Hello to all..

..Fire Weather Conditions will be critical over portions of Southern New England Friday as near record heat and some level of winds result in the threat of elevated fire spread..
..A Red Flag Warning is now in effect from 11 AM Friday Morning through 8 PM Friday Evening for Hillsborough County NH, Western Essex and North-Central Middlesex Counties Massachusetts. A Red Flag Warning means critical fire weather conditions exists meaning that if a brush or grass fire occurs/ignites, it could spread and become out of control rapidly..
..The Fire Weather Watch has been cancelled for Franklin, Worcester, Eastern Essex and Cheshire Counties due to the fact that winds will not reach Red Flag Warning criteria, however, an elevated fire risk exists in these areas and much of Southern New England due to low relative humidities, relatively dry conditions, warm temperatures and that grass is still in the ‘pre-greenup’ phase..
..This is not a SKYWARN Activation type of event but this message is sent for public awareness to use caution and not throw cigarette butts out on to the ground and for public safety awareness with any burning. This will be the last coordination message for these conditions. Below is the NWS Taunton Red Flag Warning statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-1 Fire Weather Outlook..

NWS Taunton Red Flag Warning Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus81.KBOX.html

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

SPC Day-1 Fire Weather Outlook:
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/fire_wx/fwdy1.html

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://beta.wx1box.org

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Hello to all..

..Fire Weather Conditions have the potential to become critical over portions of Southern New England Friday as record heat and some level of winds result in the threat of elevated fire spread..
..A Fire Weather Watch is now in effect from Friday Morning through Friday Evening for Southern New Hampshire and Franklin, Worcester, Essex, and Middlesex Counties of Massachusetts. A Fire Weather Watch means that if a brush or grass fire occurs/ignites, it could spread and become out of control rapidly..
..This is not a SKYWARN Activation type of event but this message is sent for public awareness to use caution and not throw cigarette butts out on to the ground and for public safety awareness with any burning. Another coordination message will be sent by 830 AM Friday Morning. Below is the NWS Taunton Fire Weather Watch statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-2 Fire Weather Outlook..

NWS Taunton Fire Weather Watch Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus81.KBOX.html

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

SPC Day-2 Fire Weather Outlook:
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/fire_wx/fwdy2.html

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://beta.wx1box.org

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Hello to all..

The National Hurricane Conference is coming up next week from Monday March 26th through Thursday March 29th. Amateur Radio will be represented at two sessions during the conference as well as at a function at the Orange County Florida Emergency Operatons Center Monday Evening March 26th where Dr. Richard Knabb of The Weather Channel will be present.

All workshops will be livestreamed. The livestream links that are available are as follows:

http://www.nsradio.org/stream.htm
http://www.voipwx.net/files/stream.htm

Information on the presenters including presenters from the NWS Taunton Amateur Radio Program are listed via the link below:

http://www.arrl.org/news/2012-national-hurricane-conference-to-feature-amateur-radio-activities

This information is also posted in the ARES E-Letter via the following link:

http://www.arrl.org/ares-el?issue=2012-03-21

We encourage folks to watch the livestream as presenters go through the role of the Amatuer Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center, WX4NHC, the WX4NHC group’s role in the Haiti mission, an in-depth review of Amateur Radio’s role in the response to Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene and other topics as listed. We will be looking into archiving the information via video on the web for those that cannot watch the livestream as it happens. Thanks to all for their support!

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://beta.wx1box.org

 

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Hello to all..

We have confirmed a few additional SKYWARN training sessions for the region. More work is being done to schedule additional classes.

The class schedule can be seen at the following links and it is also listed below:

NWS Taunton SKYWARN Training Schedule link (WX1BOX web site):
http://beta.wx1box.org/node/36

NWS Taunton SKYWARN Training schedule link (NWS Taunton web site):
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/box/officePrograms/skywarn/skywarnTraining.shtml

The following are SKYWARN Training Sessions booked for 2012. Further training sessions will be booked over the course of the year so check back frequently for updates.

