May 2019

Special Announcement: WX4NHC Annual On-The Air Station Test – Saturday June 1st, 2019 – 900 AM-500 PM EDT (1300-2100z)

May 30, 2019 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

Please see the following information from WD4R-Julio Ripoll, Assistant WX4NHC Coordinator on the 2019 WX4NHC On-Air Communications Test which will be held this Saturday June 1st, 2019 from 9 AM-5 PM EDT (1300-2100 UTC) across various bands and modes on Amateur Radio. We encourage Amateur Radio Operators in our region to participate.

Announcement from WX4NHC
Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center, Miami Florida

WX4NHC will be On-The-Air for the Annual Station Test
Saturday, June 1st , 2019 from 9AM- 5 PM EDT (1300z- 2100z)

This will be our 39th year of public service at NHC.

The purpose of this event is to test Amateur Radio Station equipment, antennas and computers prior to this year’s Hurricane Season, which starts June 1st and runs through November 30th.

This event is good practice for Ham Radio Operators world-wide as well as NWS Staff to become familiar with Amateur Radio communications available during times of severe weather.

We will be making brief contacts on many frequencies and modes, exchanging signal reports and basic weather data exchange (“Sunny”, or “Rain”, etc.) with any station in any location.

WX4NHC will be On-The-Air on HF, VHF, UHF , 2 & 30 meter APRS and WinLink wx4nhc@winlink.org subject must contain “//WL2K”.

We will try to stay on the Hurricane Watch Net frequency 14.325 MHz most of the time.

Due to space and equipment limitations, we will have 2 operators per shift, we cannot be on all frequencies or on every mode at the same time.
You may be able to find us on HF by using one of the DX Spotting Networks,

Such as the DX Summit Web Site: http://www.dxsummit.fi/Search.aspx

We will also be on VoIP Hurricane Net 4pm-5pm EDT (2000-2100z)
(IRLP node 9219 / EchoLink WX-TALK Conference node 7203). http://www.voipwx.net/

Florida Statewide SARNET and local VHF & UHF Repeaters will be contacted.

QSL Cards are available via WD4R. Please send your card with a S.A.S.E.

Please do NOT send QSLs directly to the Hurricane Center address, as it will get delayed.

Due to security measures:

NO VISITORS will be allowed entry to NHC without prior clearance from NHC PIO and Security.

Only WX4NHC Operators on the pre-approved operating schedule will be allowed entry.

For more information about WX4NHC, please visit our website
www.wx4nhc.org

Thank you for your participation in the WX4NHC Annual Station Test event.

73, Julio – WD4R

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Julio Ripoll Architect WD4R
WX4NHC Amateur Radio Asst. Coordinator
www.wx4nhc.org
Celebrating 39 years at the
National Hurricane Center
www.nhc.noaa.gov
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

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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Follow us on Twitter – http://twitter.com/wx1box

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Wind Coordination Message #1 – Friday 5/24/19 Strong Wind Potential

May 24, 2019 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Strong Wind Gusts expected today through early tonight across the region with the strongest wind gusts this afternoon and early evening over Cape Cod and Nantucket Island..
..A Wind Advisory is now in effect from 1-9 PM Friday for Cape Cod and Nantucket for sustained winds of 25-35 MPH with gusts from 40-50 MPH. Areas outside of the Wind Advisory area could see wind gusts up to and around 40 MPH especially along East and South Coastal Massachusetts. These winds may cause isolated pockets of tree and wire damage and isolated power outages given fully leaved trees and could affect mariners out on the waters today..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor strong wind gusts and isolated wind damage potential through the day today. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Wind Advisory Statement, Marine Weather Statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook, and Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook..

NWS Boston/Norton Wind Advisory Statement:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus71.KBOX.html

NWS Boston/Norton Marine Weather Statement:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.fzus71.KBOX.html

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

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

Respectfully Submitted,

Uncategorized

Severe Weather Coordination Message #2 – Monday 5/20/19 Severe Weather Potential

May 20, 2019 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..WX1BOX Amateur Radio Operations activated at 130 PM monitoring for Severe Thunderstorm Watch #198 posted through 900 PM EDT for Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, Worcester and Middlesex Counties of Massachusetts and Litchfield County of Northern Connecticut for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms expected across this area. Strong to damaging winds, hail, heavy rainfall with urban and poor drainage flooding and frequent lightning are the main threats..
..The key factors for severe weather development from message #1 that still remain relevant are listed below..

