Storm/Amateur Radio Field Day Coordination Message #4 – Saturday 6/27/15-Sunday 6/28/15 Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend Weather Information
Hello to all..
..The following is the fourth in a series of messages on Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend and providing information on the weather during this period. This is a tradition spanning over 13 years for Amateur Radio Operators involved with Field Day and the NWS Taunton SKYWARN Program..
..This year’s Amateur Radio Field Day weekend will feature dry weather into Saturday Afternoon. After that, a windswept rain is expected to develop across much of the NWS Taunton coverage area Saturday Evening through midday Sunday followed by the chance for isolated strong to severe thunderstorms late Sunday Morning into Sunday Afternoon. This will likely make Amateur Radio Field Day activities wet during the second half of the weekend. Field Day sites are advised to bring rain gear and to prepare for possible windy conditions that could develop as well as for the chance of lightning and thunderstorm activity with the potential for isolated strong to severe thunderstorms. A widespread 1-3″ of rainfall is likely Saturday Evening into Sunday with the highest amounts in the range currently expected in Western New England and in any areas where heavy downpours occur over the same area..
..A Flood Watch is now in effect for Western Hampshire, Western Hampden and Western Franklin Counties from late tonight through late Sunday Night. The Flood Watches could be expanded to other parts of Southern New England. Urban and poor drainage flooding and possibly small stream flooding is the main threat..
..A Wind Advisory is now in effect for East Coastal Massachusetts from 2 AM-2 PM Sunday for Southeast winds at 20-30 MPH with wind gusts to 45-50 MPH. These winds will be capable of causing isolated pockets of tree and wire damage and can cause problems for outdoor Field Day sites with portable outdoor antenna systems, tents, canopies etc. These portable antenna systems, tents and canopies will need to be tied down well given the strong winds. Areas outside of the Wind Advisory in Eastern New England and in the higher terrain of Western New England could see wind gusts as high as 40 MPH during the overnight hours into early Sunday Afternoon..
..Depending on the track of the storm, isolated strong to severe thunderstorms with an attendant lightning risk and having the potential for strong to damaging winds and heavy rainfall is also possible. The greatest risk would be in Eastern New England late Sunday Morning into Sunday Afternoon..
..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 Day or Amateur Radio Week’ during the month of June or an ‘Amateur Radio Month’ for this month. It is both a fun/preparatory event for Ham Radio Operators for Emergency Communications scenarios..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation is likely to monitor the Saturday Evening into Sunday storm system. Ops at NWS Taunton are possible depending on the extent of the Saturday Evening to Sunday Morning storm threat..
There are a large number of Amateur Radio Field Day sites across the NWS Taunton Coverage Area and adjacent NWS Coverage 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 message, please contact me and it will be added to this section of the Amateur Radio Field Day Coordination Message. There will likely be a series of Field Day Coordination Messages through Saturday Evening given the potential storm system for Saturday Evening into Sunday.
Dry conditions will continue through Saturday Afternoon with increasing and thickening clouds through the day and high temperatures in the Low 70s. As we get into late Saturday Afternoon through Sunday, conditions will deteriorate as a coastal storm approaches the region. We have broken the various potential weather hazards into sections with this storm:
Heavy Rainfall and Flood Potential:
Rain should commence between 4-8 PM from west to east based on current weather forecast models. Rain will become heavy overnight after midnight with the heaviest rain between 2-11 AM. Rain should end from west to east during the early afternoon. A Flood Watch is now in effect for Western Hampshire, Western Hampden and Western Franklin Counties from late tonight through late Sunday Night. The Flood Watches could be expanded to other parts of Southern New England. Urban and poor drainage flooding and possibly small stream flooding is the main threat. By storm’s end, rainfall amounts of 1-3″ are likely region wide but the higher rainfall amounts in the range are likely in Western New England and potentially secondarily in any areas that receive repeated heavy downpours across Eastern New England.
Strong to Damaging Wind Potential:
There is also the potential for strong winds capable of producing isolated to scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and could affect portable antenna installations, tents and other outdoor items that could affect Amateur Radio Field Day Operations. A Wind Advisory is now in effect for East Coastal Massachusetts from 2 AM-2 PM Sunday for Southeast winds at 20-30 MPH with wind gusts to 45-50 MPH. These winds will be capable of causing isolated pockets of tree and wire damage and can cause problems for outdoor Field Day sites with portable antenna systems, tents, canopies etc. These portable antenna systems, tents and canopies will need to be tied down well given the strong winds. Areas outside of the Wind Advisory in Eastern New England and in the higher terrain of Western New England could see wind gusts as high as 40 MPH during the overnight hours into early Sunday Afternoon.
