Severe Weather & Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend Coordination Message #4 – Saturday 6/23/18-Sunday 6/24/18 Weather Outlook/Severe Weather Potential

June 24, 2018 Rob Macedo Leave a comment

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 15 years for Amateur Radio Operators involved with Field Day and the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN Program..
..Saturday had some showers in the region with a few heavier downpours in Southeast New England during the morning but other thunderstorms and heavy downpours stayed well south of the region with just a few light showers and drizzle across the area and cool conditions. While not ideal, these conditions allowed for a safe and somewhat comfortable Saturday for Field Day..
..For Sunday, the morning through early to mid-afternoon looks dry but a warm front should make its way through the region. If clearing occurs behind the warm front then the potential for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms with strong to damaging winds, hail, frequent lightning and heavy rainfall on Sunday Afternoon/Evening potentially when Amateur Radio Field Day sites are breaking down stations and wrapping up for this year’s event. The greatest threat is in Western and Central Massachusetts and Connecticut. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed much of Connecticut in a Marginal risk for severe weather..
..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 Sunday afternoon into early evening for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorm potential..

There are a large number of Amateur Radio Field Day sites across the NWS Boston/Norton 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 this week to be Amateur Radio Week and Governor Baker has proclaimed Sunday June 24th, 2018 Amateur Radio Day in honor of the ARRL Field Day event. The details can be seen at the following links:
https://ema.arrl.org/2018/06/19/massachusetts-house-passes-bill-proclaiming-amateur-radio-week/
https://ema.arrl.org/2018/06/15/massachusetts-senate-proclaims-amateur-radio-week/
https://ema.arrl.org/2018/06/10/governor-baker-proclaims-june-24-2018-amateur-radio-day/

Saturday had some showers in the region with a few heavier downpours in Southeast New England during the morning but other thunderstorms and heavy downpours stayed well south of the region with just a few light showers and drizzle across the area and cool conditions. While not ideal, these conditions allowed for a safe and somewhat comfortable Saturday for Field Day.

For today (Sunday), a warm front will traverse the region and conditions will become warmer and more humid. At 930 AM, Doppler Radar shows no precipitation. Satellite imagery shows thinning clouds over Eastern New York, Eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. This should work its way into Southern New England particularly into Western and Central Massachusetts and Connecticut. Clouds could still linger for most of the day in Eastern New England. A Cold front and impulse in the atmosphere will approach the region from the west. If there is sufficient heating and destabilization and forcing from the impulse and front coincide with that destabilization, it will set the stage for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms with strong to damaging winds, hail, frequent lightning and heavy rainfall as the main threats with the area of concern over Western and Central Massachusetts and Connecticut. The timing should be as Amateur Radio Field Day ends and sites are being broken down across the region mainly after 1-2 PM through about 8 PM.

SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible Sunday afternoon into early evening for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorm potential. Below are links to the NWS Boston/Norton Hazardous Weather Outlook, NWS Boston/Norton Experimental Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook:

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

NWS Boston/Norton Experimental Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/box/ehwo

SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook:
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk.html

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:
https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat

Given the threat for thunderstorms particularly on Sunday, lightning is a threat to any and all Amateur Radio Field Day sites. Remember your lightning safety tips and details on lightning safety can be seen at the following link:
https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning

This will be the last complete Amateur Radio Field Day coordination message for 2018. A shortened coordination message will be posted if time allows and Ops at NWS Boston/Norton are initiated.

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
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