Key factors on the extent of the severe weather potential include the following:

1.) Models are indicating that there could be less moisture to work with as instability peaks which may make showers and thunderstorms more of a low-topped and weaker nature. This will have to be watched carefully and is now the notable key factor against the potential for severe weather despite other favorable parameters.
2.) Heating and destabilization is now prevalant across the region and is a favorable factor for potential isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorm development.
3.) Other favorable factors include the strength of the cold front and the wind shear profiles which will be quite strong including some potential for turning of those strong winds especially over Western and Central Massachusetts which is the reason a secondary threat for an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out for the area. Key factor #1, however, could potentially limit this key factor and key factor #2 for more robust strong to severe thunderstorm development.

SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Boston/Norton at WX1BOX commenced at 130 PM. This will be the last message ahead of any severe weather potential. Below is the SPC/NWS Boston/Norton Severe Thunderstorm Watch #198 statement, NWS Boston/Norton Hazardous Weather Outlook, and Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:

SPC and NWS Boston/Norton Severe Thunderstorm Watch #198 statement and County Outline:
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/watch/ww0198.html
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus61.KBOX.html

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

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

Respectfully Submitted,

Uncategorized

Severe Weather Coordination Message #1 – Monday 5/20/19 Severe Weather Potential

May 20, 2019 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are possible to likely across interior Southern New England north and west of a Boston to Providence line extending through Berkshire county Massachusetts and Litchfield County Connecticut. The Storm Prediction Center has placed all of Southern New England in a marginal to slight risk for severe weather with the slight risk area centered over Western and Central Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut. Strong to damaging winds, hail, heavy rainfall with urban and poor drainage flooding and frequent lighting are the main threats but a secondary threat for an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Boston/Norton will commence between 12-1 PM Monday with the highest potential timeframe for severe weather from 2-9 PM Monday..

The first more widespread severe weather event of the year will be possible across interior Southern New England north and west of a Boston to Providence line through interior Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut Monday Afternoon and Evening. The headlines depict the latest thinking. Key factors on the extent of the severe weather potential include the following:

1.) Amount of heating and destabilization that can occur during the day Monday. At this time, models are forecasting clearing for ample heating and destabilization but if this does not occur, that could be a limiting factor.
2.) Models are indicating that there could be less moisture to work with as instability peaks which may make showers and thunderstorms more of a low-topped and weaker nature. This will have to be watched carefully.
3.) Favorable factors include the strength of the cold front and the wind shear profiles which will be quite strong including some potential for turning of those strong winds especially over Western and Central Massachusetts which is the reason a secondary threat for an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out for the area.

SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Boston/Norton will commence between 12-1 PM Monday with the highest potential timeframe for severe weather from 2-9 PM Monday. The next coordination message will be posted by 12 PM Monday. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Hazardous Weather Outlook, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-2 Convective Outlook:

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

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

SPC Day-2 Convective Outlook:
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2019/day2otlk_20190519_1730.html

Respectfully Submitted,

Uncategorized

Storm Coordination Message #1 – Monday Night 5/13/19-Tuesday Morning 5/14/19 Coastal Storm Potential

May 13, 2019 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..A coastal storm system will have the potential to produce wind gusts of up to 35-40 MPH at the coast, minor coastal flooding at the time of the Tuesday Morning high tide cycle and the potential for higher elevation snow in Western and Central Massachusetts and Northwest Connecticut late tonight into early Tuesday Morning with a Coating to 2″ of snow above 1000 feet possible on non-paved surfaces. If certain conditions were to occur including heavier precipitation during overnight hours to allow for more cooling, higher amounts of 2″ or more could occur in parts of the Western and Central Massachusetts and Northwest Connecticut in the higher elevations..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor conditions overnight into early Tuesday Morning. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Special Weather Statement, Coastal Flood Statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook and Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook..

NWS Boston/Norton Special Weather Statement – Higher Elevation Snow:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus81.KBOX.html

NWS Boston/Norton Coastal Flood Statement – Minor Coastal Flood Potential:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.whus41.KBOX.html

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

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

Respectfully Submitted,

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