Rob Macedo – Page 132

Special Announcement: FEMA Advisory – FEMA to Conduct Test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) in New England – Wednesday 9/16/15 at 220 PM EDT

September 16, 2015 Rob Macedo Leave a comment

Hello to all..

The following is a complete announcement from FEMA regarding a test of the Emergency Alert System as part of National Preparedness Month:

FEMA ADVISORY
FEMA To Conduct Test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island
September 14, 2015

As part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) mission to strengthen preparedness and resiliency during National Preparedness Month, FEMA, state and tribal emergency managers, and state broadcasters associations will conduct a test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The EAS will be tested in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island on Wednesday, September 16, 2015, at 2:20 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, and will last approximately one minute.

The test will be seen and heard by the public over radio, television and cable TV systems, with only minor disruptions in programming. It’s designed to occur during the state’s regular monthly EAS test conducted by local broadcasters in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. (It’s also possible the EAS test could be heard or seen in upper New York, as some stations in New England can be received across the New York border.)

The message will be the same as typical EAS test messages, with the word “national” added to the message: “This is a national test of the Emergency Alert System. This is only a test…” The test is designed to have limited impact on the public, with only minor disruptions in radio and TV programs.

The test requires that participating radio and television stations make a minor configuration change to their station EAS equipment to receive a National Periodic Test (NPT) code message. EAS stations will receive and broadcast a national test message from FEMA’s system known to broadcasters and state alerting officials as the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System or IPAWS. Participation in the test on September 16th is completely voluntary for radio and TV stations and cable operators in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. There is no Federal Communications Commission regulatory liability for stations that choose not to participate. Comprehensive testing and analyzing of alerting technologies will ensure that an effective and reliable system will exist to alert members of tribes, and residents in all six states if an emergency occurs.

The FEMA Integrated Public Alert and Warning System also supports capabilities for state and local alerting authorities to distribute emergency alerts to cellular phones as Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), to broadcast non-weather emergency information to NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radios, and to publish emergency information and alerts to the Internet connected to unique alerting systems that monitor and redistribute alerts through various Internet applications, services, or websites. Internet redistributors of emergency information can include Facebook, Twitter, websites, digital signs and specialized applications (APPS). Devices that serve people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs can also pick up the redistributed alert messages through the FEMA All-Hazards Information Feed partners. While IPAWS supports all of these other capabilities, the test on September 16 will only include the Emergency Alert System through radio, television, and cable TV systems.

In 2007, FEMA began modernizing the nation’s public alert and warning system by integrating new technologies into the existing alert systems. The new system, known as the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) became operational in 2011 and today supports over 700 local, state, and federal users and uses a standardized message format to enable public safety alerting authorities to send the same alert and warning message over multiple communication pathways at the same time to citizens in harm’s way, helping to save lives.

Public safety officials need to be sure that in times of an emergency or disaster, they have methods and systems that will deliver urgent alerts and warnings to the public when needed. Periodic testing of public alert and warning systems is a way to analyze and determine what improvements in technologies need to be made.

September is also National Preparedness Month, and FEMA reminds the residents of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island to be informed about emergencies that could happen in their community. FEMA’s theme this year: Don’t Wait. Communicate. Make Your Emergency Plan Today. FEMA is encouraging the public to take action now and to make a plan with your community, your family, and for your pets. Plan how to stay safe and communicate during the disasters that can affect your community. Get involved. Build an emergency supply kit. Go to www.READY.gov<http://www.READY.gov> for more information.

For more information on FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, go to: www.fema.gov/ipaws<http://www.fema.gov/ipaws>. For more preparedness information, go to www.ready.gov<http://www.ready.gov>.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

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Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Assistant 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://beta.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – http://twitter.com/wx1box

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Special Announcement: 2015 Southern New England Weather Conference – Saturday October 24th, 2015

September 12, 2015 Rob Macedo Leave a comment

Hello to all..

The Southern New England Weather Conference will take place Saturday October 24th, 2015. Early Bird Registration is now open for this year’s conference. The conference will again be held at Meditech, at the base of Great Blue Hill in Canton, Massachusetts. Some topics that will be covered this year include:

-Severe Weather Preparedness, including a talk by Dr. Lans Rothfusz, Deputy Director of the National Severe Storms Laboratory
-The record-setting winter of 2014-2015
-Short-lived tornadoes, such as the one that struck Revere in 2014

The tentative agenda for the Southern New England Weather Conference can be seen via the following link:
http://www.sneweatherconf.org/2015Agenda.shtml

Registration Fees:
Please note that registration will be stopped after 230 registrants!

