April 2022

Special Announcement: 2022 Virtual Amateur Radio Workshop for the National Hurricane Conference YouTube Recording Posted

April 21, 2022 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

Members of the WX1BOX Amateur Radio Team supported the Virtual Amateur Radio Workshop at the 2022 National Hurricane Conference. The following is a complete 4 hour and 33 minute recording of the 2022 National Hurricane Conference Virtual Amateur Radio Workshop from Monday April 11th, 2022 uploaded via YouTube:

2022 Virtual Amateur Radio Workshop – National Hurricane Conference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTKJz9FpSAs

As listed in the YouTube listing, here are the start timeframes for each of the workshop topics:

00:05: Opening remarks
05:10: Canadian Hurricane Center and Hurricane Meteorological Topics – VE1MBR-Bob Robichaud
44:00: WX4NHC Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center Overview -WD4R-Julio Ripoll
1:45:40: VoIP Hurricane Net Overview & Best Practices in SKYWARN for Tropical Systems – KD1CY-Rob Macedo
2:17:55: HWN Overview – KB5HAV-Bobby Graves
2:56:00: SATERN Presentation – WB8BZH-Bill Feist
3:23:35: ARRL Update and First Part of Q&A session – K1FUG-Ken Bailey
4:03:50: Importance of Amateur Radio Surface Reports with Q&A – WX4KEG-Ken Graham
4:21:03: Remaining Q&A/Panel Discussion – All

Please note that Ken Graham-WX4KEG, NHC Director, had to join by phone due to an issue with his IPad and Zoom with Audio so during that portion of the presentation the visual portion may either be blank or show the last person that spoke to Ken or posed a question to him.

We appreciate everyone who attended the workshop live (it was between 85-95 people which was higher than last year) and we hope many more will view the video presentation recording via YouTube.

Thanks to all for their continued support of the Amateur Radio Hurricane program led by WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Watch Net, VoIP Hurricane Net, SATERN, ARRL, National Hurricane Center and Canadian Hurricane Center as well as all the local regional SKYWARN/CANWARN programs in the United States and Canada and the various local groups that support us internationally. Also, thanks to all for their continued support of the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN program.

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://www.wx1box.org
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Storm Coordination Message #3 – Late Monday Evening 4/18/22-Tuesday 4/19/22 Coastal Storm Potential

April 18, 2022 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..After ideal weather conditions for the 2022 Boston Marathon, a strong coastal storm will impact Southern New England with soaking rains, strong to damaging winds, the possibility of minor coastal flooding at the time of the early Tuesday Morning high tide cycle and even higher elevation snow possibly for the higher elevations of North-Central Massachusetts but more likely along the east slopes of the Berkshires depending on the track of the coastal storm system..
..A High Wind Warning remains in effect from 1 AM to 10 AM Tuesday Morning for sustained winds of 35-45 MPH with gusts to 65 MPH and isolated higher gusts possible. These winds will have the potential for scattered pockets of tree and power line damage and scattered power outages..
..A Wind Advisory remains in effect from 1 AM to 10 AM Tuesday Morning for Eastern Essex, Suffolk, Eastern Norfolk, Plymouth, Southern Bristol County Massachusetts and Newport and Washington Counties of Rhode Island including Block Island Rhode Island for sustained winds 25-35 MPH with gusts to 55 MPH. These winds will cause isolated to scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and isolated power outages..
..A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect from 8 PM Monday Evening through 11 AM Tuesday Morning for Northwest Franklin County Massachusetts for wet snow accumulations of up to 3-4″ particularly above 1500 feet before a changeover to rain. Other areas of Western Hampshire, Western Hampden, Eastern Franklin and Northwest Worcester Counties could see a coating to 2″ of wet snow before a changeover to rain. If wet snow accumulates to 3″ or more, the wet snow coupled with wind gusts to 40 MPH could cause isolated pockets of tree and power line damage and isolated power outages..
..A Coastal Flood Statement has been issued for Eastern Essex, Suffolk, Eastern Norfolk and Eastern Plymouth Counties for minor coastal flooding at the Tuesday Morning high tide cycle..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the coastal storm system for late Monday Night into Tuesday Morning. This will be the last coordination message on this storm event as we shift into operations mode..

