“Natural disasters and extreme weather are real events that many people don’t think about until it’s too late.”
–Donna Franklin, NOAA’s Lightning Safety Program Lead

On Wednesday, February 1, the Museum of Science will host CNN Meteorologist Bonnie Schneider for the program Extreme Weather, part of the Museum’s Adult Offerings.

From epic floods to historical drought, unrelenting summer heat to arctic blasts of frigid air, 2011 was a year of extremes. Unfortunately, it was also a year of death and destruction: 552 people died in tornadoes, tying 2011 with 1936 as the deadliest year on record. With “a total of twelve weather and climate disasters,” according to The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), “each causing $1 billion or more in damages,” one of the most expensive.

As a Meteorologist on CNN and HLN, Bonnie Schneider reports on these natural disasters, explaining when they’re likely to strike, and telling viewers how to respond when they do. She has interviewed experts from a wide variety of agencies – including FEMA and NOAA – to provide a comprehensive understanding of the science behind weather patterns and the latest thinking on how to act in dangerous conditions. She’ll share actual survivor stories, reminding us that disaster can strike at any time, changing your life forever.

You can register to attend this FREE program at the following link: http://extremeweather.eventbrite.com/

Best,

Jennifer Garrett
Lectures and Special Programs
Museum of Science, Boston

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Hello to all..

..A storm system is currently bringing mixed precipitation to the region that is in the process of changing to an extended period of freezing rain that will result in slippery travel and the potential for isolated to scattered pockets of tree and wire damage along and north of the Mass Pike and especially in Southern New Hampshire..
..A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect through 1 PM Friday for Southern New Hampshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Northern Worcester and Northern Middlesex Counties of Massachusetts for up to 1″ of snow and icing of up to one-quarter to possibly one-third of an inch..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is now in effect through 7 AM Friday for Hartford County Conencticut for ice accretion of up to one-tenth inch due to temperatures being near freezing..
..Strong Winds may occur across Southeast Coastal New England during the day on Friday and this potential will also be monitored..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will occur this evening through Friday Morning and we will be monitoring carefully after 5-6 AM Friday for any icing reports and icing damage reports. Ops at NWS Taunton will be possible if it becomes evident that ice amounts are causing damage to locations within the advisory area that are widespread..

A storm system is currently tracking over Southern New England tonight through Friday. The storm has brought a brief period of mixed precipitation changing to rain across much of interior southern New England south of the Mass. Pike and east of I-495 with coastal locations seeing all rain. Hartford County Connecticut has remained near freezing so a Winter Weather Advisory has been issued through 7 AM for up to one-tenth inch of radial icing in that county. North of the Mass. Pike and west of I-495, A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect through 1 PM Friday Afternoon for Southern New Hampshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Northern Worcester and Northern Middlesex Counties of Massachusetts for up to 1 inch of snow and ice amounts of up to one-quarter to possibly one-third of an inch especially over Southern New Hampshire. These ice amounts could result in isolated to scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages. These ice amounts are expected to be below Winter Storm Warning threshold though this will be monitored closely. If ice amounts reach one-quarter to one-third of an inch, some isolated to scattered tree and wire damage will be possible but it should not be widespread. Amounts greater than one-third of an inch ice could result in damage that is more widespread so this will be watched closely.

Strong winds could affect portions of Southeast Coastal New England Friday and Friday Night. This potential will also be monitored.

SKYWARN Self-Activation will occur this evening through Friday Morning and will be monitored closely after 5-6 AM for any icing damage and ice accumulation reports. Ops at NWS Taunton will be possible if it becomes evident that ice amounts are causing damage to locations within the advisory area that are widespread. Another coordination message will follow this evening. Below is the NWS Taunton Winter Weather Advisory Statement and Hazardous Weather Outlook:

NWS Taunton Winter Weather Advisory Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus41.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..

..A storm system will bring mixed precipitation to the region at the start changing to an extended period of freezing rain that will result in slippery travel and the potential for isolated to scattered pockets of tree and wire damage along and north of the Mass Pike and especially in Southern New Hampshire..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 7 PM tonight through 1 PM Friday for Southern New Hampshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Northern Worcester and Northern Middlesex Counties of Massachusetts for up to 1″ of snow and icing of up to one-quarter to possibly one-third of an inch..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will occur this evening through Friday Morning. Ops at NWS Taunton will be possible if it becomes evident that ice amounts are causing damage to locations within the advisory area that are widespread..

