November 2023

Special Announcement: SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) 2023 Friday Evening 12/1/23 700 PM ET to Saturday Evening 12/2/23 700 PM ET

November 29, 2023 Rob Macedo

Hello to all..

**Please note adjustments to repeaters for the Friday Evening 12/1/23 time slots based on WX1BOX Operator Remote locations.**
**Our apologies for the delays in getting this SRD update out as the 2 storm events from just before Thanksgiving, Monday Morning and some ongoing marginally strong wind gusts have been the focus of the volunteer efforts over the last week or so.**
**SKYWARN Recognition Day 2023 will occur from Friday Evening December 1st, 2023 at 7 PM through Saturday Evening December 2nd, 2023 at 7 PM with a social media component to engage non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters more with 2022’SRD. Also new for this year is that we will utilize a Zello channel that is at our disposal for contact with non-Amateur Radio and Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters who have access to the system. We will announce details and timing there in our final announcement on Friday.**
**SRD Numbers will be issued automatically to non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters that register via the Google form on the SRD web site. For 2023, SRD Numbers are not being generated for Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters because some in the Amateur Radio Community felt it was unnecessary.**
**We encourage Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters to register for SRD in the Google form and the spotter mapper registration form via the links below and we will have activities on Amateur Radio and Social Media for all Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters. Please note there was a bug with the spotter mapper registration form where if you registered on the spotter mapper last year, you were not showing on the map. We’d appreciate it if folks re-register if they are not showing up on the map.**

SKYWARN Recognition Day 2023 will have Ops at NWS office with volunteer Amateur Radio Operators, however, the scale of what is done inside the office for SRD will be more limited as we will have limited Amateur Radio Operators in the facility similar to 2022. Also, all participants are welcome to register on the SRD web site. SRD Numbers will be issued automatically to non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters that register via the Google form on the SRD web site. For 2023, SRD Numbers are not being generated for Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters because some in the Amateur Radio Community felt it was unnecessary.

Also, all participants are welcome to register on the SRD web site. SRD Numbers will be issued automatically to non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters that register via the Google form on the SRD web site. For 2023, SRD Numbers are not being generated for Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters because some in the Amateur Radio Community felt it was unnecessary.

For WX1BOX Amateur Radio operations, we will cover the typical SKYWARN repeaters on VHF/UHF as well as simplex. HF for this year may or may not be done because for 2023 we plan to run all operations from WX1BOX, the Amateur Radio station at NWS Norton on Saturday 12/2/23 from 9 AM-7 PM EST and run operations remotely on Friday 12/1/23 from 7 PM-12 AM EST. The HF setup at NWS has had some issues so it may limit our on-air presence on HF. We will distinguish between in-office Amateur Radio Operations and remote operations by using WX1BOX-portable for our remote operations. In addition, contacts with other Amateur Radio SKYWARN stations will count towards NWS certificates. Similar to the last few years, there will be a social media component to engage non-Amateur Radio and Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters alike.

Additional details on SKYWARN Recognition Day including a registration link opened up to all Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio Operators can be found via the following link:
https://www.weather.gov/crh/skywarnrecognition

As mentioned previously, this year’s Google registration form also auto-issues SRD Numbers to participant non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters. The form can be found off the SKYWARN Recognition Day web site and can be see at the link below:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdsiwFThctxPqEht9r7j1V1OLBNiAQjt-yJe7z3-XFMwiIx-w/viewform

There is also a SKYWARN Spotter mapper form that plots all spotters on an ARCGIS map. We would love to see all of Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters take a few moments to register on this spotter map. The registration form for the spotter map is at the following link:
https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/6af367236b8b499f8a3c40110e58a596

There is also a SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) Facebook group open to all SKYWARN Spotters and Amateur Radio Operators. The Facebook group link is listed below:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/srd2021

On the web, the following link on the WX1BOX home page will feature all SRD updates for WX1BOX operations as well as social media efforts that can include SKYWARN Spotters and Amateur Radio Operators alike:

