Hello to all…

..After Friday’s strong to damaging wind event, attention turns to extreme heat Sunday to Tuesday and severe weather potential for overnight Saturday to Sunday Morning and possibly later Sunday Afternoon and Evening..
..Extreme heat is expected to setup over the region Sunday through Tuesday. The highest heat days are expected to be Monday and Tuesday. Sunday could have high heat potential as well but that will also be contingent on how a Mesoscale Convective System or (MCS) tracks and whether it affects Southern New England and lingers during the morning or tracks north of the region. This MCS will also have an impact on any severe weather potential that would occur during the overnight hours into Sunday Morning..
..The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed portions of Western Massachusetts from roughly the CT Valley west in a marginal risk for severe weather today during the overnight period of the Day-1 Convective Outlook and has placed all of Southern New England in a marginal risk for severe weather for Sunday. The Sunday potential will depend on how the MCS tracks and whether its over or north of the region and how/if the atmosphere becomes favorable for severe weather later Sunday Afternoon..
..Confidence in severe weather potential overnight through Sunday is lower than normal for this timeframe and there could be significant short term changes to the potential ranging from a very potent event to little or no activity. Trends will be monitored on this potential..
..Timeframe for severe weather potential would be from around 3 AM-8 AM Sunday Morning if the MCS tracks over the region and then mid-Sunday Afternoon to early evening for a possible second round of severe weather potential. Strong to damaging winds, hail, frequent lightning and heavy downpours leading to urban and poor drainage flooding are the main threats. Given the overnight timing, please have a way to alert yourself to severe weather during nocturnal hours if warnings are issued for your local area..
..An Extreme Heat Warning is now in effect from 11 AM Sunday to 8 PM Tuesday Evening for the entire NWS Norton Coverage area except for Cape Cod and the Islands and the East slopes of the Berkshires for heat indices of up to 110 degrees expected. A Heat Advisory is in effect from 11 AM Sunday to 8 PM Tuesday for Western Franklin, Western Hampshire and Western Hampden Counties for heat indices up to 100 degrees expected. Use caution with any outdoor activities, drink plenty of liquids and take frequent breaks from the heat in Air Conditioning when possible..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets are possible overnight tonight to early Sunday Morning and possibly again Sunday Afternoon and Evening. Pictures and videos of storm damage, hail, and flooding can be sent as a reply to this email, via our WX1BOX Facebook, X and Bluesky feeds or to the email address pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter unless otherwise indicated..

With fully leaved out trees and wind gusts of 40-50 MPH and isolated higher gusts, pockets of tree and wire damage occurred particularly in interior Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Northeast Connecticut. Any pictures/videos etc. from Friday’s high wind event are still welcome. Below is a summary on the wind gusts and wind damage reports received:

WX1BOX Amateur Radio Log:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/reports_6_20_25.pdf

The headlines depict the current thinking on the Extreme Heat Warning and Heat Advisory. While Sunday’s high temperature profile will be contingent on a severe weather complex known as a MCS as highlighted in the headlines, Monday and Tuesday are a high confidence on intense heat and humidity so use caution if doing any strenuous activities outdoors or in non-Air Conditioned environments, stay cool and drink plenty of liquids.

Turning our attention to the severe weather potential, this is a lower than normal confidence for an event that could occur in roughly 18-30 hours. The setup which could feature a MCS has varying model solutions from no impact and it staying far to the north to a very potent event affecting Southern New England. The MCS activity will be during the overnight hours into Sunday Morning further complicating any preparedness. Having a means to be alerted to any Severe Thunderstorm or other warnings during the overnight via NOAA Weather Radio Alert and WEA is suggested for this timeframe. If no warnings are issued, alerts won’t occur and if there is a warning posted you can prepare as needed for the severe weather potential.

Any activity Sunday Afternoon and Evening will be predicated on the MCS track. A MCS track over the area could result in little to no activity later Sunday and may also reduce temperatures a bit due to lingering clouds and shower and thunderstorm activity. If the MCS stays to the north, then there could be severe weather potential later Sunday Afternoon and Evening but it would need a trigger to break a cap despite extreme instability from intense heating. This is a bit of a “nowcasting” situation that will be updated.