Severe weather and Thunderstorm Potential:
Concerning thunderstorm potential, this will be contingent on the warm sector position. There is a continued concern that isolated strong to severe thunderstorms could occur in Eastern New England late Sunday Morning into Sunday Afternoon with strong to damaging winds, the attendant lightning risk and urban and poor drainage flooding as the primary threats. This will be contingent on the level of instability in the atmosphere. Wind shear profiles are sufficient to support isolated strong to severe thunderstorms. The greatest threat for this activity appears to be in Eastern New England.
SKYWARN Self-Activation is likely to monitor the Saturday Evening into Sunday storm system. Ops at NWS Taunton are possible depending on the extent of the Saturday Evening to Sunday Morning storm threat. Below are links to the NWS Taunton Flood Watch Statement, Wind Advisory Statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook and Area Forecast Discussion for those interested in checking out weather conditions over the course of Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend:
NWS Taunton Flood Watch Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wgus61.KBOX.html
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
NWS Taunton Area Forecast Discussion:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.fxus61.KBOX.html
As a reminder, during setup and takedown of Amateur Radio Field Day sites and even while operating, be sure to drink plenty of fluids and eat accordingly. Also having a jacket or sweatshirt during evenings as conditions cool etc. may also be useful while operating this year’s Field Day as well as rain gear given the expected rain and heavy rainfall. The links below features information on Heat Safety as well as Lightning Safety since this year’s Amateur Radio Field Day weekend coincides with Lightning Safety Awareness Week, Flood Safety Information from the NWS Taunton Flood Safety Awareness Week given the potential for heavy rainfall and Severe Weather Safety information from the 2015 severe weather preparedness week given the potential for severe weather during the second half of Amateur Radio Field Day weekend:
NWS Heat Safety Rules:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/heat/index.shtml
NWS Taunton Flood Safety Awareness Week Information:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/flood_awareness_2015.txt
NWS Taunton Lightning Safety Awareness Week Information:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/lightning_safety_awareness_2015.txt
NWS Taunton Public Information Statements – Severe Weather Preparedness Week:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/severe_weather_awareness_2015.txt
NWS Taunton Severe Weather Preparedness Week Web Page:
http://www.weather.gov/box/SevereWeatherPreparednessWeek
Amateur Radio Field Day sites are strongly encouraged to bring a NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio and a dedicated Ham Radio that can monitor their local SKYWARN Frequency for their area as a best safety and preparedness practice. Also sites that have mobile Internet capability can utilize that capability as a way to monitor for weather information. With Mobile Internet capability, utilizing Echolink to monitor the New England Reflector system on Echolink Conference Node: 9123/IRLP 9123 would be helpful as well. 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 700 PM Saturday Evening.
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
Hello to all..
..The following is the fourth in a series of messages on Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend and providing information on the weather during this period. This is a tradition spanning over 13 years for Amateur Radio Operators involved with Field Day and the NWS Taunton SKYWARN Program..
..This year’s Amateur Radio Field Day weekend will feature dry weather into Saturday Afternoon. After that, a windswept rain is expected to develop across much of the NWS Taunton coverage area Saturday Evening through midday Sunday followed by the chance for isolated strong to severe thunderstorms late Sunday Morning into Sunday Afternoon. This will likely make Amateur Radio Field Day activities wet during the second half of the weekend. Field Day sites are advised to bring rain gear and to prepare for possible windy conditions that could develop as well as for the chance of lightning and thunderstorm activity with the potential for isolated strong to severe thunderstorms. A widespread 1-3″ of rainfall is likely Saturday Evening into Sunday with the highest amounts in the range currently expected in Western New England and in any areas where heavy downpours occur over the same area..
..A Flood Watch is now in effect for Western Hampshire, Western Hampden and Western Franklin Counties from late tonight through late Sunday Night. The Flood Watches could be expanded to other parts of Southern New England. Urban and poor drainage flooding and possibly small stream flooding is the main threat..
..A Wind Advisory is now in effect for East Coastal Massachusetts from 2 AM-2 PM Sunday for Southeast winds at 20-30 MPH with wind gusts to 45-50 MPH. These winds will be capable of causing isolated pockets of tree and wire damage and can cause problems for outdoor Field Day sites with portable outdoor antenna systems, tents, canopies etc. These portable antenna systems, tents and canopies will need to be tied down well given the strong winds. Areas outside of the Wind Advisory in Eastern New England and in the higher terrain of Western New England could see wind gusts as high as 40 MPH during the overnight hours into early Sunday Afternoon..
..Depending on the track of the storm, isolated strong to severe thunderstorms with an attendant lightning risk and having the potential for strong to damaging winds and heavy rainfall is also possible. The greatest risk would be in Eastern New England late Sunday Morning into Sunday Afternoon..
..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 Day or Amateur Radio Week’ during the month of June or an ‘Amateur Radio Month’ for this month. It is both a fun/preparatory event for Ham Radio Operators for Emergency Communications scenarios..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation is likely to monitor the Saturday Evening into Sunday storm system. Ops at NWS Taunton are possible depending on the extent of the Saturday Evening to Sunday Morning storm threat..