Special Announcement: SKYWARN Recognition Day (SRD) 2023 Friday Evening 12/1/23 700 PM ET to Saturday Evening 12/2/23 700 PM ET

Similar to last year, we’d like to conduct an experiment to test and experiment with a radio email system known as Winlink. We would like to have Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN spotters test sending email to a radio based email. This system allows for emails to be retrieved over Internet but also over radio. You do not have to be an Amateur Radio Operator to be involved in this experiment. During the SRD period from Saturday 12/2/23 from 0000-2400 UTC (Friday Evening 12/1/23 7 PM EST-Saturday 12/2/23 7 PM EST), we’d like people to do the following:

1.) Compose an email with a report in text format or using one of the Winlink system specific weather or other forms to wx1box@winlink.org with either a current observation from the SRD time period or a prior severe weather event that occurred dring the last 2 years. Do “not” include file attachments. For Amateur Radio Operators who have winlink setup, please go ahead and use winlink. For other Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters who do not have Winlink setup, feel free to use your normal email client but only use text and no attachments in the report.
2.) Put in the subject of the email //WL2K as this will allow for emails to get filtered through the built-in spam protection of the winlink system

We will acknowledge all emails as a contact and publish results of this work as part of the SRD’2023 report.

We will also utilize Zello for making contacts for 2023. We will start monitoring the wx1box Zello channel starting at 1030 AM Saturday. Where its the first time using it, there could be some technical issues but we will sort that out as we go through 2023 SRD. The Zello channel can be found via the following link:
https://zello.me/cc/209a0cc1

The SRD’2023 schedule for repeater rotation and WX1BOX coverage has now been included with this update. See below:

Friday December 1st, 2023 (All remote operations – Adjusted schedule to reflect where operators are located for local coverage:
8:00-8:30 PM: 147.000-Dartmouth Repeater (PL: 67.0 Hz)
8:30-9:00 PM: 147.180-Bridgewater Repeater (PL: 67.0 Hz)
9:00-9:30 PM: 146.790-Vernon, CT Repeater (PL: 82.5 Hz) (via IRLP or via W1HDN-R Echolink)
9:30-10:00 PM: 147.225-Killingly, CT Repeater (PL: 156.7 Hz) (via K1MUJ-R)
10:00-10:30 PM: 145.470-Danvers, MA Repeater (PL: 136.5 Hz)
10:30-11:00 PM: 146.640-Waltham Repeater (PL: 136.5 Hz)

**Will Attempt to monitor both the New England Network and the *WX-TALK*/IRLP Reflector 9219 systems during this entire timeframe.
**It is possible we may switch off to different repeaters or simplex during time slots if we run out of contacts.

Saturday December 2nd, 2023 (WX1BOX In-Office operations with remote operations being signified by WX1BOX-portable):
9:00-9:30 AM: 145.230-Boston Repeater (PL: 88.5 Hz)
9:30-10:00 AM: 146.640-Waltham Repeater (PL: 67.0 Hz)
10:00-11:00 AM: We will participate in the Eastern Massachusetts Hospital Net
11:00-11:30 AM: 146.790-Vernon, CT Repeater (Linked via IRLP.)
11:30-12:00 PM: 147.225-Killingly, CT Repeater (PL: 156.7 Hz)
12:00-12:30 PM: 145.470-Danvers Repeater (PL: 136.5 Hz)
12:30-1:00 PM: 146.895-Walpole Repeater (PL: 123.0 Hz)
1:00-1:30 PM: Tentative: MMRA Repeater System in ARES Configuration – See https://mmra.org/repeaters/repeater_linking.html (Click the ARES box to see the repeaters and other systems linked)
1:30-2:00 PM: 145.37-Gardner/145.45-Fitchburg/147.39 Repeaters via IRLP 9122
2:00-2:30 PM: 146.685-Plymouth Repeater (PL: 82.5 Hz)
2:30-3:00 PM: NB1RI Repeater System – Note the main hub repeater link for this system is down – so we will rotate across the NB1RI repeaters during this timeframe
3:00-3:30 PM: 146.970-Paxton Repeater (PL: 114.8 Hz)
3:30-4:00 PM: 146.955-Westford Repeater (PL: 74.4 Hz)
4:00-4:30 PM: 146.955-Barnstable (PL: 88.5 Hz) or 147.375-Falmouth Repeater (PL: 110.9 Hz)
4:30-5:00 PM: NB1RI Repeater System – Note the main hub repeater link for this system is down – so we will rotate across the NB1RI repeaters during this timeframe
5:00-5:30 PM: 146.760-Scituate, RI Repeater (PL: 67.0 Hz)
5:30-6:00 PM: 147.000-Dartmouth Repeater (PL: 67.0 Hz)
6:00-6:30 PM: 147.180-Bridgewater Repeater (PL: 67.0 Hz)
6:30-7:00 PM: 147.225-Whitman Repeater (PL: 67.0 Hz)
**Will Attempt to monitor both the New England Network and the *WX-TALK*/IRLP Reflector 9219 systems during this entire timeframe.

