Amateur Radio Field Day/Severe Weather Coordination Message #3 – Friday June 22nd through Sunday June 24th, 2012
Hello to all..
..The following is the third in a series of messages on Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend and providing information on the heat and severe weather potential during this period..
..Conditions will be hot and humid Friday with temperatures in the upper 80’s to mid 90s region wide so any Field Day sites doing setup Friday should use extreme caution due to the warm conditions by going slow and drinking plenty of liquids..
..Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms remain likely Friday Afternoon and Evening across much of Southern New England as a cold front moves through the region. Strong to Damaging Winds, Large Hail and Urban and poor drainage flooding are the primary threats. Thunderstorm activity could extend into Saturday Morning across the coastal plain of Southern New England. There will then be a break with the potential for Isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorm development again later Saturday Afternoon and Evening now centered over Eastern New England. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence by 2 PM Friday Afternoon lasting through late Friday Evening and SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible on Saturday..
..The remainder of the period will largely be dry. Showers and thunderstorms are expected Sunday Night as Field Day weekend winds down but this should be after takedown of equipment is completed based on current forecasts. Temperatures over the weekend will be in the Upper 70s to mid 80s as the cold front brings cooler temperatures..
..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..
..Unlike past years, Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend doesn’t coinicide with Lightning Awareness Week so lightning safety information from NOAA’s Lightning Safety web site has been posted for awareness for all Amateur Radio Field Day Sites..
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
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/
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 Hazy, Hot and Humid conditions with temperatures in the upper 80s to mid 90s. Given this extreme heat, any groups setting up for Field Day on Friday should take it slow and drink plenty of liquids. The link below features information on Heat Safety:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/heat/index.shtml
A Cold front will begin to approach the region Friday Afternoon and evening and this will set the stage for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms with strong to 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. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence by 2 PM Friday Afternoon lasting through late Friday evening.
As we get into Saturday, the cold front’s movement will be slowing and there remains a possibility of thunderstorm activity across East Coastal Massachusetts and Southeast New England through midday with an attendant lightning risk and possible urban and poor drainage flooding. It appears the cold frontal passage off the coast before we get into Saturday is unlikely. Following this activity, skies will clear however a cold pool of air in the upper levels of the atmosphere and increasing winds aloft may allow for an isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorm threat during the late afternoon into early evening. The area at most risk for this activity later Saturday now looks to be Eastern New England but there remains uncertainty. Any severe threat will depend on any sun and heating that could destablize the atmosphere and the atmosphere recovery after Saturday Morning’s activity. This will be better understood in future forecasts. As we get into Saturday Night into Sunday, drier conditions will return to the area and the threat for thunderstorms and severe weather will have passed. As we get into Sunday Evening, another round of showers and thunderstorms with possible heavy rainfall will occur but this should be after Field Day ends though some takedown of sites may be affected if that extends well into the evening. Confidence is growing in this scenario. Temperatures over the weekend will be cooler ranging in the upper 70s to lower 80s.
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 will commence at 2 PM Friday Afternoon into late Friday evening and future coordination messages will better define the activity for Saturday and SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton remains possible on Saturday. 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. The following is a link for lightning safety information:
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 by 1130 PM Friday 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
Hello to all..
..The following is the third in a series of messages on Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend and providing information on the heat and severe weather potential during this period..
..Conditions will be hot and humid Friday with temperatures in the upper 80’s to mid 90s region wide so any Field Day sites doing setup Friday should use extreme caution due to the warm conditions by going slow and drinking plenty of liquids..
..Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms remain likely Friday Afternoon and Evening across much of Southern New England as a cold front moves through the region. Strong to Damaging Winds, Large Hail and Urban and poor drainage flooding are the primary threats. Thunderstorm activity could extend into Saturday Morning across the coastal plain of Southern New England. There will then be a break with the potential for Isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorm development again later Saturday Afternoon and Evening now centered over Eastern New England. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence by 2 PM Friday Afternoon lasting through late Friday Evening and SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible on Saturday..
..The remainder of the period will largely be dry. Showers and thunderstorms are expected Sunday Night as Field Day weekend winds down but this should be after takedown of equipment is completed based on current forecasts. Temperatures over the weekend will be in the Upper 70s to mid 80s as the cold front brings cooler temperatures..
..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..
..Unlike past years, Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend doesn’t coinicide with Lightning Awareness Week so lightning safety information from NOAA’s Lightning Safety web site has been posted for awareness for all Amateur Radio Field Day Sites..
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
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/
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 Hazy, Hot and Humid conditions with temperatures in the upper 80s to mid 90s. Given this extreme heat, any groups setting up for Field Day on Friday should take it slow and drink plenty of liquids. The link below features information on Heat Safety:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/heat/index.shtml
A Cold front will begin to approach the region Friday Afternoon and evening and this will set the stage for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms with strong to 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. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence by 2 PM Friday Afternoon lasting through late Friday evening.
As we get into Saturday, the cold front’s movement will be slowing and there remains a possibility of thunderstorm activity across East Coastal Massachusetts and Southeast New England through midday with an attendant lightning risk and possible urban and poor drainage flooding. It appears the cold frontal passage off the coast before we get into Saturday is unlikely. Following this activity, skies will clear however a cold pool of air in the upper levels of the atmosphere and increasing winds aloft may allow for an isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorm threat during the late afternoon into early evening. The area at most risk for this activity later Saturday now looks to be Eastern New England but there remains uncertainty. Any severe threat will depend on any sun and heating that could destablize the atmosphere and the atmosphere recovery after Saturday Morning’s activity. This will be better understood in future forecasts. As we get into Saturday Night into Sunday, drier conditions will return to the area and the threat for thunderstorms and severe weather will have passed. As we get into Sunday Evening, another round of showers and thunderstorms with possible heavy rainfall will occur but this should be after Field Day ends though some takedown of sites may be affected if that extends well into the evening. Confidence is growing in this scenario. Temperatures over the weekend will be cooler ranging in the upper 70s to lower 80s.
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 will commence at 2 PM Friday Afternoon into late Friday evening and future coordination messages will better define the activity for Saturday and SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton remains possible on Saturday. 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. The following is a link for lightning safety information:
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 by 1130 PM Friday 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