A storm system will track over Southern New England tonight through Friday. The storm will bring a brief period of mixed precipitation changing to rain across much of interior southern New England south of the Mass. Pike and east of I-495 with coastal locations seeing all rain. North of the Mass. Pike and west of I-495, A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued from 7 PM Thursday Evening through 1 PM Friday Afternoon for Southern New Hampshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Northern Worcester and Northern Middlesex Counties of Massachusetts for up to 1 inch of snow and ice amounts of up to one-quarter to possibly one-third of an inch especially over Southern New Hampshire. These ice amounts could result in isolated to scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages. These ice amounts are expected to be below Winter Storm Warning threshold though this will be monitored closely. If ice amounts reach one-quarter to one-third of an inch, some isolated to scattered tree and wire damage will be possible but it should not be widespread. Amounts greater than one-third of an inch ice could result in damage that is more widespread so this will be watched closely.

SKYWARN Self-Activation will occur this evening through Friday Morning. Ops at NWS Taunton will be possible if it becomes evident that ice amounts are causing damage to locations within the advisory area that are widespread. Another coordination message will follow this evening. Below is the NWS Taunton Winter Weather Advisory Statement and Hazardous Weather Outlook:

NWS Taunton Winter Weather Advisory Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus41.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..

..A period of freezing rain will impact travel over portions of Southern New England overnight through late Monday Morning..
..A Freezing Rain Advisory is in effect through 11 AM Monday for Northern Connecticut, Southern New Hampshire and  Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, Worcester, and Northern and Central Middlesex Counties of Massachusetts. Freezing rain accumulations of one-tenth inch of ice or less will occur in the area. This will cause hazardous travel during the advisory period. Temperatures should rise above freezing in the late morning from 9-11 AM in the advisory area..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will be utilized to monitor the icing over the advisory area. This will be the only coordination message for this event unless a significant upgrade to this issue occurs. Below is the NWS Taunton Freezing Rain Advisory statement and Hazardous Weather Outlook..

NWS Taunton Freezing Rain Advisory Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus41.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..

..Moderate Snowstorm starting to impact much of Southern New England with snow starting across the region and will be heavy at times south of the Mass. Pike..
..A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect through 6 PM Saturday for the entire NWS Taunton County Warning Area except for Southern New Hampshire and Nantucket Island. In the advisory area, 2-4″ is now expected north of the Mass. Pike with 4-6 inches of snow expected with isolated higher amounts of 7-8″ possible in a few locations along and south of the Mass Pike. Outside of the Advisory area, 2-4″ of snow is now expected in Southern New Hampshire (the advisory threshold for Southern New Hampshire is higher than the rest of the region). On Nantucket Island, 1-3″ of snow and sleet is expected as snow may mix with sleet and rain on Nantucket. Snow has started across much of Southern New England and could be heavy at times esspecially along and south of the Mass. Pike. Snow will end from west to east in the mid to late afternoon hours..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will be utilized to monitor this event throughout the day Saturday Morning into evening. We’ll likely request a few call-up nets for snowfall reports on local SKYWARN repeaters especially along and south of the Mass. Pike during the storm. Hartford-Tolland County SKYWARN will have their first net in the 9-930 AM timeframe while Rhdoe Island SKYWARN will have their nets starting around 10-1030 AM. Southeast Massachusetts Nets will likely start around noon time. Future nets will be held periodically as the snow continues. This will be the last coordination message for this storm event. Below is the NWS Taunton Winter Weather Advisory statement and Hazardous Weather Outlook..

NWS Taunton Winter Weather Advisory Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus41.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..

..Moderate Snowstorm expected to impact much of Southern New England early Saturday Morning into early Saturday Evening..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is now in effect from 2 AM through 6 PM Saturday for the entire NWS Taunton County Warning Area except for Southern New Hampshire and Nantucket Island. In the advisory area, 4-6 inches of snow is expected with isolated higher amounts of 7-8″ possible in a few locations along and south of the Mass Pike. Outside of the Advisory area, 1-3″ of snow is expected in Southern New Hampshire. On Nantucket Island, 1-3″ of snow and sleet is expected as snow may mix with sleet and rain on Nantucket. Snow will start in western areas after midnight and before daybreak in eastern areas lasting ending from west to east in the early to mid-afternoon timeframe across the area..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will be utilized to monitor this event throughout the day Saturday Morning into evening. We’ll likely request a few call-up nets for snowfall reports on local SKYWARN repeaters especially along and south of the Mass. Pike during the storm. Another coordination message will be issued either later this evening or early Saturday Morning to update the storm and possibly give some timeframes of net call-ups during this storm. Below is the NWS Taunton Winter Weather Advisory statement and Hazardous Weather Outlook..