The VoIP Operations on the *WX_TALK* Echolink conference node: 7203/IRLP 9219 system will take place once again for 2023’SRD. Also, through the Sunflower network, the system will is also accessible through the following modes:

Allstar 28848
Echolink KC5FM-R 906281
Hamshack Hotline 94032
DMR TGIF 31207
P25 31207
DSTAR XLXOKL C
Yaesu Fusion 31207
M17-SUN module A

Here is the info regarding Echolink/IRLP operations as of Friday Afternoon:

Time in UTC NWS Office Call-Sign
0000-0100: N0NWS (Time slot confirmed for this year)
0100-0200: WX1GYX (Time slot confirmed for this year)
0200-0300: WX7SLC (Time slot from last year)
0300-0400: WX4HUN (New time slot for this year)
0400-0500: WX1BOX (Time slot confirmed for this year)
0500-0600: Open
0600-0700: WX4HUN (Time slot from last year)
0700-0800: WX8APX (Time slot confirmed for this year)
0800-0900: WX8APX (Time slot confirmed for this year)
0900-1000: Open
1000-1100: WX7SLC (Time slot from last year)
1100-1200: WX1GYX (Time slot from last year)
1200-1300: Open
1300-1400: WX7SLC (Time slot from last year)
1400-1500: WX1AW (Time slot from last year)
1500-1600: WX1BOX (Time slot confirmed for this year)
1600-1700: WX4NC (Time slot confirmed for this year)
1700-1800: WX4JKL (Time slot confirmed for this year)
1800-1900: N2KDX @ WX2PHI (New Time Slot for this year)
1900-2000: WX1GYX (New Time slot for this year)
2000-2100: WX4JKL (Time slot confirmed for this year)
2100-2300: WX4NHC (Time slot confirmed for this year)
2300-2400: Open

There will be other conference systems utilized for SKYWARN Recognition Day. They are as follows:

The New England Reflector Gateway System will be utilized by the NWS Boston/Norton, Mass. and NWS Gray, Maine offices from 0000-0500 UTC and 1200-2400 UTC. The New England Gateway system is on EchoLink Conference server *NEW-ENG3* Node: 9123, IRLP reflector 9123. If other NWS offices would like to join the system, they are welcome to do so and participants in SKYWARN Recognition Day can also use that system to make contact with various NWS offices. This is a great place to move off the *WX_TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP 9219 system after your scheduled time if other Amateurs or NWS offices whish to make contact with you.

Also, the Western Reflector will be having NWS offices calling CQ as in past years and have multiple reflector channels and Echolink conferences available. There is reflector 9250/Echolink Conference *HI-GATE* node: 357564, IRLP 9251 and the *WORLD* Echolink Conference node: 479886, IRLP 9257/*DCF-ARC* Echolink Conference node: 336037 and IRLP 9258/EchoLink Conference *NV-GATE* Node: 152566 open for NWS offices. Please contact Kent-W7AOR for additional information on the Western Reflector.