Early Bird Registration (Today – Sept 14): $89
Student/Teacher Early and Regular Registration (Today – Oct 19): $89
Regular Registration (Sept 15 – Oct 19): $99
Late Registration (Oct 20 – Oct 23 – at the conference site): $109 (on-line registration will not be available after Oct 19.)
Student/Teacher Late Registration (Oct 25): $99 (same rules as above)

To register by phone, contact the Blue Hill Observatory at 617-696-0562. Complete registration information can be seen via the following link:
http://www.sneweatherconf.org/confregform.cfm

We hope to see many of you at the 2015 Southern New England Weather Conference!

Respectfully Submitted,

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Severe Weather Coordination Message #2 – Tuesday August 25th 2015 – Severe Weather Potential

August 25, 2015 Rob Macedo Leave a comment

Hello to all..

..Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms remain possible to likely across much of Southern New England with strong to damaging winds, hail, frequent lightning and heavy rainfall with urban and poor drainage flooding as the main threats from late Tuesday Morning through Tuesday Evening. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) continues a marginal risk for severe weather across much of Southern New England..
..Morning round of strong thunderstorms affected Northwest Massachusetts into Southern New Hampshire with heavy rainfall. Morning activity didn’t occur in Southeast New England as activity was further offshore than modeled..
..Degree of severe weather potential will hinge on amount of clearing over Southern New England. Clearing is expected to occur from southwest to northeast across Southern New England which will increase instability with sufficiently strong winds aloft for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorm activity depending on the timing of the cold front..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence at 11 AM Tuesday Morning through Tuesday Evening..

Tuesday has been the signature day for potential severe weather events and this Tuesday looks like no exception. SKYWARN Self-Activation monitored a round of strong thunderstorms that affected Franklin County Massachusetts and went into Southern New Hampshire. These thunderstorms resulted in 2-3″ of rainfall in some areas with one isolated tree and wire damage report in Hawley Mass and some street/basement flooding issues. No activity occurred in Southeast New England as strong thunderstorms stayed well offshore of that area.

Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms will be possible to likely ahead of a slow moving cold front which will bring cooler and lesser humid air to the region. The threat will be continent on the amount of clearing and satellite imagery shows clearing should take place across Southern New England from southwest to northeast. The threat is also contingent on the timing of the slow moving cold front into our area. The clearing and current expected timing of the cold front should allow for sufficient destabilization with strong winds aloft to result in isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms with strong to damaging winds, hail, frequent lightning and heavy rainfall with urban and poor drainage flooding as the main threats.

SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence at 11 AM EDT Tuesday. This will be the last coordination message on Tuesday’s severe weather potential. Below is the NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook:

NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook:
http://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=box&wwa=hazardous%20weather%20outlook

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

Respectfully Submitted,

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Severe Weather Coordination Message #1 – Tuesday August 25th, 2015 Severe Weather Potential

August 24, 2015 Rob Macedo Leave a comment

Hello to all..

..Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms possible across much of Southern New England with strong to damaging winds, hail, frequent lightning and heavy rainfall with urban and poor drainage flooding as the main threats..
..There could be two rounds of activity, one round in the morning in Southeastern New England and one affecting Western, Central and interior Northeast Massachusetts, Northwest Rhode Island and Connecticut in the afternoon and early evening. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed much of Southern New England in a marginal risk for severe weather..
..At this time, SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor any morning strong to severe thunderstorm activity. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are likely anytime after 1 PM EDT Tuesday..

Tuesday has been the signature day for potential severe weather events and this Tuesday looks like no exception. Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms will be possible ahead of a slow moving cold front which will bring cooler and lesser humid air to the region. At this time, two rounds of isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms could affect the region. The first round potentially over Southeast New England and the second round across much of Southern New England north and west of a Boston to Providence line and weakening as it approaches coastal Southern New England. Strong to damaging winds, hail, frequent lightning and heavy rainfall with urban and poor drainage flooding are the main threats. SPC has placed much of Southern New England in a marginal risk for severe weather.

Key items regarding the severe weather potential for this Tuesday includes:
1.) Amount of morning convection and its ultimate intensity.
2.) Amount of clearing behind any morning convection that affects the region.
3.) Timing of the cold front through Southern New England.