A strong coastal storm will affect Southern New England after ideal weather conditions for the 2022 Boston Marathon. The headlines depict the current thinking. Key factors include:

1.) The track of the storm system has settled into a location where some accumulating snow at elevations of 1500 feet are possible particularly in Northwest Franklin County where the Winter Weather Advisory is posted. Wet snow damage would be possible if 3″ or more occur with 40 MPH wind gusts.
2.) The track of the storm system will also impact the extent of the strong winds. On the current track, the current wind headlines are in place with High Wind Warnings for the Cape and Islands and Wind Advisories for East and South Coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
3.) The strongest winds right now are expected to be between high tide cycles with a shift in wind direction but some splashover and possible pockets of minor coastal flooding are possible. A coastal flood statement has been issued focus on the early Tuesday Morning high tide cycle.

SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the coastal storm system for late Monday Night into Tuesday Morning. This will be the last coordination message on this storm event as we shift into operations mode. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton High Wind Warning/Wind Advisory Statement, Winter Weather Advisory and Snowfall Map, Coastal Flood Statement, Area Forecast Discussion, Wind Gust Map and Rainfall Map:

NWS Boston/Norton High Wind Warning/Wind Advisory Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=BOX&product=NPW&issuedby=BOX

NWS Boston/Norton Winter Weather Advisory & Snowfall Maps:
https://www.weather.gov/box/winter

NWS Boston/Norton Coastal Flood Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=BOX&product=CFW&issuedby=BOX

NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.fxus61.KBOX.html

NWS Boston/Norton Wind Gust Map:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/MaxWindGustMphISC_4_18_22_400_PM_update.png

NWS Boston/Norton Rainfall Maps:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/StormTotalQPF_SFC_4_18_22_400_PM_update.png

Respectfully Submitted,

Uncategorized

Storm Coordination Message #2 – Late Monday Night 4/18/22 Through Tuesday 4/19/22

April 18, 2022 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..After ideal weather conditions for the 2022 Boston Marathon, a strong coastal storm will impact Southern New England with soaking rains, strong to damaging winds, the possibility of minor coastal flooding at the time of the early Tuesday Morning high tide cycle and even higher elevation snow possibly for the higher elevations of North-Central Massachusetts but more likely along the east slopes of the Berkshires depending on the track of the coastal storm system..
..A High Wind Warning is now in effect from 1 AM to 10 AM Tuesday Morning for sustained winds of 35-45 MPH with gusts to 65 MPH and isolated higher gusts possible. These winds will have the potential for scattered pockets of tree and power line damage and scattered power outages..
..A Wind Advisory is now in effect from 1 AM to 10 AM Tuesday Morning for Eastern Essex, Suffolk, Eastern Norfolk, Plymouth, Southern Bristol County Massachusetts and Newport and Washington Counties of Rhode Island including Block Island Rhode Island for sustained winds 25-35 MPH with gusts to 55 MPH. These winds will cause isolated to scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and isolated power outages..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is now in effect from 8 PM Monday Evening through 11 AM Tuesday Morning for Northwest Franklin County Massachusetts for wet snow accumulations of up to 4″ particularly above 1500 feet before a changeover to rain. Other areas of Western Hampshire, Western Hampden, Eastern Franklin and Northwest Worcester Counties could see a coating to 2″ of wet snow before a changeover to rain. If wet snow accumulates to 3″ or more, the wet snow coupled with wind gusts to 35 MPH could cause isolated pockets of tree and power line damage and isolated power outages..
.. SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the coastal storm system for late Monday Night into Tuesday Morning. Due to Boston Marathon Amateur Radio Operations, we will make a best effort attempt at another coordination message by 1000 PM Monday Evening..

