Severe Weather and Amateur Radio Field Day Coordination Message #2 – Field Day Weekend Weather – Saturday 6/22/19-Sunday 6/23/19

Hello to all..

..The following is the second 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 16 years for Amateur Radio Operators involved with Field Day and the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN Program..
..2019 Field Day weekend had showers and heavy downpours Friday Morning from west to east in Southern New England that ended up extending through the afternoon and early evening in Eastern New England. Saturday still features largely dry weather but some breezy conditions with temperatures between 70-80 degrees and the chance of a isolated to scattered gusty showers and an increased chance for a couple to a few strong thunderstorms with the attendant threats of lightning and small hail in addition to strong wind gusts particularly in Eastern New England potentially extending into Central New England. Sunday looks dry and warm with less wind and temperatures in the 80s..
..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 Boston/Norton appear unlikely through this timeframe but SKYWARN self-activation will monitor conditions on Saturday as needed..

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: https://ema.arrl.org/field-day/
Eastern Massachusetts Field Day Directory: http://ema.arrl.org/field_day/

The commonwealth of Massachusetts has declared this week to be Amateur Radio Week and Governor Baker has proclaimed Saturday June 22nd, 2019 Amateur Radio Day in honor of the ARRL Field Day event. The details can be seen at the following links:
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/06/19/arrl-field-day-is-this-weekend/
https://ema.arrl.org/2019/06/12/triple-play-ma-hams-receive-amateur-radio-proclamations-resolutions-from-house-senate-and-governor/

For Field Day weekend, Friday brought showers from west to east across Southern New England in the morning with additional showers from north-northwest to South-southeast across Eastern New England in the afternoon into the early evening.

On Saturday, pleasant weather conditions with temperatures from 70-80 degrees are expected though there could be some breezy conditions so assuring antennas and portable setups are mounted properly is essential with wind gusts up to 25 MPH expected. The chance of gusty rain showers has increased a bit along with the chance of an isolated strong thunderstorm or two given cold temperatures aloft with warming at the surface. Moisture levels still look fairly dry so it should preclude a large area of thunderstorm coverage but moisture levels now look high enough to allow for more showers and a couple of isolated thunderstorms with an attendant lightning risk, small hail and strong winds particularly in Eastern New England possibly extending into Central New England. The thunderstorm chances will continue to be monitored into the Saturday Morning Field Day update.

On Sunday, warming conditions will occur with temperatures in the 80s in most locations. Conditions will be warm but not humid with dewpoint temperatures in the 50s and light winds.

Coordination messages for Saturday will help better define the outlook for gusty rain showers and the chance for an isolated thunderstorms with lightning, small hail and gusty winds. Below are links to the NWS Boston/Norton Hazardous Weather Outlook and NWS Boston/Norton Experimental Enhanced Hazardous Weather 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

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:
https://wx1box.org/southern-new-england-skywarn-frequency-list/

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 Saturday, 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

The next Amateur Radio Field Day coordination message will be posted by 1000 AM Saturday Morning.

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
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