NWS Taunton Winter Weather Advisory Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus41.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..

..A general light snowfall of a Dusting to 2″ with isolated amounts of around 3-4″ possible for the NWS Taunton County Warning Area tonight into Friday Morning. The highest amounts will be over interior locations with lesser amounts near the coast based on current storm trends. Roads will be slippery overnight and possibly into the Friday Morning commute for some areas so use caution if travelling during this period..
..A stronger storm system will affect the region Saturday into Saturday Night bringing the potential for a moderate snowstorm to the region. Further details and potential coordination messages on this storm system will likely start on Friday..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will be utilized to monitor snowfall conditions late this evening until 11 PM or 12 AM and again Friday Morning from around 6-8 AM to collect any snowfall totals. This will be the only coordination message issued on the Thursday Evening/Friday Morning storm system unless a significant change to this storm event occurs. Below is the NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook..

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..

..Another bout of strong winds expected for the region but the winds will not be as strong as the Friday Wind Event which brought wind gusts in some areas especially across Southeast Massachusetts and Rhode Island near and over High Wind Warning criteria..
..A Wind Advisory is in effect from 4 AM to 4 PM Wednesday for the entire NWS Taunton County Warning Area for sustained winds of 20-25 MPH with gusts up to 50 MPH. These winds could cause isolated pockets of tree and wire damage in the area. The strongest winds are expected Wednesday Morning into the early afternoon..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will be utilized to monitor the strong winds over the area. This will be the only coordination message on this situation unless a significant change to the situation occurs. Below is the NWS Taunton Wind Advisory statement and the Hazardous Weather Outlook..

NWS Taunton Wind Advisory statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus71.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

Hello to all..

..A storm system will bring light snow and light ice accumulations affecting travel overnight across much of interior Southern New England and into the Tuesday Morning commute west of I-495..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect through 9 AM Tuesday for Southern Worcester County Massachusetts, Windham County Connecticut and Northwest Providence County Rhode Island for 1-2″ of snow with an isolated 3″ amount possible and a trace of ice accumulation..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect through 10 AM Tuesday for Hartford and Tolland Counties of Connecticut, Cheshire and Western-Central Hillsborough County NH, and Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Northern Worcester and Northern Middlesex Counties of Massachusetts for 1-2 inches of snow and a trace of ice..
..Initial reports indicate around 1-2 inches of snow across Western and Central Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut as an initial wave of precipitation moves through. A second wave will move through in the later overnight into Tuesday Morning..
..Ops at NWS Taunton are not expected but SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the situation through the period, especially Tuesday Morning. This will be the only coordination message on this event unless a significant change to the situation occurs. Below is the NWS Taunton Winter Weather Advisory Statement, Special Weather Statement and Hazardous Weather Outlook..

NWS Taunton Winter Weather Advisory Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus41.KBOX.html

NWS Taunton Special Weather Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus81.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..

..Arctic cold front moving through the region will usher in much colder air and strong to damaging winds along with a period of freezing rain in the distant interior..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is now in effect through 10 AM this morning for Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, Northern Worcester and Northern Middlesex Counties Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire for ice accumulations of a coating to one-tenth inch resulting in rough travel conditions for a few hours this morning..
..A Wind Advisory remains in effect through Midnight Friday Night for the entire NWS Taunton County Warning Area for sustained winds 20-30 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH. Higher gusts may be possible in portions of the region. These winds are likely to result in isolated to scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages. The strongest winds will likely be from around noon to 6 pm today..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will be utilized to monitor conditions this morning. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible during the late Friday Morning through early evening period. This will be the last complete coordination message on today’s weather. A shortened coordination message will be issued if time allows and Ops at NWS Taunton are initiated. Below is the NWS Taunton Winter Weather Advisory, Wind Advisory statement and Hazardous Weather Outlook..

NWS Taunton Winter Weather Advisory Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus41.KBOX.html

NWS Taunton Wind Advisory Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus71.KBOX.html

NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outloook:
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