A few technical reminders for folks interested in making contacts with the NWS Forecast Offices on the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP 9219 and New England Reflector Gateway IRLP 9123/*NEW-ENG3* Echolink Node: 9123 systems:

-The system allows both EchoLink and IRLP connections. For EchoLink users, you connect to the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203 conference system. For IRLP users, you would connect to IRLP reflector 9219.

-If you are using EchoLink, the RF node or PC that you’re using must have EchoLink conferencing disabled. If it is not disabled, the system will automatically kick the node or PC off of the system. The reason this occurs is to prevent unintentional interference from a conferencing station that may not know the node is connected somewhere else. This will keep traffic moving on the net and reduce interference considerably.

For more information on VoIP Technical Configuration Tips, please go to our web site at https://www.voipwx.net where we have a link to that information on the main menu of the web site. This announcement will also be on the web site.

We are looking forward to another fun SKYWARN Recognition Day on the *WX-TALK* Node: 7203/IRLP reflector 9219 system, Allstar 28848 along with DMR/DSTAR and other modes provided by VK3JED-Tony, New England Reflector Gateway system and Western Reflector system. Thanks to all for their support!

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)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
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Storm Coordination Message #2 – Late Sunday Night 11/26/23-Monday Morning 11/27/23 – Coastal Storm Impacts

November 27, 2023 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..A coastal storm system is on track to move quickly and rapidly intensify bringing a 6-8 hour period of heavy rain to Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island with strong winds at the coast late tonight through early to mid-morning Monday. Rainfall amounts of 1-2″ are expected in Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island though some model trends have had the heavier rainfall a bit further west and areas of Western and Central Massachusetts through Connecticut could see 1-1.5″ of rain. Strong winds will develop along the coast and will expand into parts of Eastern Essex County Massachusetts..
..A Wind Advisory is in effect for Cape Cod and the Islands and expanded to Eastern Essex County Massachusetts from 1 AM-7 AM Monday for sustained winds of 20-30 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH and isolated higher gusts possible. Other coastal areas across East and South Coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island could see wind gusts of around 40 MPH with isolated higher gusts. These winds could cause isolated pockets of tree and wire damage and isolated power outages..
..A coastal flood statement has been issued for minor splashover and low-end minor coastal flooding for the Monday Morning high tide for South Coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It appears the winds will move in at a point prior to high tide in south coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island where low-end minor coastal flooding appears to be the likely scenario and east coastal Massachusetts should not have any high tide impacts due to the later timing of the high tide.
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor for rain gauge totals 1″ or more, any measured wind gusts 40 MPH or greater and any wind damage reports late Sunday Night into Monday Morning. This will be the last coordination message as we shift into operations mode. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion, Wind Advisory Statement, Coastal Flood Statement, Rainfall Map, Wind Gust Map and Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook..

NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=AFD&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1&highlight=off

NWS Boston/Norton Wind Advisory Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=NPW&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1&highlight=off

NWS Boston/Norton Coastal Flood Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=CFW&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1&highlight=off

NWS Boston/Norton Rainfall Map:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/storm_total_rain_pm.png

NWS Boston/Norton Wind Gust Map:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/forecast_wind_gusts.png

NWS Boston/Norton Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=box

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wx1box
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Storm Coordination Message #1 – Late Sunday Night 11/26/23-Monday Morning 11/27/23 – Coastal Storm Impacts

