Storm Coordination Message #1 – Late Thursday Nite 10/31/13-Friday 11/1/13 Storm Event

Hello to all..

..Strong Storm System will bring strong to damaging winds to portions of Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island and a period of heavy rainfall that may cause brief urban and poor drainage flooding particularly for leaf clogged drains..
..A High Wind Watch is now in effect from late tonight through Friday Afternoon for Southeast Providence, Kent, Bristol and Washington Counties Rhode Island, Barnstable, Bristol, Plymouth, Norfolk and Suffolk Counties of Massachusetts for sustained winds of 20-35 MPH with wind gusts of 50-60 MPH. Other areas outside of the High Wind Watch region may see Wind Advisory conditions..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible to likely as we get into Friday Morning into Friday Afternoon..

A strong storm system will track through the Great Lakes and Southeast Canada. It will bring much warmer temperatures for a period of time but also the threat of strong to damaging winds and a brief period of heavy rainfall. A High Wind Watch is now in effect from late tonight through Friday Afternoon for Southeast Providence, Kent, Bristol and Washington Counties Rhode Island, Barnstable, Bristol, Plymouth, Norfolk and Suffolk Counties of Massachusetts for sustained winds of 20-35 MPH with wind gusts of 50-60 MPH. Other areas outside of the High Wind Watch region may see Wind Advisory conditions. The strong to damaging winds with trees that still have a fair number of leaves on them could cause isolated to scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages. In addition, a brief period of heavy rainfall may cause brief urban and poor drainage flooding particularly for leaf clogged drains.

SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible to likely as we get into Friday Morning into Friday Afternoon. The next coordination message will be posted by 10 PM this evening. Below is the NWS Taunton High Wind Watch Statement and Hazardous Weather Outlook:

NWS Taunton High Wind Watch 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
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Special Announcement: Remembering Hurricane Sandy One Year Later

Hello to all..

One year ago today, Hurricane Sandy affected much of the US East Coast from the Mid-Atlantic and Delmarva region into the New York City and Long Island New York area and into Southern New England. The hardest hit areas were in the New York City, Long Island and New Jersey areas but Southern New England, particularly Southern Connecticut, Southern Rhode Island and into Eastern Massachusetts also had significant impact from Hurricane Sandy. This is a time to reflect and provide as a reminder, Hurricane Sandy’s impacts to our region and provide some valuable links on the response and recovery efforts that are still ongoing in the New Jersey, New York City and Long Island New York areas. It is also a reminder that if such a system tracked closer to Southern New England, the impacts felt across New York City, Long Island and New Jersey would’ve been felt right here in our region and it would have been far worse than most storms seen in recent memory. This is why it is so important to remain prepared and vigilant whenever a situation such as Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene in 2011, the Blizzard of 2013 and other similar systems affect our region. The impact could be worse case or a scenario you haven’t seen before so being prepared ahead of time is key to making a difficult situation easier to handle and if the storm doesn’t materialize as severely as expected in your area for that specific situation, you increase your preparedness the next time such a situation may occur and its not a wasted effort for you and your family. Reporting in real-time or near real-time is very critical to give the National Weather Service, Emergency Management, media and other entities situational awareness and disaster intelligence information that can be very critical during a disaster response and any reporting post storm whenever possible also can assist in those efforts and during Hurricane Sandy, area Amateur Radio Operators and SKYWARN Spotters rose to the task once again.

Starting in Southern New England, previous data sets such as the Public Information Statement Storm Summary on Hurricane Sandy from November 8th, 2012, a complete storm reports summary from the desk at WX1BOX has been provided which also includes reports from various automated non-ASOS/NWS weather station sites of wind gusts of 45 MPH or greater over the region. In addition, NWS Taunton Local Storm Report and Public Information Statements issued near and at the end of the storm event are provided in this message. This includes the Severe Thunderstorm that affected the Wareham/Onset Massachusetts area on October 30th, 2012 which was associated with the circulation of Hurricane Sandy. Also, a Hurricane Sandy video as shown at the 2013 National Hurricane Conference put together with SKYWARN Spotter and Amateur Radio Operator pictures is available online and a link is listed in this message as well and includes photos from the New York City/New Jersey area from Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters in that area and an Amateur Radio Operator who works for New Jersey DHS. The video also includes a small portion of many of the Amateur Radio transmissions of reports during Hurricane Sandy’s impact in the region.

