Severe Weather and Amateur Radio Field Day Coordination Message #1 – Friday PM 6/23/17-Saturday PM 6/24/17 Severe Weather & Heavy Rainfall Potential
Hello to all..
..The following is the first 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 15 years for Amateur Radio Operators involved with Field Day and the NWS Taunton SKYWARN Program..
..Thunderstorms with heavy rainfall and frequent lightning are likely in western portions of the NWS Taunton coverage area Friday Afternoon and Evening and could spread to eastern areas later Friday Evening. There is the potential for isolated strong to severe thunderstorms in these areas with a strong to damaging wind and hail risk as well..
..Heavy rainfall is possible Friday Night into Saturday Morning depending on the passage of a cold front and interaction with and/or track of the remnants of Tropical Storm Cindy..
..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 Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible Friday Afternoon and Evening with SKYWARN Self-Activation and Ops at NWS Taunton possible Saturday Morning pending the track and interaction of the remnants of Tropical Storm Cindy with the cold front as it sweeps through the area..
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/
The commonwealth of Massachusetts has declared Saturday June 24th, 2017 Amateur Radio Day in honor of the ARRL Field Day event. The details can be seen at this link:
http://ema.arrl.org/node/2241
Unlike last year which featured some of the best weather we have seen in recent memory for Field Day weekend, there will be some thunderstorm concerns particularly for Friday and possibly extending into Saturday Morning. Heavy rainfall with urban and poor drainage flooding and frequent lightning are the main threats but there is a risk of strong to damaging winds and hail particularly in western areas Friday Afternoon and Evening. This weather could affect Field Day setup and might linger into the start of Field Day weekend through Saturday Afternoon with clearing and better conditions as we head into Saturday Evening and Sunday. The key items still being sorted for this time period are as follows:
1.) Extent of any severe weather potential in Western New England Friday Afternoon and Evening.
2.) Extent of heavy rainfall and embedded thunderstorm activity Friday Night through Saturday Morning as a cold front moves through the region and interacts with the remnants of Tropical Storm Cindy or the actual track of the remnants of Cindy.
3.) End time of any rainfall and embedded thunderstorms on Saturday. This could occur in the morning or extend into the afternoon.
Coordination messages on Friday will help better define these factors. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible FridayAfternoon and Evening with SKYWARN Self-Activation and Ops at NWS Taunton possible Saturday Morning pending the track and interaction of the remnants of Cindy with the cold front as it sweeps through the area. Below are links to the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) Day-2 Convective Outlook, NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook and NWS Taunton Experimental Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
SPC Day-2 Convective Outlook:
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2017/day2otlk_20170622_1730.html
NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.flus41.KBOX.html
NWS Taunton Experimental Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/box/ehwo
Amateur Radio Field Day sites are still encouraged to bring a NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio, monitor various cell phone weather apps where Amateur Operators may have those available and have 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 *NEW-ENG3* 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
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. The link below features information on Heat Safety:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/heat/index.shtml
The next Amateur Radio Field Day coordination message will be posted by 1000 AM Friday Morning.
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 first 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 15 years for Amateur Radio Operators involved with Field Day and the NWS Taunton SKYWARN Program..
..Thunderstorms with heavy rainfall and frequent lightning are likely in western portions of the NWS Taunton coverage area Friday Afternoon and Evening and could spread to eastern areas later Friday Evening. There is the potential for isolated strong to severe thunderstorms in these areas with a strong to damaging wind and hail risk as well..
..Heavy rainfall is possible Friday Night into Saturday Morning depending on the passage of a cold front and interaction with and/or track of the remnants of Tropical Storm Cindy..
..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 Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible Friday Afternoon and Evening with SKYWARN Self-Activation and Ops at NWS Taunton possible Saturday Morning pending the track and interaction of the remnants of Tropical Storm Cindy with the cold front as it sweeps through the area..
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/
The commonwealth of Massachusetts has declared Saturday June 24th, 2017 Amateur Radio Day in honor of the ARRL Field Day event. The details can be seen at this link:
http://ema.arrl.org/node/2241
Unlike last year which featured some of the best weather we have seen in recent memory for Field Day weekend, there will be some thunderstorm concerns particularly for Friday and possibly extending into Saturday Morning. Heavy rainfall with urban and poor drainage flooding and frequent lightning are the main threats but there is a risk of strong to damaging winds and hail particularly in western areas Friday Afternoon and Evening. This weather could affect Field Day setup and might linger into the start of Field Day weekend through Saturday Afternoon with clearing and better conditions as we head into Saturday Evening and Sunday. The key items still being sorted for this time period are as follows:
1.) Extent of any severe weather potential in Western New England Friday Afternoon and Evening.
2.) Extent of heavy rainfall and embedded thunderstorm activity Friday Night through Saturday Morning as a cold front moves through the region and interacts with the remnants of Tropical Storm Cindy or the actual track of the remnants of Cindy.
3.) End time of any rainfall and embedded thunderstorms on Saturday. This could occur in the morning or extend into the afternoon.
Coordination messages on Friday will help better define these factors. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible FridayAfternoon and Evening with SKYWARN Self-Activation and Ops at NWS Taunton possible Saturday Morning pending the track and interaction of the remnants of Cindy with the cold front as it sweeps through the area. Below are links to the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) Day-2 Convective Outlook, NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook and NWS Taunton Experimental Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
SPC Day-2 Convective Outlook:
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2017/day2otlk_20170622_1730.html
NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.flus41.KBOX.html
NWS Taunton Experimental Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/box/ehwo
Amateur Radio Field Day sites are still encouraged to bring a NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio, monitor various cell phone weather apps where Amateur Operators may have those available and have 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 *NEW-ENG3* 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
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. The link below features information on Heat Safety:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/heat/index.shtml
The next Amateur Radio Field Day coordination message will be posted by 1000 AM Friday Morning.
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