The key factors in the severe weather potential and when it occurs;
1.) The track of the MCS which will determine a round of overnight into early Sunday Morning activity and how it affects later day activity.
2.) The intensity of the MCS as it brings what is known as an Elevated Mixed Layer or EML that brings in extreme instability and there will be strong wind shear present.
3.) Later day activity is dependent on the MCS track and if any thunderstorm activity can break the Cap and take advantage of extreme instability presuming intense heating and destabilization depending on the track of the MCS and if the track is over the region, how quickly it clears out.

SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets are possible overnight tonight to early Sunday Morning and possibly again Sunday Afternoon and Evening. Pictures and videos of storm damage, hail, and flooding can be sent as a reply to this email, via our WX1BOX Facebook, X and Bluesky feeds or to the email address pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter unless otherwise indicated. Another coordination message will be posted by 11 PM Saturday Evening with an update. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-1 and Day-2 Convective 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 Extreme Heat Warning/Heat 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 Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=box

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

SPC Day-2 Convective Outlook:
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2025/day2otlk_20250621_0600.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)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – https://twitter.com/wx1box
Subscribe on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@wx1box-nwsboston-amateur-radio

Hello to all…

..Strong Wind Gusts Expected today in much of Southern New England with the strongest wind gusts in Western, Central and Northeast Massachusetts this Friday Morning through early Friday Evening. A Wind Advisory is now in effect through 6 PM Friday Evening for Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Worcester, Middlesex, Suffolk and Norfolk Counties for sustained West winds of 15-25 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH. Areas outside of the Wind Advisory area could see wind gusts of 40 MPH with isolated higher gusts..
..These winds could cause isolated pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages with fully leafed out trees..
..Yesterday’s severe weather event was far more localized to Hartford County with wind damage in Burlington and Canton CT and hail up to 1/2″ in Bristol and Unionville, CT. This was due to the upper level energy splitting between Northern New England and the New York City area south through New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania and the front not arriving until after Midnight which precluded a more widespread severe weather event..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor for wind gusts 40 MPH or greater and wind damage reports. Pictures and videos of wind damage can be sent as a reply to this email, via our WX1BOX Facebook, X and Bluesky feeds or to the email address pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter unless otherwise indicated. This will be the only coordination message as we move into operations mode. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Wind Advisory Statement, 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 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 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 (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
Like us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – https://twitter.com/wx1box
Subscribe on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@wx1box-nwsboston-amateur-radio

Hello to all…

..Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms likely Thursday Afternoon and Evening across much of interior Southern New England with strong to damaging winds, hail, frequent lightning and torrential rainfall leading to urban and poor drainage flooding to flash flooding as the main threats with an isolated tornado as a secondary threat for portions of the region..
..The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) continues a slight risk for severe weather for Western and Central Massachusetts and North-Central Connecticut with a marginal risk for severe weather for North-Central Rhode Island and the rest of Eastern Massachusetts along and west of the I-95 corridor. Timeframe for severe weather is between 2-10 PM Thursday Afternoon and Evening..
..SPC has issued a Mesoscale Convective Discussion (MCD) stating there is an 80% chance of a Severe Thunderstorm Watch this afternoon..
..A Heat Advisory remains in effect through 8 PM Thursday for Northern Connecticut, Providence County RI, Eastern Franklin, Eastern Hampshire, Eastern Hampden, Worcester, Central and Southwest Middlesex, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, North-Central Bristol and North-Central Plymouth Counties of Massachusetts for heat indices of 101 degrees. Use caution with outdoor activities, take frequent breaks in cooler areas and drink plenty of liquids to stay hydrated..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets will monitor any severe thunderstorm potential Thursday Afternoon and Evening. Pictures and videos of storm damage, hail, and flooding can be sent as a reply to this email, via our WX1BOX Facebook, X and Bluesky feeds or to the email address pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter unless otherwise indicated..

Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms remain a concern for much of interior Southern New England for this Thursday Afternoon and Evening between 2-10 PM. The headlines depict the current thinking. Key factors remain:

1.) Timing of forcing and triggering of the atmosphere for the later afternoon/evening or earlier which is currently lined up appropriately for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorm development. This timing will also effect how far east the severe weather potential will reach. Timing has trended maybe slightly earlier which may mean more coverage and a slightly further east coverage of severe thunderstorms.
2.) Level of forcing lining up with the heating and destabilization along the pre-frontal trough and front versus being behind the front. This will dictate how widespread the strong to severe thunderstorm potential will be in the region. This appears to be lining up with the heating and destabilization potentially increase the severe weather coverage in the region.
3.) As always with severe thunderstorm events, not all locations will receive a severe thunderstorm. They will be isolated to scattered with pockets of wind damage, hail and urban/poor drainage flooding in those isolated to scattered locations.

SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor any severe thunderstorm potential Thursday Afternoon and Evening. This will be the last coordination message as we shift into operations mode. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion, Heat Advisory Statement, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook, SPC Mesoscale Convective Discussion and SPC Day-1 Convective 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 Heat 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 Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=box

SPC Mesoscale Convective Discussion:
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/md/md1363.html

SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook:
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk.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)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – https://twitter.com/wx1box
Subscribe on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@wx1box-nwsboston-amateur-radio

Hello to all…

..Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms likely Thursday Afternoon and Evening across much of interior Southern New England with strong to damaging winds, hail, frequent lightning and torrential rainfall leading to urban and poor drainage flooding to flash flooding as the main threats for portions of the region..
..The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) continues a slight risk for severe weather for Western and Central Massachusetts and North-Central Connecticut with a marginal risk for severe weather for North-Central Rhode Island and the rest of Eastern Massachusetts along and west of the I-95 corridor. Timeframe for severe weather is between 3-10 PM Thursday Afternoon and Evening..
..A Heat Advisory is now in effect from 11 AM to 8 PM Thursday for Northern Connecticut, Providence County RI, Eastern Franklin, Eastern Hampshire, Eastern Hampden, Worcester, Central and Southwest Middlesex, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, North-Central Bristol and North-Central Plymouth Counties of Massachusetts for heat indices of 101 degrees. Use caution with outdoor activities, take frequent breaks in cooler areas and drink plenty of liquids to stay hydrated..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor any severe thunderstorm potential Thursday Afternoon and Evening. Pictures and videos of storm damage, hail, and flooding can be sent as a reply to this email, via our WX1BOX Facebook, X and Bluesky feeds or to the email address pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter unless otherwise indicated..

Isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms remain a concern for much of interior Southern New England for this Thursday Afternoon and Evening between 3-10 PM. The headlines depict the current thinking. Key factors include:

1.) Timing of forcing and triggering of the atmosphere for the later afternoon/evening or earlier which is currently lined up appropriately for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorm development. This timing will also effect how far east the severe weather potential will reach.
2.) Level of forcing lining up with the heating and destabilization along the pre-frontal trough and front versus being behind the front. This will dictate how widespread the strong to severe thunderstorm potential will be in the region. If this lines up with the heating and destabilization, it would increase the severe weather coverage in the region.
3.) As always with severe thunderstorm events, not all locations will receive a severe thunderstorm. They will be isolated to scattered with pockets of wind damage, hail and urban/poor drainage flooding in those isolated to scattered locations.

SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor any severe thunderstorm potential Thursday Afternoon and Evening. The next coordination message will be posted by 11 AM Thursday Morning. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion, Heat Advisory Statement, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-2 Convective 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 Heat 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 Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/erh/ghwo?wfo=box

SPC Day-2 Convective Outlook:
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2025/day2otlk_20250618_1730.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)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – https://twitter.com/wx1box
Subscribe on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@wx1box-nwsboston-amateur-radio

 

Hello to all…

This week, we have one class in West Warwick, RI that still has open seats available. In addition, we have added a class at the Southeast Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association in South Dartmouth, MA for Sunday 6/22/25 – 930 AM-1130 AM. Details on each class is listed below and also posted on our web site:

Wednesday June 18th, 2025 – 600-800 PM EDT:
Rhode Island Medical Reserve Corps
297 Cowesett Ave
West Warwick RI, 02893
Taught by: NWS Forecaster
Registration Required: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScALHz6PuPZwaPnSeLXXe3RZYl-QJnDiC1zStTxu_Nbs2gsNg/viewform

Sunday June 22nd, 2025 – 930 AM-1130 AM EDT:
SEMARA – Southeast Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association
54 Donald Street
South Dartmouth, MA 02748
Sponsored by: SEMARA – Southeast Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association
Taught by: Amateur Radio Coordinator
Registration Required: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfsZMjRBA8y7RKfsJlFQVMKAghWHzCAzRPebG0-Yuhz4H_cqA/viewform

