Amateur Radio Field Day/Severe Weather Coordination Message #5 – Saturday June 23rd-Sunday June 24th, 2012 – Final Update
Hello to all..
..The following is the fifth and final message in a series of messages on Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend and providing information on severe weather potential during this period..
..Another round of Isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are possible to likely Saturday Afternoon into early evening with damaging winds, large hail, and urban/poor drainage flooding as the main threats as a cyclonic flow with cooler temperatures aloft and strong winds aloft set the stage for another round of activity. The greatest risk is over Central and Eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Northeast Connecticut but all areas should monitor. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) and NWS Taunton are in agreement on this severe weather threat. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence at Noon today with storm initiation expected between 1-3 PM this afternoon..
..Friday brought isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms over portions of Connecticut, Rhode Island and East-Central Massachusetts. The Local Storm Report and Public Information Statement on Friday’s storms events are posted..
..As we get into Saturday Night and Sunday, temperatures and humidity will be pleasant with lows in the 50’s to lower 60’s and highs Sunday in the 70s to lower 80s. The next threat of another round of showers and thunderstorms will be after Amateur Radio Field Day is completed and sites have taken down their antennas and equipment..
..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.
Friday brought hot and humid conditions with isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms causing pockets of wind damage, flooding, large hail and damage from lightning strikes across portions of the region. The Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association Club in Gloucester, Massachusetts lost 2 large tents in strong thunderstorm wind gusts measured at 43 MPH at the Gloucester Marina and 60 MPH in the Pebble Beach area of Rockport, Massachusetts. The Local Storm Report and Public Information Statement for these events are listed at the following links:
NWS Taunton Local Storm Report:
http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KBOX/1206230135.nwus51.html
NWS Taunton Public Information Statement – Rainfall Reports:
http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KBOX/1206230141.nous41.html
Reviewing latest radar and satellite imagery as of 915 AM Saturday Morning showed showers over the Metro Boston area and South Shore moving offshore with rapid clearing over Eastern New York and breaks into Western and Central New England. This will move over the remainder of the region allowing for sunshine and destablization of the atmosphere. An impulse will move into the area this afternoon and with the cooling aloft, increasing wind shear aloft and heating to allow for instability that could set the stage for another round of isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms with damaging winds, large hail and urban and poor drainage flooding as the main threats over portions of Southern New England. The greatest threat area appears to be in Central and Eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Northeast Connecticut but all areas should monitor the situation. Activity will start in the 1-3 PM timeframe lasting through early evening. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence at Noon today. Temperatures are expected to be in the low to mid 80s Saturday. While it won’t be as warm as past days, please use caution in the warm conditions and the link to heat safety is listed below:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/heat/index.shtml
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. Below is the NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook, SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook and the link for lightning safety awareness information:
NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook: http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.flus41.KBOX.html
SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook:
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk.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
As we get into Saturday Night and Sunday, the threat for severe weather and thunderstorms will have passed and pleasant weather conditions with low temperatures in the 50’s to lower 60’s Saturday Night and highs Sunday in the 70’s to lower 80’s with sunshine and less humidity. The next storm system bringing another round of showers and thunderstorms will not affect the region until late Sunday Night and Monday after Field Day and takedown of Field Day equipment is completed.
This will be the last coordination message for Amateur Radio Field Day Weeekend as we move to NWS Taunton SKYWARN Operations mode for Saturday and there will be no further severe weather threats beyond this Saturday Afternoon and early 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 fifth and final message in a series of messages on Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend and providing information on severe weather potential during this period..
..Another round of Isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are possible to likely Saturday Afternoon into early evening with damaging winds, large hail, and urban/poor drainage flooding as the main threats as a cyclonic flow with cooler temperatures aloft and strong winds aloft set the stage for another round of activity. The greatest risk is over Central and Eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Northeast Connecticut but all areas should monitor. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) and NWS Taunton are in agreement on this severe weather threat. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence at Noon today with storm initiation expected between 1-3 PM this afternoon..
..Friday brought isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms over portions of Connecticut, Rhode Island and East-Central Massachusetts. The Local Storm Report and Public Information Statement on Friday’s storms events are posted..
..As we get into Saturday Night and Sunday, temperatures and humidity will be pleasant with lows in the 50’s to lower 60’s and highs Sunday in the 70s to lower 80s. The next threat of another round of showers and thunderstorms will be after Amateur Radio Field Day is completed and sites have taken down their antennas and equipment..
..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.
Friday brought hot and humid conditions with isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms causing pockets of wind damage, flooding, large hail and damage from lightning strikes across portions of the region. The Cape Ann Amateur Radio Association Club in Gloucester, Massachusetts lost 2 large tents in strong thunderstorm wind gusts measured at 43 MPH at the Gloucester Marina and 60 MPH in the Pebble Beach area of Rockport, Massachusetts. The Local Storm Report and Public Information Statement for these events are listed at the following links:
NWS Taunton Local Storm Report:
http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KBOX/1206230135.nwus51.html
NWS Taunton Public Information Statement – Rainfall Reports:
http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KBOX/1206230141.nous41.html
Reviewing latest radar and satellite imagery as of 915 AM Saturday Morning showed showers over the Metro Boston area and South Shore moving offshore with rapid clearing over Eastern New York and breaks into Western and Central New England. This will move over the remainder of the region allowing for sunshine and destablization of the atmosphere. An impulse will move into the area this afternoon and with the cooling aloft, increasing wind shear aloft and heating to allow for instability that could set the stage for another round of isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms with damaging winds, large hail and urban and poor drainage flooding as the main threats over portions of Southern New England. The greatest threat area appears to be in Central and Eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Northeast Connecticut but all areas should monitor the situation. Activity will start in the 1-3 PM timeframe lasting through early evening. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence at Noon today. Temperatures are expected to be in the low to mid 80s Saturday. While it won’t be as warm as past days, please use caution in the warm conditions and the link to heat safety is listed below:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/heat/index.shtml
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. Below is the NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook, SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook and the link for lightning safety awareness information:
NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook: http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.flus41.KBOX.html
SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook:
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk.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
As we get into Saturday Night and Sunday, the threat for severe weather and thunderstorms will have passed and pleasant weather conditions with low temperatures in the 50’s to lower 60’s Saturday Night and highs Sunday in the 70’s to lower 80’s with sunshine and less humidity. The next storm system bringing another round of showers and thunderstorms will not affect the region until late Sunday Night and Monday after Field Day and takedown of Field Day equipment is completed.
This will be the last coordination message for Amateur Radio Field Day Weeekend as we move to NWS Taunton SKYWARN Operations mode for Saturday and there will be no further severe weather threats beyond this Saturday Afternoon and early 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