at the conference.  The following is an announcement from Glenn Field-KB1GHX, Warning Coordination Meteorologist at NWS Taunton Massachusetts:

We wanted to be able to get the word out to as many emergency managers and weather enthusiasts as possible about our 12th Annual Southern New England Weather Conference.  The “Earlybird” registration is only until Sept. 19th (for a $10 discount), but you can register up to a week before the conference.  Here is the info:

This year’s Southern New England Weather Conference will be held on Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011 at Meditech Corp., located near the base of the Blue Hill, in Canton, MA.  The facility is very nice and the catered lunch will be in an atrium which has palm trees, etc. 

The purpose of the conference is to enhance professional development and communication among private and public sector meteorologists, teachers, emergency management officials, and weather enthusiasts.  Each year we aim to present a wide variety of interesting topics.  This year we are thrilled to have Chris Darden, the Meteorologist in Charge of the Huntsville, Alabama National Weather Service Forecast Office to discuss their tornado outbreak. (Chris was a summer intern here way back!) We will also have Dr. Mike Hayes, the Director of the National Drought Mitigation Center coming from Nebraska and Bill Murtagh from the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado (discussing solar flares)!  We will be having a multi-faceted discussion on the Winter Storms of Dec., 2010 and Jan., 2011 from meterorological, emergency preparedness, and media perspectives.  We are pleased to have Joe Bastardi and Joe D’Aleo teaming up to discuss the winter weather outlook and how long-range forecasts benefit commercial customers.  Gary Conte, from NWS-Upton, NY will explain what it was like to conduct a tornado damage survey in the heart of New York City during Yom Kippur in 2010.  We will have other talks, including weather requirements for the Cape Wind project; basics of Dual Polarization Doppler Radar; examination of a winter storm forecast from 2010 that was quite a bust; Mount Washington weather; choosing weather instruments for home and school; and some talks geared for educators regarding bringing weather into the classroom and forming interactive relationships with the media.

This agenda was set before the tornado in Springfield, but we are planning on devoting a big part of next year’s conference to it.

There will be a continental breakfast with mini bagels and mini muffins, fresh fruit, juices, coffee, and tea.  Rita’s Catering will be serving lunch…which includes orange-sesame grilled chicken; veggie lasagna; ginger grilled vegetables; salad, etc. 

Costs have gone up, especially due to the catered food and cleanup costs.   The earlybird registration (through Sept. 19) is $89, after which time it goes up to $99, except it stays $89 for teachers and students. 

Here are the links:

Main conference page     http://www.sneweatherconf.org/index.shtml
Agenda-abstracts-bios    http://www.sneweatherconf.org/2011Agenda.shtml
Registration                   http://www.sneweatherconf.org/confregform.cfm

Hope to see you there!

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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Hello to all..

..Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms developing over Eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Northeast Connecticut. Strong winds, hail and urban/poor drainage flooding are the primary threats..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton is possible but currently SKYWARN Self-Activation will be used to monitor the situation. Pea Sized Hail was just reported in Peabody, Mass by Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters in the area. This will be the only coordination message unless time allows and Ops at NWS Taunton are initiated. Below is the SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook..

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://beta.wx1box.org

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Hello to all..

..Per coordination with NWS Taunton, SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will start by 9 AM ET lasting through mid-afternoon to monitor rainfall and flooding issues..
..There has been some questions on rainfall total reporting. Any rainfall from late Sunday Evening through today is being considered one event. If your rain is over 2″ for the event, please specify the timeframe that rain has fallen (ie: 24 hour period, 48 hour period, 72 or 96 hour period etc.)..
..This will be the last coordination message on today’s weather event..

Regards,

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

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Hello to all..