We hope more folks can attend the classes scheduled above. Additional classes may be scheduled sponsored by Amateur Radio groups during the summer/fall as well. Please spread the word about these classes and 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
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
Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/wx1box
Subscribe on Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/@wx1box-nwsboston-amateur-radio

Hello to all…

..Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms are possible in Western and Central Massachusetts and Northwest/North-Central Connecticut between 4-9 PM ET Tuesday Afternoon and Evening if sufficient clearing for destabilization occurs behind initial area of showers and the timing of the cold front can be overlapped sufficiently with any heating from clearing in the late afternoon/early evening..
..The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed Western and Central Massachusetts and Northwest and North-Central Connecticut in a marginal risk for severe weather. Strong to damaging winds, hail, frequent lightning and heavy downpours with potential urban and poor drainage flooding are the main threats..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets possible for any isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorm potential after 4 PM Tuesday. 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. This will be the only coordination message as we shift into an operations/monitoring mode. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-1 Convective 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

SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook:
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk.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)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – https://twitter.com/wx1box
Subscribe on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@wx1box-nwsboston-amateur-radio

Hello to all…

..Isolated Severe Thunderstorm this morning caused significant wind damage and large hail in Ayer/Shirley MA and to a lesser extent in Leominster MA between 650 to 730 AM Friday Morning. Additional Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms likely this Friday Afternoon and Evening across much of interior Southern New England with strong to damaging winds, hail, frequent lightning and torrential rainfall leading to urban and poor drainage flooding to flash flooding for portions of the region..
..The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) continues a slight risk for severe weather with a marginal risk for severe weather for North-Central Rhode Island and the rest of Eastern Massachusetts away from the south coast. Timeframe for severe weather is between 2-10 PM this Friday Afternoon and Evening..
..A Flood Watch is now in effect through late Friday Evening for Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, Worcester, Middlesex, and Western Essex Counties of Massachusetts for localized flooding of 2-3″ of rain causing localized urban and poor drainage flooding to flash flooding..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor any severe thunderstorm potential Friday Afternoon and Evening. Pictures and videos of storm damage, hail, and flooding can be sent as a reply to this email, via our WX1BOX Facebook, X and Bluesky feeds or to the email address pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter unless otherwise indicated. .

This morning an isolated severe thunderstorm caused significant wind damage and large hail in the communities of Ayer and Shirley and to a lesser extent Leominster, MA. The current log of that storm activity can be seen below:

WX1BOX Amateur Radio/non-Amateur Radio reports log:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/reports_6_6_25.pdf

Isolarted to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms remain a concern for much of interior Southern New England for this Friday Afternoon after 2 PM through 10 PM. The headlines depict the current thinking. Key factors include:

1.) Sufficient heating and destabilization for strong to severe thunderstorm development. This has occurred despite some of the overnight and early Friday Morning strong to severe thunderstorm activity.
2.) Timing of forcing and triggering of the atmosphere at the time of peak heating which is currently lined up appropriately for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorm development. While wind fields are marginally sufficient for severe thunderstorm development, other instability parameters are favorable and it also appears wind shear values are a bit stronger than indicated based on earlier this morning severe thunderstorm activity.
3.) As always with severe thunderstorm events, not all locations will receive a severe thunderstorm. They will be isolated to scattered with pockets of wind damage, hail and urban/poor drainage flooding in those isolated to scattered locations.

SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor any severe thunderstorm potential Friday Afternoon and Evening. This will be the last coordination message as we shift into operations mode. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-1 Convective 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

SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook:
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day1otlk.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)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – https://twitter.com/wx1box
Subscribe on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@wx1box-nwsboston-amateur-radio

Hello to all…

..Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms are possible to likely Friday Afternoon & Evening between 2-10 PM across Western, Central, Northeast Massachusetts, Northern Connecticut and Northwest Rhode Island where the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed this area in a slight risk for severe weather with a marginal risk for severe weather for North-Central Rhode Island and the rest of Eastern Massachusetts away from the south coast. Strong to damaging winds, hail, frequent lightning and heavy downpours causing urban and poor drainage flooding are the main threats..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor any severe thunderstorm potential Friday Afternoon and Evening..