As stated previously, while Hurricane Sandy caused hurricane force wind gusts across portions of Southern New England, some of the most significant storm surge flooding particularly in Rhode Island and Marthas Vineyard that rivaled Hurricane Bob, over 1.1 Million power outages over Massachusetts (approx. 390K), Rhode Island (approx. 122K) and Connecticut (approx 600+K), the impact was even worse across New York City, Long Island and New Jersey. Power Outages in this area totaled over 3 Million people with an additional 525,000 without power in Pennsylvania. Storm Surge flooding was historic across New Jersey, New York City and Long Island New York causing severe structural damage and reshaping the coastline due to severe beach erosion. Power Outages in some areas lasted well over a week to 2 weeks. Many areas along the coastline are still recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Sandy even though we are 1 year removed from this historic weather event.

WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center, provided support to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast United States region for the entire duration of Hurricane Sandy’s impact up to and including landfall. Several hundred reports were shared with the Amateur Radio Operators at the National Hurricane Center and two of the wind measurement reports were utilized in the Hurricane Sandy Advisory issued on Monday October 29th, 2012 at 500 PM EDT. These reports would not have been utilized if not for the dedication of SKYWARN Spotters and Amateur Radio Operators in the region and the efforts of Amateur Radio Operators from WX4NHC. As folks may recall, it wasn’t clear whether Hurricane Sandy would impact the region as a tropical or non-tropical system but several days prior to Hurricane Sandy’s impact on the region, WX4NHC Amateur Radio Coordinators, WD4R-Julio Ripoll and K4AG-John McHugh declared that their team would be active regardless of the status of Sandy as a tropical system due to the historically severe impact expected from the system and coordinated ahead of time with Amateur Radio Coordinators in the mid-atlantic and Northeast US regions impacted by Sandy. Reports from the region were shared with WX4NHC through the efforts of the VoIP Hurricane Net which combined its operations with the New England Reflector based Echolink and IRLP SKYWARN Operations and the Hurricane Watch net via HF.

Summary Information specific to the Mid-Atlantic Region can be seen via the following links and can be checked for updates as some of the storm summary information is still being updated:

NWS Brookhaven New York Hurricane Sandy Storm Summary Link:
http://www.weather.gov/okx/HurricaneSandy

NWS Philadelphia PA/Mount Holly NJ Hurricane Sandy Storm Summary Link:
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/phi/storms/10292012.html

New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services – Hurricane Sandy Information:
http://www.dhses.ny.gov/oem/event/sandy/sandy-info.cfm

New Jersey Governor’s Office Link:
http://www.nj.gov/governor/index.shtml

FEMA Information on Hurricane Sandy:
http://www.fema.gov/sandy

Hurricane Sandy Wikipedia Link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Sandy

Below are links to the Hurricane Sandy Information specific to Southern New England including links to PR generated by the efforts of Amateur Radio Operators in Southern New England in response to Hurricane Sandy as well as the Hurricane Sandy Recap video:

Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) E-Letter Story:
http://www.arrl.org/ares-el?issue=2012-11-21

Taunton Daily Gazette News Article on NWS Taunton and Amateur Radio SKYWARN efforts:
http://www.tauntongazette.com/bigstorm/x1292885439/National-Weather-Service-works-overtime-in-Taunton-office-to-keep-public-informed?zc_p=0&img=3

VoIP Hurricane Net Hurricane Sandy Amateur Radio Newsline Story from the November 9th, 2012 Edition:
http://www.voipwx.net/node/438

Hurricane Sandy SKYWARN Video:
http://www.nsradio.org/video/features/recap/HurricaneSandy/index.html

