February 2020

Storm Coordination Message #1 – Late Wednesday Night 2/26/20-Thursday 2/27/20 – Strong Wind and Thunderstorm Potential

February 27, 2020 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Strong Winds and the low possibility of a fine line of thunderstorms producing strong winds and perhaps even small hail along with heavy rainfall and urban and poor drainage flooding as a storm system swings through the area overnight into Thursday Morning..
..A Wind Advisory is now in effect from 3 AM to 9 AM Thursday for Eastern Essex County Massachusetts for sustained winds of 25-35 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH. Other areas of Northern Massachusetts could see wind gusts of around 40 MPH overnight into early Thursday Morning. These winds will cause isolated pockets of tree and wire damage and isolated power outages..
..A Wind Advisory is now in effect from 10 AM to 4 PM Thursday for Cape Cod and the Islands for sustained winds of 15-25 MPH with gusts of 45-50 MPH. These winds will cause isolated pockets of tree and wire damage and isolated power outages..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the strong wind and thunderstorm potential as the storm system moves through the area. This will be the only coordination message on this storm event unless a significant upgrade to the situation occurs and time allows for an update. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Wind Advisory 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 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,

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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Storm Coordination Message #1 – Tuesday 2/18/20 Light Wintry Mix Potential

February 18, 2020 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Light snow and icing for the hill towns above 1000 feet in Western and Northern Massachusetts..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect 10 AM to 5 PM Tuesday for Western Franklin, Western Hampden and Western Hampshire Counties of Massachusetts for a Coating to 2″ of snow and a light glaze of ice causing slippery travel conditions especially at elevations above 1000 feet. Light icing could also affect Eastern Franklin, Northern Worcester and Northern Middlesex Counties of Massachusetts with a Special Weather Statement posted for this area. The light snow and ice will change to plain rain by evening in these areas..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor light snow and icing conditions across the higher elevations of Western and Northern Massachusetts. This will be the only coordination message on this light wintry mix potential in the higher elevations. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Winter Weather Advisory Statement, Special Weather Statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook and Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook..

NWS Boston/Norton Winter Weather Advisory Statement:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus41.KBOX.html

NWS Boston/Norton Special Weather Statement:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus81.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

NWS Boston/Norton Snow and Ice Maps:
https://www.weather.gov/box/winter

Respectfully Submitted,

Uncategorized

Storm Coordination Message #2 – Late Wednesday Night 2/12/20-Thursday 2/13/20 Wintry Mix Potential

February 13, 2020 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Another light to moderate snow and wintry mix event is on track for late Wednesday Night through the Thursday Morning Commute..
..A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect from 11 PM Wednesday Night through 12 PM Thursday for Franklin, Hampshire, Northern Worcester, North-Central Middlesex and Essex Counties of Massachusetts for 2-5″ of snow with the highest amounts in the higher elevations and near the new Hampshire state line and a light glaze and coating of icing resulting in slippery travel conditions..
..A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect from 11 PM Wednesday Night through 9 AM Thursday for Northern Connecticut, Hampden, Southern Worcester Counties of Massachusetts and Northwest Providence Counties of Rhode Island for 1-3″ of snow and a light glaze and coating of icing resulting in slippery travel conditions..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor snow and ice accumulation reports and precipitation type changeover reports from around the region. This will be the last coordination message as we shift into operations mode. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Winter Weather Advisory Statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook and snow and ice maps..

NWS Boston/Norton Winter Weather Advisory Statement:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus41.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

NWS Boston/Norton Snow and Ice Maps:
https://www.weather.gov/box/winter

Respectfully Submitted,

Uncategorized

Storm Coordination Message #1 – Late Wednesday Night 2/12/20-Thursday Morning 2/13/20 Wintry Mix Potential

February 12, 2020 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Another light to moderate snow and wintry mix event for late Wednesday Night through the Thursday Morning Commute..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is now in effect from 11 PM Wednesday Night through 12 PM Thursday for Franklin, Hampshire, Northern Worcester, North-Central Middlesex and Essex Counties of Massachusetts for 1-3″ of snow with isolated higher amounts up to 5″ near the New Hampshire border and in the higher elevations and a coating to one-tenth inch of icing resulting in slippery travel conditions..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is now in effect from 11 PM Wednesday Night through 9 AM Thursday for Northern Connecticut, Hampden, Southern Worcester Counties of Massachusetts and Northwest Providence Counties of Rhode Island for a coating to 2″ of snow and a coating to one-tenth inch of icing resulting in slippery travel conditions..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor snow and ice accumulation reports and precipitation type changeover reports from around the region. Another coordination message will be posted by 1000 PM Wednesday Evening. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Winter Weather Advisory Statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook and snow and ice maps..