At this time, SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor any morning strong to severe thunderstorm activity. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are likely anytime after 1 PM EDT Tuesday. This will be reviewed again on Tuesday Morning. Another coordination message, possibly a shortened one depending on the extent of any morning convection, will be posted by 9 AM Tuesday Morning. Below is the NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-2 Convective Outlook:

NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.flus41.KBOX.html

SPC Day-2 Convective Outlook:
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2015/day2otlk_20150824_1730.html

Respectfully Submitted,

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Severe Weather Coordination Message – Saturday August 15th, 2015 Severe Weather Potential

August 15, 2015 Rob Macedo Leave a comment

Hello to all…

..Isolated to Scattered thunderstorms possible today across much of Southern New England particularly north of the Mass Pike but cannot be ruled out elsewhere anytime after 2 PM through early evening. Heavy rainfall and urban/poor drainage flooding is the main threat but strong winds and hail could occur in the strongest thunderstorms..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor thunderstorm development through the day today. This will be the only coordination message on today’s thunderstorm potential unless a significant upgrade occurs. Below is the NWS Taunton Area Forecast Discussion regarding today’s thunderstorm potential..

NWS Taunton Area Forecast Discussion:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.fxus61.KBOX.html

Respectfully Submitted,

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Special Announcement: SKYWARN Training Class at the Boxboro New England Division ARRL Convention – Friday 8/21/15 1-4 PM

August 13, 2015 Rob Macedo Leave a comment

Hello to all..

A special SKYWARN Training class will be offered at the Boxboro New England Division Amateur Radio ARRL Convention on Friday August 21st, 2015 from 1-4 PM. Details are as follows:

Friday August 21st, 2015: 1-4 PM:
Holiday Inn – Boxborough – Seminar Room
242 Adams Place
Boxborough Mass.
Taught by: Amateur Radio Coordinator
Registration: None Required
Sponsorship: This training is being run in conjunction with the ARRL
New England Division Convention and Ham Radio Show. This is being done prior
to the Hamfest starting and no admission will be charged on Friday for those
interested in attending this SKYWARN Training session.

The Boxboro ARRL New England Division Convention will have various forums on SKYWARN, the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) and other interesting seminars. There will also be new and used Amateur Radio gear from both Amateur Radio manufacturers as well as an Amateur Radio flea market. The convention extends into the weekend on both Saturday August 22nd-Sunday August 23rd. Further details on the ARRL New England Division Convention can be seen at http://www.boxboro.org/

Please spread the word on this SKYWARN Training Class. Thanks to all!

Respectfully Submitted,

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Severe Weather Coordination Message #2 – Tuesday August 11th Severe Weather Potential

August 11, 2015 Rob Macedo Leave a comment

Hello to all..

..Heavy rainfall with embedded thunderstorms and some strong winds up to or slightly over 40 MPH will continue through Midday in western parts of Southern New England and through early afternoon in eastern areas ahead of a warm front. After this moves through, isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are possible across much of Southern New England with heavy rainfall and urban and poor drainage flooding, strong to damaging winds as the main threats. Cannot rule out an isolated brief tornado if enough destabilization occurs and can tap into the strong wind shear fields and turning in the atmosphere..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor conditions through Noon today. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will start around or shortly after Noon today for the severe weather potential..

At 1025 AM, Doppler Radar showed rain, heavy at times with embedded thunderstorms moving through Southern New England. The rain is moving along and should be out of western areas by Noon and eastern areas by around 2 PM this afternoon. Rainfall amounts of 1-1.5″ with higher amounts are possible with this initial rainfall. After this rainfall, a cold front will be approaching Southern New England. Shear values may weaken a bit with time but still remain fairly strong with some turning in the atmosphere noted. Any cloud breaks and sunshine after the rainfall that moves through the area will set the stage for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms with heavy rainfall and urban and poor drainage flooding and strong to damaging winds as the main threats. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out if enough destabilization occurs and can tap into the strong wind shear fields and turning in the atmosphere.

SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor conditions through Noon today. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will start around or shortly after Noon today for the severe weather potential. This will be the last coordination message on today’s severe weather potential. Below is the NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook:

NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.flus41.KBOX.html

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

Respectfully Submitted,

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Severe Weather Coordination Message #1 – Tuesday August 11th, 2015 Severe Weather Potential

August 10, 2015 Rob Macedo Leave a comment

Hello to all..