Complete and updated report compilation including many additional wind measurement and damage reports:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/hurricane_sandy_reports_10_29_12.txt

Last Hurricane Sandy Local Storm Report and Public Information Statement from 10/30/12:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/10_30_12_LSR_Sandy.txt
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/pns_10_30_12_sandy.txt
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/pns_10_29_12.txt

NWS Taunton Hurricane Sandy Public Information Statement Summary:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/pns_11_8_12_hurricane_sandy.txt

NWS Taunton Local Storm Report from Severe Thunderstorms/Flash Flood incident associated with Post-Tropical Storm Sandy well after landfall (Tuesday Evening 10/30/12) including Wareham/Onset Microburst data and Public Information Statement on the microburst:

http://beta.wx1box.org/local/pns_10_31_12_wareham_microburst.txt
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/lsr_10_31_12_svr_tstorms_10_30.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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NWS Taunton Public Information Statements – Winter Weather Preparedness Week – Monday 10/21/13-Friday 10/25/13

Hello to all..

NWS Taunton issued Public Information Statements from Monday 10/21/13 through Friday 10/25/13 for Winter Weather Preparedness Week. The complete list of five NWS Taunton Winter Weather Preparedness Week Public Information Statements can be seen at the following link:

http://beta.wx1box.org/local/pns_winter_prepare_2013.txt

The preparedness statements covered watch/warning/advisory terminology, home and vehicle safety tips, information on frostbite and hypothermia and a summary of the October 2011 snowstorm from October 29th, 2011 which we will be celebrating its second annviersary on Tuesday October 29th (which ironically is also the 1-year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy from October 29th 2012).

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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Special Announcement: Prevailing Winds SKYWARN Newsletter for Fall 2013 Issued

Hello to all..

The SKYWARN Prevailing Winds Fall 2013 Newsletter is now available online. It can be seen via a link off the main menu of the WX1BOX site and the link directly to the newsletter is listed at the two links below:

http://beta.wx1box.org/local/Iss3vol2_newsletteroct2013.pdf
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/box/officePrograms/skywarn/Iss3vol2.pdf

A complete archive of SKYWARN Prevailing Winds Newsletters can be seen at the following link:
http://beta.wx1box.org/node/3288

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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Severe Weather Coordination Message #2A – Monday October 7th, 2013 Potential Severe Weather/High Wind Event

Hello to all..

..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence by 3 PM EDT for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms with strong to damaging winds and urban and poor drainage flooding as the main threats. An isolated weak tornado cannot be completely ruled out. The Wind Advisory in effect until 8 PM has been expanded and is now in effect for Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, Worcester, Norfolk, Middlesex, Suffolk, North-Central Plymouth and Bristol Counties of Massachusetts, North-Central Rhode Island, Northern Connecticut and Southern New Hampshire for sustained winds 15-25 MPH with gusts to 45 MPH with isolated higher gusts particularly in any convective showers and thunderstorms. This will be the last coordination message on this threat. Below is the NWS Taunton Wind Advisory Statement, Special Weather Statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook..

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

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
Like us on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/wx1box
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Severe Weather Coordination Message #2 – Monday October 7th, 2013 Potential Severe Weather/High Wind Event

Hello to all..

..Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms remain possible to likely Monday Afternoon and Monday Night especially across Western Massachusetts and Western Connecticut but all areas should monitor. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has continued a Slight Risk for Severe Weather for Monday with damaging winds and heavy downpours with urban and poor drainage flooding as the primary threats..
..Strong Wind Gusts of 40 MPH with isolated higher gusts with fully leaved trees and winds out of a Southerly direction may also cause isolated pockets of tree and power line damage ahead of any line of convective showers or thunderstorms. A Wind Advisory is in effect from Noon-8 PM EDT Monday for Western Franklin, Western Hampshire and Western Hampden Counties of Massachusetts..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible to likely Monday Afternoon and Monday Night..