NWS Boston/Norton Winter Weather Advisory Statement:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus41.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

NWS Boston/Norton Snow and Ice Maps:
https://www.weather.gov/box/winter

Respectfully Submitted,

Uncategorized

Storm Coordination Message #1 – Monday 2/10/20 – Light Snow Event

February 10, 2020 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Light Snow may cause some slippery travel conditions in Western Massachusetts for Monday..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is now in effect through 1200 PM Monday for Western Franklin and Western Hampshire Counties of Massachusetts for 2-4″ of snow. Other areas of Western Massachusetts will receive 1-3″ of snow. This will result in some slippery travel conditions for the morning commute in these areas..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor for snowfall reports. This will be the only coordination message for this event unless a significant upgrade to the situation occurs. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Winter Weather Advisory Statement, Special Weather Statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook and snow and ice maps..

NWS Boston/Norton Winter Weather Advisory Statement:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus41.KBOX.html

NWS Boston/Norton Special Weather Statement:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus81.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

NWS Boston/Norton Snow and Ice Maps:
https://www.weather.gov/box/winter

Respectfully Submitted,

Uncategorized

Storm Coordination Message #2 – Friday 2/7/20 – Strong to Damaging Wind Potential/Residual Light Icing Conditions

February 7, 2020 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Storm system for Friday has continued light icing conditions in northern and western Massachusetts. rain in other parts of Southern New England but most importantly, strong to damaging winds and power outages are expected Friday Afternoon into Friday Evening..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect through 5 PM Friday Afternoon for Western Hampden, Western Franklin, and Northern Middlesex Counties of Massachusetts for up to two inches of snow, one-tenth inch of additional ice accretion and wind gusts to 45 MPH. Isolated pockets of tree and power line damage and power outages are possible with the icing and strong winds..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect through 1 PM Friday Afternoon for Eastern Franklin, Northern Worcester, and Western Hampden Counties of Massachusetts for up to 1″ of snow and a light glaze of ice..
..A High Wind Warning is now in effect from 1 PM to 8 PM Friday for North-Central Plymouth Counties of Massachusetts for sustained winds of 25 to 35 MPH with gusts to 60 MPH and isolated higher gusts possible. These winds will cause isolated to scattered pockets of tree and power line damage and isolated to scattered power outages..
..A High Wind Warning is in effect from 1 PM to 10 PM Friday for Cape Cod and the Islands for sustained winds of 30-40 MPH with gusts to 70 MPH expected and isolated higher wind gusts possible. These winds will cause scattered to numerous pockets of tree and power line damage and scattered to numerous power outages..
..A High Wind Warning is in effect from 1 PM to 8 PM Friday for South Coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island for sustained winds of 35-45 MPH with gusts to 70 MPH expected and isolated higher wind gusts possible. These winds will cause scattered to numerous pockets of tree and power line damage and scattered to numerous power outages..
..A Wind Advisory is in effect from 2 PM to 10 PM Friday for Northern Connecticut, North-Central Rhode Island, Western Hampden, Essex, Central and Southeast Middlesex, Southern Worcester, Norfolk, Suffolk, and North-Central Bristol Counties of Massachusetts for sustained winds of 25-35 MPH with gusts to 55 MPH expected and isolated higher wind gusts possible. These winds will cause isolated pockets of tree and power line damage and isolated power outages..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the potential for rainfall reports, icing reports and most importantly, wind gust and wind damage reports throughout Friday..

A stronger storm system will affect Southern New England late tonight into Friday. Rainfall has continued across much of Southern New England with light icing conditions continuing in Northern and Western Massachusetts. As we get into Friday afternoon and evening, strong to damaging winds will affect the region and Wind Advisories and High Wind Warnings are now in effect for much of Central and Eastern New England. Wind Advisories were expanded into Western Hampden County Massachusetts with High Wind Warnings into the rest of Plymouth County Massachusetts with this update. Also, wind gust speeds have been increased across the High Wind Warning with wind gusts to 70 MPH possible and possibly higher gusts. This increases the wind damage potential in the high wind warning areas. The Winter Weather Advisory for far Western Massachusetts covers the potential for wind gusts and icing causing isolated pockets of damage and power outages in that area.

SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the potential for rainfall reports, icing reports and most importantly, wind gust and wind damage reports throughout Friday. This will be the last coordination message on this storm event as we shift into a more structured operating mode. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Winter Weather Advisory Statement, High Wind Warning/Wind Advisory Statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook and the snow and ice maps:

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

NWS Boston/Norton Winter Weather Advisory Statement:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus41.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

NWS Boston/Norton Snow and Ice Maps:
https://www.weather.gov/box/winter

Respectfully Submitted,

Uncategorized

Storm Coordination Message #2 – Late Thursday Night 2/6/19-Friday 2/7/19 Heavy Rainfall and Strong to Damaging Wind Potential

February 7, 2020 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Storm system for tonight and Friday will bring heavy rain of around 1-2″ to central and eastern New England, continued light icing conditions in northern and western Massachusetts and most importantly, strong to damaging winds Friday Afternoon into Friday Evening..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect through 7 AM Friday Morning for Western Hampden, Franklin, Northern Worcester, Northern Middlesex and Western Hampshire Counties of Massachusetts for up to one-tenth inch of additional ice accretion..
..A High Wind Warning is in effect from 2 PM to 10 PM Friday for Cape Cod and the Islands for sustained winds of 25-35 MPH with gusts to 60 MPH expected and isolated higher wind gusts possible. These winds will cause isolated to scattered pockets of tree and power line damage and isolated to scattered power outages..
..A High Wind Warning is in effect from 2 PM to 7 PM Friday for South Coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island for sustained winds of 25-35 MPH with gusts to 60 MPH expected and isolated higher wind gusts possible. These winds will cause isolated to scattered pockets of tree and power line damage and isolated to scattered power outages..
..A Wind Advisory is in effect from 2 PM to 10 PM Friday for Northern Connecticut, North-Central Rhode Island, Essex, Central and Southeast Middlesex, Southern Worcester, Norfolk, Suffolk, North-Central Bristol and North-Central Plymouth Counties of Massachusetts for sustained winds of 25-35 MPH with gusts to 55 MPH expected and isolated higher wind gusts possible. These winds will cause isolated pockets of tree and power line damage and isolated power outages..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the potential for rainfall reports, icing reports and wind gust and wind damage reports throughout Friday..

A stronger storm system will affect Southern New England late tonight into Friday. Initially, heavy rainfall with the potential for 1-2″ of rain will fall across central and eastern New England and some additional light icing is expected in Northern and western Massachusetts. As we get into Friday afternoon and evening, strong to damaging winds will affect the region and Wind Advisories and High Wind Warnings are now in effect for much of Central and Eastern New England. Wind Advisories could be expanded to western areas in future updates. It is also noted that wind gusts higher than 60 MPH will be possible in the High Wind Warning area and that will bear watching for Friday afternoon and evening and could increase the wind damage potential in the warning areas.

SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the potential for rainfall reports, icing reports and wind gust and wind damage reports throughout Friday. Another coordination message will be posted by 1000 AM Friday Morning. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Winter Weather Advisory Statement, High Wind Warning/Wind Advisory Statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook and the snow and ice maps:

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

NWS Boston/Norton Winter Weather Advisory Statement:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus41.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

NWS Boston/Norton Snow and Ice Maps:
https://www.weather.gov/box/winter

Respectfully Submitted,

Uncategorized

Storm Coordination Message #1 – Two Potential Storm Systems – Thursday 2/6/20-Friday 2/7/20

February 6, 2020 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Two storm systems to affect Southern New England over the next 2-2.5 days. One storm system to affect the region late Tonight into Thursday Afternoon and another stronger system will affect the region Thursday Night into Friday. The first storm system will bring a light wintry mix and a slippery Thursday Morning commute to much of the region and the second storm system will bring heavy rain to much of Southern New England but portions of Northern Massachusetts especially in the higher elevations could see icing from freezing rain if the temperature remains below freezing followed by a changeover to snow before the storm moves out of the region..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 1 AM to 10 PM Thursday for Western Franklin and Western Hampshire Counties of Massachusetts for up to 3 inches of snow and up to one tenth of an inch of ice with isolated higher icing amounts possible in the higher elevations..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 1 AM to 7 PM Thursday for Eastern Franklin, Northern Worcester and Northern Middlesex Counties of Massachusetts for up to 2 inches of snow and up to one tenth inch of ice with isolated higher icing amounts possible in the higher elevations..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 1 AM to 1 PM Thursday for Northern Connecticut, Central and Southeast Middlesex, Essex, Eastern Hampshire, Hampden, Southern Worcester, Southern Worcester Norfolk and Suffolk Counties of Massachusetts and Providence and Kent Counties of Rhode Island for up to 1″ of snow except up to 2″ of snow in northern and western most parts of the advisory areas and up to one tenth inch of ice..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 1 AM to 9 AM Thursday for North-Central Bristol and North-Central Plymouth Counties of Massachusetts for up to 1 inch of snow and a light glaze of ice..
..Heavy rain of 1.5-2.5″ with isolated amounts to 3″ is expected with the second storm system Thursday Night into Friday across central and eastern New England. Across Northern Massachusetts, this area will need to be monitored for freezing rain and icing potential if temperatures stay at or below freezing. Strong winds may occur over the marine areas with wind gusts possibly up to 40 MPH along the immediate coast..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the two storm systems for Thursday and Friday. Ops at NWS will most likely not be needed but will monitor closely for the second storm system..