Monday April 2nd, 2012: 7-10 PM:
Hancock Town Library
25 Main Street
Hancock, NH
Taught by: NWS Taunton Forecaster
Registration: None Required

Tuesday April 17th, 2012: 7-10 PM:
Wilton NH Fire Department
102 Main Street
Wilton, NH
Taught by: NWS Taunton Forecaster
Registration: None Required

Saturday April 21st, 2012: 10 AM-1 PM:
Lanesville Community Center
8 Vulcan Street
Gloucester, MA
Taught by: Amateur Radio Coordinator
Registration: None Required

Monday April 30th, 2012: 630-930 PM:
NH West Chapter House
83 Court Street
Keene, NH
Taught by: NWS Taunton Forecaster
Registration: None Required
Sponsored by: Cheshire County NH CCDX Amateur Radio Club

Thursday May 3rd, 2012: 7-10 PM:
Walpole Public Library
147 School Street
Walpole, MA
Taught by: NWS Taunton Forecaster
Registration: None Required

Saturday May 5th, 2012: 10 AM-1 PM:
Scouter’s Hall
13 North Main Street
North Smithfield, RI
Taught by: Amateur Radio Coordinator
Registration: None Required
Building Location/Parking:
The entrance to the parking is across the street from the N. Smithfield
Library and N. Main Street. The gray building is in about 200 yards off
the street behind a very old stone building.  It is at the east end of
Pacheco Park.

Saturday May 12th, 2012: 10 AM-1 PM:
Clay Center Observatory Lecture Hall
Dexter and Southfield Schools
20 Newton Street
Brookline, MA
Taught by: Amateur Radio Coordinator
Registration: None Required
Directions: www.claycenter.org

Wednesday May 16th, 2012: 7-10 PM:
Canton, CT Community Center
40 Dyer Avenue
Canton, CT
Taught by: NWS Taunton Forecaster
Registration: None Required

Thursday May 31st, 2012: 7-10 PM:
22News WWLP-TV
1 Broadcast Center
Chicopee, Mass.
Taught by: NWS Taunton Forecaster
Registration: None Required

Saturday June 2nd, 2012: Noon-3 PM:
Hitchcock Free Academy
2 Brookfield Road
Brimfield, Mass.
Taught by: NWS Taunton Forecaster
Registration: None Required

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://beta.wx1box.org

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Hello to all..

The week of 3/12/12-3/16/12 was NWS Taunton Flood Safety Awareness Week. NWS Taunton issued multiple Public Information Statements for Flood Safety Awareness Week and provided a special web page for Flood Safety Awareness Week. The link to the special web page as well as a link to the NWS Taunton Flood Safety Awareness Week Statements are listed below:

NWS Flood Safety Awareness Week Special Page: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/box/announcement/Flood/Flood_week.html

NWS Taunton Public Information Safety Statements – Flood Safety Awareness Week: http://beta.wx1box.org/local/flood_awareness.txt

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://beta.wx1box.org

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Hello to all..

..Near Record Warmth on Thursday but strong to isolated damaging winds expected ahead of cold front that will move through the area. Wind Advisories expanded to cover much of the NWS Taunton County Warning Area. Some places may reach minimal High Wind Warning criteria in Southeast Massachusetts and Rhode Island..
..A Wind Advisory is now in effect from 9 AM Thursday to 2 AM Friday for the entire NWS Taunton County Warning Area except for Cheshire County NH for sustained winds of 10-25 MPH with gusts to 45-50 MPH except over Southeast Massachusetts and Rhode Island including Cape Cod and the Islands where sustained winds of 25-35 MPH with gusts up to 55 MPH are likely and this area could see a few wind gusts to High Wind Warning criteria (58 MPH or Greater)..
..At this time SKYWARN Self-Activation remains likely. Ops at NWS Taunton remain possible if a greater threat for higher winds exist during a portion of the Wind Advisory timeframe over a portion of the area. This will be the last complete coordination message on this event. A shortened coordination message will be issued if time allows and Ops at NWS Taunton are initiated. Below is the NWS Taunton Wind Advisory Statement and Hazardous Weather Outlook..

NWS Taunton Wind Advisory Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus71.KBOX.html

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

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://beta.wx1box.org

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Hello to all..

..Near Record Warmth on Thursday but strong to isolated damaging winds possible ahead of cold front that will move through the area..
..A Wind Advisory is now in effect from 9 AM to 10 PM Thursday for Tolland and Windham Counties of Connecticut, Northwest Providence County RI and Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk, Norfolk, and Worcester Counties for sustained winds of 15 to 25 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH probable. Isolated higher gusts in higher elevations and immediate coastal locations possible..
..A Wind Advisory is now in effect from 9 AM Thursday to 2 AM Friday for the remainder of Rhode Island and Southeast Massachusetts and Cape Cod and the Islands for sustained winds of 20-30 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH probable. Isolated higher gusts in immediate coastal locations possible..
..At this time SKYWARN Self-Activation will likely be utilized for this event. Ops at NWS Taunton are possible if a greater threat for higher winds exist during a portion of the Wind Advisory timeframe. Another coordination message will follow by 830 AM Thursday. Below is the NWS Taunton Wind Advisory Statement and Hazardous Weather Outlook..