November 26, 2023 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..A coastal storm system will move quickly and rapidly intensify bringing a 6-8 hour period of heavy rain to Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island with strong winds at the coast late tonight through early to mid-morning Monday. Rainfall amounts of 1-2″ are expected in Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island with lesser rainfall of up to 1″ west of this area. Strong winds will develop along the coast..
..A Wind Advisory is now in effect for Cape Cod and the Islands from 1 AM-7 AM Monday for sustained winds of 20-30 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH and isolated higher gusts possible. Other coastal areas across East and South Coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island could see wind gusts of around 40 MPH with isolated higher gusts. These winds could cause isolated pockets of tree and wire damage and isolated power outages..
..A coastal flood statement has been issued for minor splashover and low-end minor coastal flooding for the Monday Morning high tide for South Coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Its noted that if the stronger winds are a little later than forecast, it could cause more coastal flood issues than currently forecast and this will be monitored. East Coastal Massachusetts high tide is later and no coastal flood issues are expected in these areas..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor for rain gauge totals 1″ or more, any measured wind gusts 40 MPH or greater and any wind damage reports late Sunday Night into Monday Morning. Another coordination message will be posted by 11 PM Sunday Evening..

NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=AFD&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1&highlight=off

NWS Boston/Norton Wind Advisory Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=NPW&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1&highlight=off

NWS Boston/Norton Coastal Flood Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=CFW&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1&highlight=off

NWS Boston/Norton Rainfall Map:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/storm_total_rain.png

NWS Boston/Norton Wind Gust Map:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/maxwindgust.png

NWS Boston/Norton Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=box

Respectfully Submitted,

Uncategorized

Storm Coordination Message #2 & Special SKYWARN Practice Net on the 146.940-Mount Tom Repeater PL: 127.3 Hz Tuesday 11/21/23 After the 730 PM ARES Net

November 21, 2023 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Happy Thanksgiving to all Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters. NWS along with local, state and federal emergency management officials, non-governmental officials, the media and our volunteer Amateur Radio team appreciate all the work done by spotters to provide situational awareness in storm related situations..
..A storm system is on track to affect the region and will have the potential to bring snow to a wintry mix to rain in the higher elevations of Northwest and North-Central Massachusetts including the Worcester Hills Tuesday Night into midday Wednesday with widespread rain heavy and times across the rest of the region with strong winds and isolated wind damage possible over Cape Ann, Cape Cod and the Islands and possibly other parts of southeast coastal New England on Wednesday Morning through Midday Wednesday..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is now in effect for Western Franklin and Western Hampshire Counties of Massachusetts from 7 PM Tuesday Evening through 7 AM Wednesday Morning for 2-4″ of snow before a brief changeover to Freezing Rain and then Rain around or after 6 AM. Areas outside of the Winter Weather Advisory in portions of western and North-Central Massachusetts in the higher elevations could see a coating to 2″ of snow before any changeover..
..A Wind Advisory is now in effect for Block Island RI from 4 AM-1 PM Wednesday Morning and a Wind Advisory is in effect from 4 AM to 4 PM Wednesday for Cape Cod and the Islands for sustained winds of 20-30 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH with isolated higher gusts. Areas outside of the Wind Advisory in East Coastal and South Coastal Massachusetts and South Coastal Rhode Island could see wind gusts of around or over 40 MPH. These winds will cause isolated to scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and isolated power outages..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor for snowfall, rainfall, precip type, measured wind gust reports of 40 MPH or greater and any wind damage reports..
..Western Mass ARES-SKYWARN will be holding a SKYWARN practice net on the 146.940-Mount Tom Repeater PL 127.3 Hz on Tuesday 11/21/23 after the 730 PM ARES Net. All Amateur Radio Operators including but not limited to those trained in SKYWARN are welcome to participate in this practice net Tuesday Evening on the Mount Tom Repeater. An Amateur Radio SKYWARN Net for the storm will also be held on the 146.940-Mount Tom Repeater for snowfall totals in the hilltowns of Northwest Massachusetts where the Winter Weather Advisory is posted..
..This will likely be the last coordination message for this storm event unless a significant update to the situation occurs and time allows for an update. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion, Winter Weather Advisory Statement, Snowfall Maps, Wind Advisory Statement, and Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook..

NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=AFD&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1&highlight=off

NWS Boston/Norton Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=box

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

NWS Boston/Norton Wind Advisory Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=NPW&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1&highlight=off

Respectfully Submitted,