Two storm systems will be affecting the region over the next 2 days. One will bring a wintry mix and slower morning commute on Thursday Morning. The second storm system will be a stronger system with heavy rain and the possibility of icing and a changeover to snow in Northern Massachusetts and perhaps wind gusts to 40 MPH at the coast line. The headlines cover the current thinking well. Key factors include:

1.) The precipitation type during the morning commute for the Winter Weather Advisory area as even light accumulations of sleet and freezing rain will cause slick conditions. The morning commute could be slow especially across interior Southern New England.
2.) The precipitation type for later Thursday Night and Friday across Northern Massachusetts. If temperatures remain below freezing, this could increase the icing potential during this second storm. This will be monitored closely.
3.) Heavy rainfall and any urban/poor drainage flooding concerns across Southern New England with the second storm system.
4.) Strong winds at the coastline and any thunderstorms that could bring strong winds down to the surface.

SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the two storm systems for Thursday and Friday. Ops at NWS will most likely not be needed but will monitor closely for the second storm system. Another coordination message will be posted by 11 AM Thursday Morning and it will likely be more focused on the second storm system for Thursday Night into Friday. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Winter Advisory Statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook and snow and ice maps:

NWS Boston/Norton Winter Weather Advisory Statement:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus41.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

NWS Boston/Norton Snow and Ice Maps:
https://www.weather.gov/box/winter

Respectfully Submitted,

Uncategorized

Special Announcement & Off-Topic Post: Volunteers Still Needed for the 2020 Boston Marathon – Amateur Radio Operators as well as Medical and Other Volunteers

February 2, 2020 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

We appreciate everyone’s patience as we make an off-topic post on Volunteers (particularly Amateur Radio oriented but opportunities exist for medical and non-Amateur Radio volunteers for the 2020 Boston Marathon. Registration information is below:

Registration has been open for the 2020 Boston Marathon for Amateur Radio Operators across the start, course, finish and with transportation medical buses. Volunteer registration is open through Friday February 7th and whole some arrangements can be made with the Boston Marathon Amateur Radio Committee to volunteer after this deadline, we are hoping to get all needed volunteers prior to the February 7th deadline. For volunteer information registration and information, please see the following link:

http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/event-information/volunteer-information/volunteer-registration.aspx

If you are interested in volunteering for the 2020 Boston Marathon but are not sure at this stage about whether you can participate, we encourage you to register now and if it turns out you cannot volunteer, send notification that you can no longer volunteer as early as possible. It will be very difficult to bring in volunteers once registration closes and if you register and can no longer volunteer at the event, please let us know as early as possible so contingency planning can be completed.

For Amateur Radio/Ham Radio Operators, you don’t need to specify any group name or passcode. Just make sure you request at least one ham radio assignment in your preferences. Once you get your application confirmation number, you’re all set.

If you’re a returning volunteer (whether an Amateur Radio or non-Amateur Radio assignment), you’ll be asked to provide your BAA Volunteer Loyalty Number. You should’ve received that in a separate e-mail from the BAA today. There’s also a tool to look it up on the BAA volunteer site. If you still have trouble finding it, e-mail us and we can help you out.

Don’t delay! Volunteer registration closes on Friday February 7th. Help us get the word out by forwarding this e-mail to your club and other hams who might like to volunteer and for non-hams to any volunteer groups who might be interested in supporting the event. Most volunteers first learn about the event through word of mouth. If you know new amateurs involved in volunteering for events who might like to volunteer, make sure to let them know about it. Even just a quick mention at your club meeting or regular meeting of your organization can be a big help.

If you have any questions about volunteer registration, or the 2020 Marathon generally, please get in touch anytime. Volunteering at the Marathon is a big job, and we appreciate the time and effort everyone puts into it. We’re happy to do what we can to make your work more comfortable or effective.

-Boston Marathon Amateur Radio Communications Committee

Respectfully Submitted,

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