NWS Taunton Wind Advisory Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus71.KBOX.html

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

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://beta.wx1box.org

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Hello to all..

..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton has secured for today. SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence again at 600 AM Thursday to monitor storm conditions during the morning commute..
..Below are the latest NWS Taunton Winter Storm Warning/Winter Weather Advisory Statement/Latest Public Information Statement on Spotters reports and the Hazardous Weather Outlook..

NWS Taunton Winter Storm Warning/Winter Weather Advisory Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus41.KBOX.html

NWS Taunton Public Information Statement – Spotter Reports:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.nous41.KBOX.html

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

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://beta.wx1box.org

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Hello to all..

..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence at 3 PM ET today lasting through approximately 11 PM-12 AM tonight for the storm system. Ops at NWS Taunton may initiate again Thursday Morning depending on storm evolution..
..An additional shortened coordination message will be sent if time allows and we can schedule net call-ups on the various SKYWARN repeaters. Also, please monitor Facebook and Twitter feeds for those that have them (listed under WX1BOX) for updates on nets in the area..

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://beta.wx1box.org

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Hello to all..

..Moderate Snowstorm to affect the region this afternoon through Thursday Afternoon. Level of forecaster confidence is a bit lower than normal due to questions regarding how far south the cold air will remain over the region..
..A Winter Storm Warning is now in effect from Noon today to 6 PM Thursday Evening for Southern New Hampshire, Franklin, Hampshire, Western Hampden, Worcester, Northern and Central Middlesex and Western Essex Counties of Massachusetts for 6-10″ of snow with isolated higher amounts along with a trace of ice. Snow will impact the Wednesday Evening and Thursday Morning commutes..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for Eastern Essex, Norfolk, Southeast Middlesex, Suffolk Counties from Noon today through 6 PM Thursday and for Eastern Hampsden County from Noon today through 6 AM Thursday for 4-6″ of snow along with a trace of ice. Snow will impact that Wednesday Evening Commute in Eastern Hampden County with the Wednesday Evening and Thursday Morning commutes impacted in the rest of this advisory area..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from Noon Wednesday to 6 AM Thursday for 2-4″ of snow along with a trace of ice for Northern Connecticut, Northwest Providence and Western Kent Counties RI with the Wednesday Evening commute impacted..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from Noon to Midnight today for Northern Bristol, and Western Plymouth Counties of Massachusetts and Southeast Providence, Eastern Kent and Bristol Counties of Rhode Island for 2-4″ of snow along with a trace of ice. The Winter Weather Advisory has been cancelled for South Coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island as snow accumulations there should be 2″ or less with negligible ice accumulation as preciptiation changes to rain. Cape Cod and the Islands will see a mostly rain event..
..SKYWARN Activation in some form is likely today. Ops at NWS Taunton remain possible. A shortened coordination message will be issued later today on activation plans and potential net call-ups..

There remains a bit of a split in the model guidance with one model insisting on a warmer solution over the area while several other reliable models continue to indicate a colder solution. Additional forecast adjustments could be made over the region based on the amount of cold air that maintains itself over the current warning/advisory areas and how far south the cold air is able to maintain itself. This will be contingent on how heavy the precipitation is on its onset to allow for cooling over the area and how much cold air from high pressure in Canada filters into the area and how far south as the storm passes through the area.

The headlines above detail the storm situation. The biggest changes are the conversion of a Winter Storm Watch to Winter storm Warning for much of the North-Central interior Massachusetts area as well as Southern New Hampshire and for Winter Weather Advisories to be issued through the Boston to Providence corridor. Winter Weather Advisories were cancelled for South Coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island as any snow will be 2″ or less with neglibile icing before changing to rain. Cape Cod and the Islands will be mostly rain for this storm event. Winds will not be an issue with this storm system.

SKYWARN Activation in some form remains likely. Ops at NWS Taunton are possible. A shortened coordination message will be sent regarding changes in activation status later this morning or midday. Below is the NWS Taunton Winter Storm Warning/Winter Weather Advisory Statement, Snowfall forecast map and Hazardous Weather Outlook:

NWS Taunton Winter Storm Watch/Winter Weather Advisory Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.wwus41.KBOX.html

NWS Taunton Snowfall Forecast Map:
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/box/StormTotalSnow/index.php

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

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://beta.wx1box.org

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