Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend Weather Coordination Message #2 – Saturday 6/25-Sunday 6/27/21 Weather Outlook

Hello to all..

..The following is the second and final message 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 now be dry, warm and humid with shower and thunderstorm risks pushed out beyond this weekend due to the positioning of the ride and the heat in the region. The potential for severe weather or any lightning threat for Sunday has been removed..
..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/

The weekend is now expected to be warm, humid an dry throughout the entire period with thunderstorm chances removed from the Sunday timeframe. For Saturday, temperature will be in the 80s with lows in the 60s and on Sunday, temperatures will be in the Upper 80s to lower 90s away from the coast with heat indices in the mid to upper 90s. This may prompt heat advisories for Sunday as the start of a several day heat wave could occur as early as Sunday in parts of the region. Due to the positioning of high pressure in the area, thunderstorm chances were removed from the forecast meaning that is not a threat for this weekend. Coastal areas will be cooler with temperatures in the Upper 70s to lower 80s for highs and 60s for lows. There could be low clouds and fog each morning on the coast that will burn off later in the day. 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.

Below are links to the NWS Boston/Norton Hazardous Weather Outlook, NWS Boston/Norton Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook and a graphic on max apparent temperatures for Sunday which accounts for heat and humidity and what conditions will feel like in the region:

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

NWS Boston/Norton Max Apparent Temperature Graphic:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/MaxApparentTISC_SFC_Jun27.png

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

This will be the last Amateur Radio Field Day Coordination Message since the threat for thunderstorms is reduced and the main concern is heat and humidity particularly on the Sunday of Field Day. A shortened coordination message may be posted if a significant change to the situation occurs and time allows for an update.

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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