..Thunderstorms and rain showers with heavy downpours expected mid-late Tuesday Morning into Tuesday Afternoon with the additional threat of Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms later Tuesday Afternoon and evening. Urban and poor drainage flooding from heavy rainfall and frequent lightning are the primary threats with a secondary threat for strong to damaging winds and hail. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has Southern New England in a marginal risk for severe weather Tuesday..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor morning activity. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are likely starting at Noon lasting through early evening..

A storm system will move into the Northeast bringing with it increased humidity and a round of showers and thunderstorms with the main threat of heavy rainfall bringing urban and poor drainage flooding and frequent lightning. There will be strong winds aloft, however, and if enough instability can occur either with a break in shower and thunderstorm activity with some cloud breaks to cause heating or if the wind shear and storm system can overcome modest instability, there would be a threat for pockets of wind damage and hail from isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has Southern New England in a marginal risk for severe weather Tuesday.

SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor morning activity. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are likely starting at Noon and lasting through early evening. Another coordination message will be posted by 9 AM Tuesday Morning. Below is the NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-2 Convective Outlook:

NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.flus41.KBOX.html

SPC Day-2 Convective Outlook:
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2015/day2otlk_20150810_1730.html

Respectfully Submitted,

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Post Severe Weather Coordination Message #1 – Tuesday August 4th, 2015 Severe Weather Event

August 5, 2015 Rob Macedo Leave a comment

Hello to all…

..Major Severe Weather Outbreak affects Southern New England on Tuesday August 4th, 2015 in two distinct areas and timeframes. Tuesday Morning across Rhode Island, Southeast Massachusetts and parts of the North Shore Massachusetts and Tuesday Afternoon into Early Evening across parts of Western, Central and Northeast Massachusetts including the Metro Boston area with very large hail affecting a large urbanized area along with downed trees and wires and wind damage and sightings of wall/funnel clouds near the Athol/Barre MA area and in the Burlington, MA area..
..At the height of the outbreak in Rhode Island, 183000 people were without power with 14000 without power in Southeast Massachusetts during the morning outbreak. Across Western, Central and Northeast Massachusetts, scattered power outages and tree and wire damage occurred but very large hail was common across many pockets of North-Central and Northeast Massachusetts including the Metro Boston area..
..A HUGE THANK YOU goes out to all SKYWARN Spotters, Amateur Radio Operators and relays into the areas most affected by severe weather. Your reports, pictures etc. provide a huge situational awareness footprint to the National Weather Service, local and state public safety and emergency management and the broadcast media. Any additional reports of damage or pictures of hail, wind and other storm damage and flooding can be sent as a reply to this email, via our Facebook and Twitter feeds or via the email address pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the Spotter/Amateur Radio Operator unless otherwise noted..
..Another Post Severe Weather Coordination Message May Be Posted Later Wednesday Evening or Thursday Morning..
..Below are links to the NWS Taunton Local Storm Report summaries and to the WX1BOX Facebook Photo albums on the Tuesday Morning and Tuesday Afternoon August 4th, 2015 Severe Weather Outbreaks..

WX1BOX Facebook Page Photo Album 8/4/15 – Tuesday Afternoon Severe Weather Photos:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1032166623484022.1073741870.216287391738620&type=3

NWS Taunton Local Storm Report – 8/4/15 – Tuesday Afternoon Summary:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/LSR_8_4_15_PM.txt

NWS Taunton Local Storm Report – 8/4/15 – Tuesday Morning Summary:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1032031100164241.1073741869.216287391738620&type=3

NWS Taunton Local Storm Report – 8/4/15 – Tuesday Morning Summary:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/LSR_8_4_15_AM.txt

Respectfully Submitted,

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Severe Weather Coordination Message #2 – Tuesday August 4th 2015 Severe Weather Potential and Post Severe Weather from Tuesday Morning

August 4, 2015 Rob Macedo Leave a comment

Hello to all..

..Severe Weather Outbreak slams Rhode Island and Southeast Massachusetts from 600-900 AM with significant wind damage also noted in the north shore of Massachusetts as well. Pictures of damage can be sent as a reply to this email, to pics@nsradio.org or via Facebook/Twitter feeds..
..New round of severe weather likely across all of Southern New England. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence by 130 PM. This email is brief to get ops running at NWS Taunton as soon as possible. Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect until 800 PM for Worcester, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire Counties of Massachusetts. Watches could be expanded to other areas later today..

Respectfully Submitted,

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