..Reports of Urban Flooding in portions of Western Massachusetts this morning as heavy rainfall affects the region. A Flood Watch remains in effect until 11 AM for Cheshire County New Hampshire, Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin Counties of Western Massachusetts and Hartford County Connecticut. Flood Advisories are also posted for several areas as well as river flood warnings..
..High Surf and Rip Currents will continue to affect the coastal areas of Southern New England where High Surf Advisories are in effect through 8 PM Friday as Hurricane Katia passes 250 miles southeast of Nantucket Island..
..SKYWARN has self-activated in portions of the region due to flooding. Ops at NWS Taunton are possible this morning into early this afternoon. This will be the only coordination message on this event unless Ops at NWS Taunton are initiated and time allows for a shortened coordination message. Any pictures/video of flooding can be sent to pics at nsradio.org. Below is the NWS Taunton Flood Watch Statement, Flood Advisory/River Flood Warning Statements and Hazardous Weather Outlook and the High Surf Advisory Statement..

NWS Taunton Flood Advisory Statements:
http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KBOX/1109081109.wgus81.html
http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KBOX/1109080843.wgus81.html

NWS Taunton River Flood Warning Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KBOX/1109080923.wgus81.html

Latest NWS Taunton Flood Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wgus81.KBOX.html

Latest NWS Taunton Flood Warning Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wgus41.KBOX.html

NWS Taunton Flood Watch statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wgus61.KBOX.html

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

NWS Taunton High Surf Advisory Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.whus41.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://beta.wx1box.org

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Hello to all..

..Flash Flood Watch Cancelled for Western New England, however, a Flood Advisory is in effect until 845 AM for Urban and Small Stream flooding for Cheshire, and Northwest Hillsborough Counties of New Hampshire, Franklin, Western Hampshire and Hampden Counties. Flood threat for today through Wednesday appears to be confined to urban and poor drinage areas and to minor flooding of small streams. Rainfall totals between 2-5″ have occurred in Franklin County Massachusetts and Cheshire County New Hampshire but it has been spread out over a 30-hour period causing more minor flooding versus flash flooding. Isolated street flooding reports were received in Chesterfield New Hampshire Monday Evening. The rest of the region is expected to see rainfall under 2″ and other than brief urban/poor drainage flooding from any heavier downpours, flash flooding is no longer anticipated..
..Hurricane Katia is expected to stay well offshore of New England about 200-250 miles southeast of Nantucket Island. This means the only impacts to Southern New England will be in the form of high surf and dangerous rip currents later this week into the weekend. This will continue to be monitored and a coordination message posted when High Surf Advisories are posted..
..The remnants of Lee will be cutoff from the westerlies and won’t impact the region, if at all, until the weekend. The rainfall over portions of the region the past couple of days has been due to a slowing moving cold front drawing moisture northward but the remnants of Lee has largely reamined over the Southeast United States..
..This will be the last coordination message for this event unless new watches or warnings are issued. Flood Advisories may be issued over the next 24 to 36 hour period for urban/poor drainage flooding and minor small stream flooding. Please report any rainfall 2″ or more or rainfall 1″ or more in one hour and any flooding to NWS Taunton as required. SKYWARN Self-Activation will be utilized as required and Ops at NWS Taunton are currently not anticipated. Below is the NWS Taunton Flood Statement and Hazardous Weather Outlook..

NWS Taunton Flood Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wgus81.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://beta.wx1box.org

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Hello to all..

..Heavy Rainfall from showers and thunderstorms may cause flooding in parts of Southern New England..
..A Flash Food Watch remains in effect and has been extended to Tuesday Afternoon for Northern Connecticut, Western Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. A slow moving cold front will push further east causing heavy rainfall in showers and thunderstorms and this slow moving cold front combined with moisture from Hurricane Irene from last week will cause the potential for flash flooding in the watch area. The region east of the Flash Flood Watch should monitor the potential for flooding but the issues will be greatest in the Flash Flood Watch area..
..Rainfall amounts from Sunday Evening to Monday Evening have been in the area of 1.5-3″ in portions of Western and Central Franklin County Massachusetts and 2-4″ in portions of Cheshire County NH per spotter reports. Some isolated flooding issues occurred in Chesterfield New Hampshire earlier this evening..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton remain possible Tuesday if areal county flood or flash flood warnings are issued. Another coordination message will be issued Tuesday by Noon to cover the threat particularly if Ops at NWS Taunton are required. Below is the NWS Taunton Flood Watch Statement and Hazardous Weather Outlook..

NWS Taunton Flash Flood Watch Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wgus61.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://beta.wx1box.org

Read more