Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend Weather Coordination Message #1 – Friday Evening 6/25-Sunday 6/27/21 Weather Outlook
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 18 years for Amateur Radio Operators involved with Field Day and the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN Program..
..2021 Field Day weekend will mostly be dry, warm and humid but has potential shower and thunderstorm risks in isolated to scattered locations particularly on Sunday. The potential for severe weather on Sunday is low but frequent lightning is a threat near any scattered thunderstorms that can develop..
..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. Due to lingering COVID-19 concerns, Amateur Radio Field Day across Southern New England will be a bit different with somewhat less Field Day sites than normal in the region but more sites than 2020. Those that are up and running may have some level of COVID-19 protocols in place. There will be some Amateur Radio Field Day operations operating at home and not at field locations. Amateur Radio Field Day resource information is listed below..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor conditions throughout Field Day weekend as needed..
Here are some links to information on these Amateur Radio Field Day Sites from across the region understanding there could be some COVID-19 protocols in place depending on the field day sites:
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/
While most of the weekend will be dry, there will be scattered showers and thunderstorm chances particularly on Sunday. Warm and humid conditions will prevail in the region with highs in the 80s with a few locations reaching around 90 degrees possibly on Sunday and lows in the 60s to lower 70s. It will be important for Amateur Radio Field Day sites operating outside to drink plenty of liquids and to stay cool as the temperatures this weekend will be a precursor to a potential heat wave to start the new work week. Coordination messages will be sent throughout the weekend to monitor the potential for any thunderstorms on the Sunday of Amateur Radio Field Day weekend.
Below are links to the NWS Boston/Norton Hazardous Weather Outlook and NWS Boston/Norton 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 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 and rain gear for any showers and thunderstorms 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 in isolated to scattered locations over the course of Friday and the weekend, 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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