Special Announcement: Public Notification of Change in Forecast Area Responsibilities for Cheshire and Hillsborough Counties in New Hampshire

Hello to all..

There will be a change in forecast area responsibilities for Cheshire and Hillsborough Counties in New Hampshire. Effective December 3rd, 2014 at 800 AM EST/1300 UTC, the National Weather Service will transfer all warning and forecast responsibilities including management of the SKYWARN program for Cheshire and Hillsborough Counties in New Hampshire from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Taunton, Massachusetts to the National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast Office in Gray, Maine. The following Public Information Statement via the link below discusses the change in NWS Forecast Products for watches, warnings, advisories and statements for Cheshire and Hillsborough Counties of New Hampshire:

http://beta.wx1box.org/local/pns_9_23_14.txt

From a SKYWARN program perspective, discussions will take place in the coming months with the Amateur Radio SKYWARN Coordinators in New Hampshire, NWS Gray Maine SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinators, NWS Taunton SKYWARN Amateur Radio Coordinators and Meteorologists who are the NWS Gray and Taunton SKYWARN Program Leaders to assure a proper transition of reporting and SKYWARN Training to the NWS Gray, Maine office. Our Amateur Radio team will continue to support reporting flow for Cheshire and Hillsborough Counties of New Hampshire up through 12/3/14 and if reports after that period come into our station, all data will be forwarded to the NWS Gray Maine Office as required. SKYWARN Training sessions for Cheshire and Hillsborough Counties New Hampshire will be driven out of the NWS Gray Maine Office beginning in 2015.

Another update/reminder on this change will be posted in the mid-late November 2014 timeframe with an update on the SKYWARN side of this change as well. Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters in Cheshire and Hillsborough Counties of New Hampshire can remain on this SKYWARN email list after the transition of the forecast responsibilities to the Gray Maine office and if needed, we can look at carrying some NWS Gray Maine severe/winter weather products for Southern New Hampshire in Coordination Messages. Thanks to all for their support of the NWS SKYWARN program!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Assistant 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

Read more

Special Announcement: SKYWARN Training Class in Brockton MA – Saturday September 27th, 2014 – 10 AM-1 PM

Hello to all..

There will be a SKYWARN training class on Saturday September 27th, 2014 from 10 AM-1 PM in Brockton, MA. No preregistration is required. The details are listed below:

Saturday September 27th, 2014: 10 AM-1 PM:
Brockton Main Library
304 Main Street
Brockton, MA
Taught by: Amateur Radio Coordinator
Registration: None Required

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Assistant 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

Read more

Post Severe Weather Coordination Message #2 – Saturday September 6th 2014 Southeast NH/Northern Mass Severe Weather Outbreak

Hello to all..

..Severe Weather Outbreak occurred across Southeast New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts on Saturday Afternoon/Evening with two Tornado Warnings issued (Northeast Franklin and Northwest Worcester County and Southern Hillsborough County New Hampshire, Northern Middlesex and West-Central Essex Counties of Massachusetts)..
..Significant Wind Damage occurred in Ipswich Massachusetts from an 80-90 MPH microburst per Ipswich EMA and Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters in the area and confirmed by NWS Taunton. Damage in the Hollis NH area as well as the Bernardston/Leyden Massachusetts area also confirmed to be microbursts..
..Other significant damage areas were in the Lowell/Dracut/Lawrence/Methuen/North Andover Mass area with isolated wind damage into Warwick and Northfield..
..Any pictures or reports of damage even delayed to this point can be sent to pics@nsradio.org or as a reply to this post severe weather coordination message. Credit will be given to the spotter who took the pictures..
..This will be the last post severe weather coordination message on this outbreak. The Facebook album may be updated with additional pictures over the course of this week. Below is the NWS Taunton Local Storm Report, Public Information Statement, Amateur Radio SKYWARN Storm Log and a WX1BOX Facebook Album of Photos..

