Post Severe Weather & Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend Weather Coordination Message #3 – Saturday 6/27/26 Thru Sunday Evening 6/28/26
Hello to all…
..The following is the third 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 25 years for Amateur Radio Operators involved with Field Day and the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN Program..
..Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms occurred on Friday in Northeast Massachusetts and in parts of Southwest Massachusetts, North-Central/Northeast Connecticut and Northwest Rhode Island with some areas receiving anywhere between 0.50″-1.5″ of rain in an hour with isolated wind damage and hail. A report summary link has been included in this update..
..For Saturday, there continues to be a risk of some showers along and south of the Mass Pike with the greatest risk across South Coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Those showers may occur any time during the morning through afternoon but will be of the hit-or-miss variety. At this time no thunderstorms are expected but its always wise to have multiple ways to monitor the weather for any thunderstorms and their lightning risk to Field Day sites. Most areas will likely remain dry today..
..On Sunday, there has been a bit of a change to the forecast with hit-or-miss showers possible Sunday Afternoon and Evening. There is even the low risk of an isolated thunderstorm if enough instability develops. The threat for any severe weather is low and again due to the hit or miss variety, most areas will remain dry Sunday but Field Day sites should monitor the isolated thunderstorm and attendant lightning risk..
..We will not see extreme heat Friday or this weekend but it will be typical summer-like warmth so as always staying hydrated and taking occasional breaks from strenuous activities is still advised particularly for this weekend..
..Any thunderstorms have lightning potential which is a safety hazard for all Amateur Radio Field Day sites. Amateur Radio Field Day sites are encouraged to guard their local Amateur Radio SKYWARN frequency and have multiple ways to receive weather alerts during the course of this Field Day weekend including by cell phone/Internet and NOAA Weather Radio particularly for sites setting up Friday PM and Evening..
..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..
.. At this time, there does not appear to be a need for any type of SKYWARN Self-Activation or Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets for Saturday or Sunday but will monitor for changes especially for Sunday Afternoon and Evening as Field Day winds down. From Friday’s isolated severe weather, Pictures and videos of wind damage, hail, flooding etc. can be sent as a reply to this email, via our Facebook/X/Bluesky feeds or the email address pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter unless otherwise indicated. In addition, if any radio clubs/groups would like to publicize their Field Day sites via our WX1BOX Amateur Radio Social Media, those pictures can be sent to the same places..
Here are some links to information on these Amateur Radio Field Day Sites from across the region.
Amateur Radio Field Day Information: https://www.arrl.org/field-day
Amateur Radio Field Day National Locator: https://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator
Eastern Massachusetts Field Day Home Page: https://ema.arrl.org/field-day/
Eastern Massachusetts Field Day Directory: https://ema.arrl.org/field_day/
The headlines depict the current thinking on Amateur Radio Field Day weekend weather and where isolated strong to severe thunderstorms developed on Friday across the area. Hit or miss showers are possible Saturday particularly along the South Coast of Massachusetts and Rhode Island possibly as far north as the Mass Pike but no thunderstorms are expected. Sunday will be more of the same with the chance for an isolated garden variety thunderstorm with its attendant lightning risk. Below is the WX1BOX Amateur Radio Report Log on the Friday 6/26/26 severe weather event:
WX1BOX Amateur Radio Report log:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/reports_6_26_26.pdf
At this time, there does not appear to be a need for any type of SKYWARN Self-Activation or Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets for Saturday or Sunday but will monitor for changes especially for Sunday Afternoon and Evening as Field Day winds down. From Friday’s isolated severe weather, Pictures and videos of wind damage, hail, flooding etc. can be sent as a reply to this email, via our Facebook/X/Bluesky feeds or the email address pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter unless otherwise indicated. In addition, if any radio clubs/groups would like to publicize their Field Day sites via our WX1BOX Amateur Radio Social Media, those pictures can be sent to the same places. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion, Enhanced Hazardous Outlook, WX1BOX Amateur Radio frequency information, lightning and heat safety tips:
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
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 as there is a threat for thunderstorm development and any thunderstorm can be a threat to the safety of Amateur Radio Field Day sites. 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:
With the thunderstorm threat for any Field Day sites setting up Friday Afternoon and Evening, now is the time to remind folks that 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 and we have also added a link from the 2023 NWS Boston/Norton Lightning Safety Awareness Week and Public Information Statements on Lightning Safety and will update with this year’s statements in a future coordination message. See links below:
https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/lightning_safety_awareness_PNS_2023.pdf
During setup and takedown of Amateur Radio Field Day sites and even while operating, be sure to drink plenty of fluids and eat accordingly. The link below features information on Heat Safety:
https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat
A final Amateur Radio Field Day weekend weather coordination message will be posted by 10 AM Sunday Morning. We hope the Amateur Radio community participating in Field Day has a great weekend!
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
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