There are a large number of Amateur Radio Field Day sites across the NWS Taunton Coverage Area and adjacent NWS Coverage 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 message, please contact me and it will be added to this section of the Amateur Radio Field Day Coordination Message. There will likely be a series of Field Day Coordination Messages through Saturday Evening given the potential storm system for Saturday Evening into Sunday.
Dry conditions will continue through Saturday Afternoon with increasing and thickening clouds through the day and high temperatures in the Low 70s. As we get into late Saturday Afternoon through Sunday, conditions will deteriorate as a coastal storm approaches the region. We have broken the various potential weather hazards into sections with this storm:
Heavy Rainfall and Flood Potential:
Rain should commence between 4-8 PM from west to east based on current weather forecast models. Rain will become heavy overnight after midnight with the heaviest rain between 2-11 AM. Rain should end from west to east during the early afternoon. A Flood Watch is now in effect for Western Hampshire, Western Hampden and Western Franklin Counties from late tonight through late Sunday Night. The Flood Watches could be expanded to other parts of Southern New England. Urban and poor drainage flooding and possibly small stream flooding is the main threat. By storm’s end, rainfall amounts of 1-3″ are likely region wide but the higher rainfall amounts in the range are likely in Western New England and potentially secondarily in any areas that receive repeated heavy downpours across Eastern New England.
Strong to Damaging Wind Potential:
There is also the potential for strong winds capable of producing isolated to scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and could affect portable antenna installations, tents and other outdoor items that could affect Amateur Radio Field Day Operations. A Wind Advisory is now in effect for East Coastal Massachusetts from 2 AM-2 PM Sunday for Southeast winds at 20-30 MPH with wind gusts to 45-50 MPH. These winds will be capable of causing isolated pockets of tree and wire damage and can cause problems for outdoor Field Day sites with portable antenna systems, tents, canopies etc. These portable antenna systems, tents and canopies will need to be tied down well given the strong winds. Areas outside of the Wind Advisory in Eastern New England and in the higher terrain of Western New England could see wind gusts as high as 40 MPH during the overnight hours into early Sunday Afternoon.
Severe weather and Thunderstorm Potential:
Concerning thunderstorm potential, this will be contingent on the warm sector position. There is a continued concern that isolated strong to severe thunderstorms could occur in Eastern New England late Sunday Morning into Sunday Afternoon with strong to damaging winds, the attendant lightning risk and urban and poor drainage flooding as the primary threats. This will be contingent on the level of instability in the atmosphere. Wind shear profiles are sufficient to support isolated strong to severe thunderstorms. The greatest threat for this activity appears to be in Eastern New England.
SKYWARN Self-Activation is likely to monitor the Saturday Evening into Sunday storm system. Ops at NWS Taunton are possible depending on the extent of the Saturday Evening to Sunday Morning storm threat. Below are links to the NWS Taunton Flood Watch Statement, Wind Advisory Statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook and Area Forecast Discussion for those interested in checking out weather conditions over the course of Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend:
NWS Taunton Flood Watch Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wgus61.KBOX.html
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
NWS Taunton Area Forecast Discussion:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.fxus61.KBOX.html
As a reminder, during setup and takedown of Amateur Radio Field Day sites and even while operating, be sure to drink plenty of fluids and eat accordingly. Also having a jacket or sweatshirt during evenings as conditions cool etc. may also be useful while operating this year’s Field Day as well as rain gear given the expected rain and heavy rainfall. The links below features information on Heat Safety as well as Lightning Safety since this year’s Amateur Radio Field Day weekend coincides with Lightning Safety Awareness Week, Flood Safety Information from the NWS Taunton Flood Safety Awareness Week given the potential for heavy rainfall and Severe Weather Safety information from the 2015 severe weather preparedness week given the potential for severe weather during the second half of Amateur Radio Field Day weekend:
NWS Heat Safety Rules:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/heat/index.shtml
NWS Taunton Flood Safety Awareness Week Information:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/flood_awareness_2015.txt
NWS Taunton Lightning Safety Awareness Week Information:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/lightning_safety_awareness_2015.txt
NWS Taunton Public Information Statements – Severe Weather Preparedness Week:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/severe_weather_awareness_2015.txt
NWS Taunton Severe Weather Preparedness Week Web Page:
http://www.weather.gov/box/SevereWeatherPreparednessWeek
Amateur Radio Field Day sites are strongly encouraged to bring a NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio and a dedicated Ham Radio that can monitor their local SKYWARN Frequency for their area as a best safety and preparedness practice. Also sites that have mobile Internet capability can utilize that capability as a way to monitor for weather information. With Mobile Internet capability, utilizing Echolink to monitor the New England Reflector system on Echolink Conference Node: 9123/IRLP 9123 would be helpful as well. 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 700 PM Saturday Evening.
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