NWS Taunton Local Storm Report:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/lsr_9_6_14.txt

NWS Taunton Public Information Statement – NWS Taunton Survey:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/pns_9_7_14.txt

Amateur Radio SKYWARN Storm Log:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/reports_9_6_14.txt

WX1BOX Facebook Album of Photos:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.841272352573451.1073741849.216287391738620&type=3

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Assistant 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

Read more

Post Severe Weather Coordination Message #1 – Saturday September 6th 2014 Southeast NH/Northern Mass Severe Weather Outbreak

Hello to all..

..Severe Weather Outbreak occurred across Southeast New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts on Saturday Afternoon/Evening with two Tornado Warnings issued (Northeast Franklin and Northwest Worcester County and Southern Hillsborough and Northern Middlesex and West-Central Essex Counties of Mass)..
..Significant Wind Damage occurred in Ipswich Massachusetts from an 80-90 MPH microburst per Ipswich EMA and Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters in the area and confirmed by NWS Taunton. Damage in the Hollis NH area will be surveyed today by NWS Taunton and NH State SKYWARN Coordinator and CWSU meteorologist, Scott Reynolds-KC2JCB..
..Other significant damage areas were in the Lowell/Dracut/Lawrence/Methuen/North Andover Mass area and the Bernardston, Leyden area with isolated wind damage into Warwick and Northfield. The Franklin County damage in Bernardston and Leyden will be investigated today with a preliminary investigation done last night but investigation was inconclusive on the type of damage due to darkness..
..Any pictures or reports of damage even delayed due to possible power outages in the areas hardest hit can be sent to pics@nsradio.org or as a reply to this post severe weather coordination message. Credit will be given to the spotter who took the pictures..
..Another post severe weather coordination message will be posted this evening after information from surveys are posted. Below is the NWS Taunton Local Storm Report, Amateur Radio SKYWARN Storm Log and a WX1BOX Facebook Album of Photos..

NWS Taunton Local Storm Report:
http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KBOX/1409070818.nwus51.html

Amateur Radio SKYWARN Storm Log:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/reports_9_6_14.txt

WX1BOX Facebook Album of Photos:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.841272352573451.1073741849.216287391738620&type=3

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Assistant 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

Read more

Severe Weather Coordination Message #2 – Saturday September 6th, 2014 Severe Weather/Flash Flood Potential

Hello to all..

..Scattered to Numerous Strong to Severe Thunderstorms likely across much of Southern New England Saturday Afternoon and Evening. Strong to damaging winds, hail, and urban and poor drainage flooding to flash flooding are the main threats. An isolated weak tornado as a secondary threat cannot be ruled out over portions of Southern New England given the severe weather setup over the region. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) continues to have much of Southern New England in a Slight Risk for Severe Weather for Saturday Afternoon and Evening..
..Threat timeframe is anytime after Noon in western areas and after 400 PM in eastern areas of Southern New England..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence by Noon today..

Hot and humid conditions remain over the region today. Low stratus clouds will burn off over the course of the morning from northwest to southeast. This will allow heating and destabilization to commence rapidly over the region. A strong cold front will then move across New England during the timeframe of peak heating Saturday. We currently expect sufficient sunshine for heating and destabilization over the region. Wind shear profiles are somewhat marginal with the stronger winds behind the front but are at reasonable levels presuming sufficient heating and destabilization and the humid air mass in place to promote water loading of thunderstorms and set the stage for scattered to numerous strong to severe thunderstorms with strong to damaging winds, hail and urban and poor drainage flooding to flash flooding as the primary threats. An isolated weak tornado cannot be ruled out as a secondary threat given latest model trends and the severe weather setup over the region.

The thunderstorm mode appears to be in the form of one or two broken lines of strong to severe thunderstorms or a broken line of strong to severe thunderstorms followed by a squall line of strong to severe thunderstorms. Any thunderstorms will have the potential for torrential rain and urban/poor drainage to flash flood potential particularly if they are slow moving or train over the same area. The timing of severe weather is any time after noon in western areas and after 400 PM in eastern areas of Southern New England. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) continues to have much of Southern New England in a Slight Risk for Severe Weather for Saturday Afternoon and Evening.

SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence by noon today. This will be the last coordination message on today’s severe weather and flash flood potential. Below is the NWS Taunton Special Weather Statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook, SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook and NWS Taunton Facebook Graphic on this potential severe weather event:

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

NWS Taunton Facebook Graphic:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/2014.09.06_AM.png

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Assistant 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

Read more

Severe Weather Coordination Message #1 – Saturday September 6th, 2014 Severe Weather/Flash Flood Potential

Hello to all..

..Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms likely across much of Southern New England Saturday Afternoon and Evening. Strong to damaging winds, hail, and urban and poor drainage flooding to flash flooding are the main threats. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed much of Southern New England in a Slight Risk for Severe Weather for Saturday Afternoon and Evening..
..Threat timeframe is anytime after Noon in western areas and after 400 PM in eastern areas of Southern New England..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton likely anytime after Noon Saturday..

Hot and humid conditions that have moved into the area on Friday will remain over the region on Saturday. A strong cold front will then move across New England during the timeframe of peak heating Saturday. We currently expect sufficient sunshine for heating and destabilization over the region. Wind shear profiles are somewhat marginal with the stronger winds behind the front but presuming sufficient heating and destabilization, the humid air mass will promote water loading of thunderstorms should set the stage for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms with strong to damaging winds, hail and urban and poor drainage flooding to flash flooding as the primary threats. The timing of severe weather is any time after noon in western areas and after 400 PM in eastern areas of Southern New England. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed much of Southern New England in a Slight Risk for Severe Weather for Saturday Afternoon and Evening.

SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are likely anytime after noon Saturday. Another coordination message will be issued by 10 AM Saturday Morning. Below is the NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook, SPC Day-2 Convective Outlook and NWS Taunton Facebook Graphic on this potential severe weather event:

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

SPC Day-2 Convective Outlook:
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day2otlk.html

NWS Taunton Facebook Graphic:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/2014.09.05_PM1.png

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Assistant 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

Read more

Severe Weather Coordination Message #1 – Monday September 1st, 2014 Severe Weather Potential

Hello to all..

..Isolated to scattered strong thunderstorms possible today with the main threat being heavy rainfall and urban and poor drainage flooding along and south of the Massachusetts Turnpike this Monday Afternoon and Evening. An Isolated Severe Thunderstorm cannot be ruled out, however, wind shear values are much less than Sunday which should further limit any severe weather threat..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the threat of any thunderstorms today. Ops at NWS Taunton do not appear to be necessary today but this will be monitored. This will be the only coordination message on today’s thunderstorm potential unless a significant upgrade to the situation 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 Assistant 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

Read more

Post Severe Weather Coordination Message #1 – EF0 Tornado in Worcester Massachusetts Sunday August 31st, 2014

Hello to all..

..NWS Taunton Storm Survey and Amateur Radio Operator and SKYWARN Spotter Reports confirm an EF0 Tornado Touchdown in Worcester, Massachusetts Sunday Evening August 31st, 2014. Flash flooding also occurred across portions of West-Central Worcester County Massachusetts in locations such as North Brookfield, Brookfield, Worcester and Shrewsbury Massachusetts with rainfall amounts of 2-3″ in 1-1.5 hours..
..Links below show pictures of the EF0 Tornado Damage and Flash Flooding in Worcester Massachusetts, the Amateur Radio Station Log, the Public Information Statement on the EF0 Tornado and the NWS Taunton Local Storm Report..
..Special Thanks to all Amateur Radio Operators and SKYWARN Spotters who reported damage and flash flooding during this severe weather and flash flood event in Worcester County Massachusetts as well as the repeater trustees of the 146.970-Paxton Repeater (Central Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association) which was instrumental in Sunday evening’s SKYWARN Activation..

WX1BOX Facebook Photo Album:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.837813242919362.1073741848.216287391738620&type=1

NWS Taunton Local Storm Report:
http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KBOX/1409010426.nwus51.html

NWS Taunton Public Information Statement – EF0 Tornado:
http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KBOX/1409010515.nous41.html

NWS Taunton Public Information Statement – Spotter Rainfall Reports:
http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KBOX/1409010427.nous41.html

WX1BOX Amateur Radio Storm Report Log:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/8_31_14_storm.txt

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Assistant 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

Read more