Severe Weather & Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend Coordination Message #1 – Friday 6/27/25-Sunday 6/29/25

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 25 years for Amateur Radio Operators involved with Field Day and the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN Program..
..For 2025, Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend will feature cooler than normal conditions Friday with showers and isolated thunderstorms. There is uncertainty whether portions of Southern New England will break into the warm sector on Saturday with more seasonable summer time warm temperatures and humidity or if we will remain in the cool sector with temperatures below normal. If we break into the warm sector, that would increase the threat for thunderstorms and even isolated severe weather potential while if we remain in the cool sector, showers would be around with isolated non-severe thunderstorm potential. Sunday will see summertime warmth and humidity with little to no rain..
..We will not see the extreme heat we saw earlier this week during Field Day Weekend but we could see normal summer-like conditions possibly on Saturday and especially on Sunday so staying hydrated and taking occasional breaks from strenuous activities is still advised particularly for this weekend..
..There will be the threat for showers and isolated thunderstorms and at this time, any severe weather potential is confined to Saturday and not certain as it will depend how much, if any, of our region gets into the warm sector. Not everyone will see a shower or thunderstorm and it will not be a washout but outdoor Amateur Radio Field Day weekend sites should have rain gear on hand for setup and during Field Day Operations.
..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..
..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..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets are possible on Saturday. 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 Friday or Sunday but the situation will be monitored closely for any weather support to Amateur Radio Field Day sites as needed on those days..

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/

This year’s Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend will not see the extreme heat of earlier this week. Friday looks cool with some showers scattered about the area and the chance for an isolated non-severe thunderstorm. Saturday is a day of uncertainty on whether we remain in the cool sector with showers and isolated non-severe thunderstorms with an attendant lightning risk or if we warm sector with somewhat greater thunderstorm coverage and the potential for isolated severe weather. Sunday looks warm and humid and summerlike but little to no rain.

While not as hot as earlier in the week, it could be warm and humid on Saturday and especially Sunday for outdoor activities over the Field Day weekend period so Field Day sites should have plenty of liquids on hand and a place nearby to cool down whether it be a building or cars with AC to stay cool from the heat and take occasional breaks from strenuous activities. Heat tips and safety guidelines are also included in this message.

SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets are possible on Saturday. 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 Friday or Sunday but the situation will be monitored closely for any weather support to Amateur Radio Field Day sites as needed on those days. Below are links to the NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion 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

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:
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. The link below features information on Heat Safety:
https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat

With the thunderstorm threat particularly for Saturday but possibly also Friday, 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

The next Severe Weather & Amateur Radio Field Day weekend coordination message will be posted by 10 AM Friday 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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