A strong coastal storm will affect Southern New England after ideal weather conditions for the 2022 Boston Marathon. The headlines depict the current thinking. Key factors include:

1.) The track of the storm system has settled into a location where some accumulating snow at elevations of 1500 feet are possible particularly in Northwest Franklin County where the Winter Weather Advisory is posted. Wet snow damage would be possible if 3″ or more occur with 35 MPH wind gusts.
2.) The track of the storm system will also impact the extent of the strong winds. On the current track, the current wind headlines are in place with High Wind Warnings for the Cape and Islands and Wind Advisories for East and South Coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
3.) The strongest winds right now are expected to be between high tide cycles with a shift in wind direction but some splashover and possible pockets of minor coastal flooding are possible. This will be monitored with possible coastal flood headlines posted later today.

SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the coastal storm system for late Monday Night into Tuesday Morning. Due to Boston Marathon Amateur Radio Operations, we will make a best effort attempt at another coordination message by 1000 PM Monday Evening. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton High Wind Warning/Wind Advisory Statement, Area Forecast Discussion, Snowfall Map, Wind Gust Map and Rainfall Map:

NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.fxus61.KBOX.html

NWS Boston/Norton High Wind Warning/Wind Advisory Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=BOX&product=NPW&issuedby=BOX

NWS Boston/Norton Winter Weather Advisory & Snowfall Maps:
https://www.weather.gov/box/winter

NWS Boston/Norton Wind Gust Map:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/MaxWindGustMphISC_SFC_Wind_Gust_Map_4_18_22_400AM_update.png

NWS Boston/Norton Rainfall Maps:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/StormTotalQPFISC_SFC__4_18_22_400_AM_update.png

Respectfully Submitted,

Uncategorized

Storm Coordination Message #1 – Late Monday Night 4/18/22-Tuesday 4/19/22 Coastal Storm Potential

April 18, 2022 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

A strong coastal storm will affect Southern New England after ideal weather conditions for the 2022 Boston Marathon. The headlines depict the current thinking. Key factors include:

1.) The track of the storm system still has a bit of variability from as far west as the Eastern New York to Western New England line to as far east as the area around Narragansett Bay. This track will ultimately determine any higher elevation snow in our coverage area which best favors the east slopes of the Berkshires.
2.) The track of the storm system will also impact the extent of the strong winds. Currently, the highest risk for strong to damaging winds is over the Cape and Islands and East Coastal and Southeast Coastal New England. A further west track could bring these stronger winds further inland and this will be monitored.

SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the coastal storm system for late Monday Night into Tuesday Morning. Due to Boston Marathon Amateur Radio Operations, we will make a best effort attempt at another coordination message by 1000 AM Monday Morning followed by another coordination message by 1000 PM Monday Evening. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton High Wind Watch Statement, Area Forecast Discussion, Snowfall Map, Wind Gust Map and Rainfall Map:

NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.fxus61.KBOX.html

NWS Boston/Norton High Wind Watch Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=BOX&product=NPW&issuedby=BOX

NWS Boston/Norton Wind Gust Map:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/MaxWindGustMphISC_SFC_4_19_22.png

NWS Boston/Norton Snowfall Maps:
https://www.weather.gov/box/winter

NWS Boston/Norton Rainfall Maps:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/StormTotalQPF_SFC_4_19_22.png

Respectfully Submitted,

Uncategorized

Severe Weather Coordination Message #2 – Thursday 4/14/22 Severe Weather Potential

April 14, 2022 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms possible particularly across Western and Central Massachusetts, Northern Connecticut and Northwest Rhode Island for Thursday Afternoon and Evening anytime after 2 PM with a more focused timeframe for activity between 5-11 PM Thursday. Strong to damaging winds, hail, frequent lightning and heavy rainfall with urban and poor drainage flooding are the main threats..
..The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed Western and Central Massachusetts, Northern Connecticut and Northwest Rhode Island in a marginal to slight risk for severe weather for Thursday with the slight risk area centered over Northern and Western Connecticut and Western Massachusetts from about Western Worcester County westward to the NY/MA line. There are no changes to the current forecast and the key items will be the current clearing allowing for heating and destabilization and that the risk areas are deep enough into the warm sector to promote strong to severe thunderstorm development..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the severe weather potential Thursday Afternoon and Evening. This will be the last coordination message as we shift to operations mode. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion and SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook..

NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.fxus61.KBOX.html

SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook:
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk.html

Respectfully Submitted,

Uncategorized

Severe Weather Coordination Message #1 – Thursday 4/14/22 Severe Weather Potential

April 14, 2022 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms possible particularly across Western and Central Massachusetts, Northern Connecticut and Northwest Rhode Island for Thursday Afternoon and Evening anytime between 2-8 PM Thursday. Strong to damaging winds, hail, frequent lightning and heavy rainfall with urban and poor drainage flooding are the main threats..
..The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed Western and Central Massachusetts, Northern Connecticut and Northwest Rhode Island in a marginal to slight risk for severe weather for Thursday with the slight risk area centered over Northern and Western Connecticut and Western Massachusetts from about Western Worcester County westward to the NY/MA line..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the severe weather potential Thursday Afternoon and Evening. Another coordination message will be posted by 10 AM Thursday Morning. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion and SPC Day-2 Convective Outlook..

NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.fxus61.KBOX.html

SPC Day-2 Convective Outlook:
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2022/day2otlk_20220413_1730.html

Respectfully Submitted,

Uncategorized

Severe Weather Coordination Message #1 – Strong Thunderstorms Possible – Saturday 4/9/22 Late Morning through Early Evening

April 9, 2022 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Isolated to Scattered strong thunderstorms with frequent lightning, heavy rainfall, small hail and strong winds are possible across much of Southern New England particularly in Western and Central Massachusetts, Northern Connecticut, and North-Central Rhode Island though all areas should monitor. The timeframe for these storms is between 11 AM-6 PM Saturday..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor this potential for strong thunderstorm activity late Saturday Morning through early Saturday Evening. This will be the only coordination message as we shift into monitoring mode. Below are the NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion and SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook..

NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.fxus61.KBOX.html

SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook:
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk.html

Respectfully Submitted,

Uncategorized

Special Announcement: 2022 National Hurricane Conference Virtual Amateur Radio Workshop – Monday April 11th, 2022 – Workshop Topics and Zoom Information

April 2, 2022 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

Members of the Amateur Radio NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN team will be presenting at the 2022 National Hurricane Conference Virtual Amateur Radio Workshop on Monday April 11th, 2022 from 1030 AM-1200 PM EDT and 130-500 PM EDT. The topics lineup for the workshop as well as the Zoom information details are listed below:

https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/National-Hurricane-Conference-2022-Session-and-Schedule-Information-2.pdf

The workshop will be recorded and added on to Youtube as well. We appreciate everyone’s support of the 2022 National Hurricane Conference Virtual Amateur Radio Workshop on Monday April 11th, 2022 as well as everyone’s support of the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN and Amateur Radio SKYWARN programs!

Respectfully Submitted,

Uncategorized

Storm Coordination Message #1 – Thursday Night 3/31/22-Friday Morning 4/1/22 Strong Wind Potential

April 1, 2022 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Isolated heavy convective showers and strong thunderstorms with strong winds possible with the outside chance for an isolated severe thunderstorm overnight tonight with strong general wind gusts between 35-50 MPH with isolated higher gusts across Southern New England may cause isolated pockets of tree and power line damage and isolated power outages..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor for any wind damage reports from convective showers and isolated strong thunderstorms or any general wind gusts overnight. This will be the only coordination message on this potential. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion..

NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.fxus61.KBOX.html

Respectfully Submitted,

Uncategorized