A strong cold front, which will also encompass the remnants of Tropical Storm Karen, is still expected to move across Southern New England as we get into Monday Afternoon and Monday Night. This front will have very strong jet stream dynamics which will likely result in a line of heavy downpours capable of causing pockets of urban and poor drainage flooding and the possibility of a fine line of heavy showers and/or thunderstorms that would allow strong to damaging winds to reach the surface resulting in isolated pockets of wind damage in the area. The key factors to any isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorm threat or for a fine line of heavy showers and/or strong to severe thunderstorms to develop continues to be the ability of jet dynamics to overcome limited instability in the atmosphere or if more instability in the atmosphere develops than modeled.

Ahead of the cold front and any convective showers and thunderstorms that develop, winds will increase out of the south with wind gusts of 40 MPH with a few areas possibly reaching Wind Advisory gusts of 45-50 MPH. A Wind Advisory is in effect from Noon-8 PM Monday for Western Franklin, Western Hampshire and Western Hampden Counties of Massachusetts as this area seems to be the most likely to hit Wind Advisory criteria ahead of any convective showers and thunderstorms. This will be monitored for additional issues outside of this area.

SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible to likely Monday Afternoon and Monday Night. This will be the last complete coordination message on today’s threat. A shortened coordination message will be issued if time allows and Ops at NWS Taunton are initiated. Below is the NWS Taunton Wind Advisory Statement, NWS Taunton Special Weather Statement, NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook:

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

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
Like us on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/wx1box
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Severe Weather Coordination Message #1 – Monday October 7th, 2013 Potential Severe Weather/High Wind Event

Hello to all..

..Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms possible late Monday Afternoon and Monday Night especially across Western Massachusetts and Western Connecticut but all areas should monitor. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed parts of this area in a Slight Risk for Severe Weather for Monday with damaging winds and heavy downpours with urban and poor drainage flooding as the primary threats..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible late Monday Afternoon and Monday Night..

A strong cold front, which will also encompass the remnants of Tropical Storm Karen, will move across Southern New England as we get into later Monday Afternoon and Monday Night. This front will have very strong jet stream dynamics which will likely result in a line of heavy downpours capable of causing pockets of urban and poor drainage flooding and the possibility of a fine line of heavy showers and/or thunderstorms that would allow strong to damaging winds to reach the surface resulting in isolated pockets of wind damage in the area. Some strong winds may also be possible ahead of the cold front as well. The key factors to any isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorm threat or for a fine line of strong to severe thunderstorms to develop will be the ability of jet dynamics to overcome limited instability in the atmosphere or if more instability in the atmosphere develops than modeled.

SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible late Monday Afternoon and Monday Night. Another coordination message will be posted by 11 AM Monday Morning. Below is the NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-2 Convective Outlook:

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

SPC Day-2 Convective Outlook:
http://kamala.cod.edu/spc/latest.acus02.KWNS.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
Like us on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/wx1box
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Special Announcement: SKYWARN Training Class at Brown University in Providence RI – Wednesday October 23rd, 2013 from 7-10 PM EDT

Hello to all..

An Amateur Radio Coordinator taught NWS SKYWARN Training class will be held at Brown University in Providence, RI. The Blackstone Valley Amateur Radio Club, Brown Radio Club, and Brown University Department of Physics are sponsoring this training class. Specific details can be seen below and at the following web links:

NWS Taunton SKYWARN Training Class link:
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/box/officePrograms/skywarn/skywarnTraining.shtml

WX1BOX SKYWARN Training Class link:
http://beta.wx1box.org/node/36

Training class information:
Wednesday October 23rd, 2013: 7-10 PM:
Brown University – Barus and Holley Buliding – Room: 166
Providence, RI
Taught by: Amateur Radio Coordinator
Registration: None Required.
Parking: Brown University parking lot #43 at the corner of 182 Hope and George Streets is free to use after 6 pm.
Directions link:  http://brown.edu/Departments/Physics/Ladd/directions/bh.html
Google map link:  http://goo.gl/maps/vytUU

Please forward this announcement out to interested people. Thanks for your support!

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
Like us on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – http://twitter.com/wx1box

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