Severe thunderstorm potential is on tap for much of interior Southern New England. The headlines depict the current thinking. Key factors include:

1.) Sufficient heating and destabilization for strong to severe thunderstorm development. This is dependent on any remaining convective activity and if any of it spills over with lingering cloud cover in the region.
2.) Timing of forcing and triggering of the atmosphere at the time of peak heating which is currently lined up appropriately for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorm development. While wind fields are marginally sufficient for severe thunderstorm development, other instability parameters are favorable and will bear watching.
3.) As always with severe thunderstorm events, not all locations will receive a severe thunderstorm. They will be isolated to scattered with pockets of wind damage, hail and urban/poor drainage flooding in those isolated to scattered locations.

SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor any severe thunderstorm potential Friday Afternoon and Evening. The next coordination message will be posted by 11 AM Friday Morning. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-2 Convective 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

SPC Day-2 Convective Outlook:
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2025/day2otlk_20250605_1730.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)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – https://twitter.com/wx1box
Subscribe on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@wx1box-nwsboston-amateur-radio

Hello to all..

We have reached the 14 year anniversary of a historic day in Southern New England Weather History. The June 1st, 2011 Massachusetts Tornado Outbreak will be a day long remembered in weather history. This announcement recaps the tornado outbreak and the lessons learned that apply today. This message is leveraged from prior anniversary messages with some updates.

The June 1st, 2011 event was forecasted by the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) in Norman Oklahoma as far as 5 days out. This is very rare for New England to be in a convective outlook past 3 days. The outlook of ‘Slight Risk’ for severe weather would continue right up through June 1st. As we got into June 1st, a fast moving area of rapidly developing severe thunderstorms ahead of the warm front affected portions of Southern New Hampshire and Northeast Massachusetts producing large hail. These storms quickly moved out of area and were a sign of things to come and how explosive the atmosphere was on June 1st. Abundant sunshine and rapid heating and destabilization coupled with extremely strong wind shear values, set the stage for a historic major severe weather outbreak in Massachusetts and other parts of New England. The Storm Prediction Center in Norman Oklahoma issued a Mesoscale Convective Discussion highlighting the need for Tornado Watches for much of New York and New England. The Tornado Watches would be issued and supercell severe thunderstorms would move into Southern New England.

Initially the supercells produced very large hail including hail slightly over 4″ in diameter in East Windsor Massachusetts, Berkshire County, which may potentially set the new record for the commonwealth as far as hail size but no tornadic or wind damage activity through 400 PM. This is when the supercell began to take shape in Western Hampden County Massachusetts and set the stage for the large, long track EF-3 Tornado that traversed the area from Westfield to Charlton Massachusetts for a 38-mile long damage path and was on the ground for 70 minutes. Three smaller tornadoes occurred in Western and Central Massachusetts from additional supercells moving through the area. Another area of supercells went through Northern Worcester County into Middlesex and Suffolk Counties producing Golf Ball Sized hail and pockets of wind damage all the way into the Metro Boston area.

June 1st, 2011 underscored how important Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters are to the warning process and how the timely severe weather reporting can not only help the warning process but can also help saves lives. The near real-time reporting of the large EF-3 tornado touchdown with initial preliminary reports in Westfield including from Al Giguere Jr.-KB1VNH, the actual spotting of the EF3 Tornado by several Amateurs including KB1NOX-Richard Stewart who was in a car with several other Amateurs, Western Massachusetts SKYWARN Coordinator, Ray-W1NWS, and the amazing remote webcam footage from WWLP-TV channel 22 in Springfield Massachusetts helped to tell people that not only was this a radar detected tornado but that it was definitely on the ground and doing significant damage. It is quite likely that many lives were saved by this near realtime reporting of the tornado being on the ground.

Amateur Radio SKYWARN Nets were active on several Amateur Radio Repeaters including the 146.940-Mount Tom Repeater run by the Mount Tom Amateur Radio Club and with Amateur Radio members and SKYWARN Spotters from the Hampden County Radio Association also reporting into the net. The 146.970-Paxton Repeater run by the Central Massachusetts Amateur Radio Club was active for several hours as well. Both repeaters providing significant near realtime reporting for situational awareness and disaster intelligence purposes not only to the National Weather Service but also to the media, local, state and federal emergency management officials. The Amateur Radio Internet Radio Linking Project (IRLP)/Echolink system on the echolink conference *NEW-ENG* node 9123/IRLP 9123 was also active with liaisons from various Amateur Radio nets reporting into the network. While not in the NWS Boston/Norton (formerly Taunton) Coverage Area, the 146.910-Mount Greylock Repeater was active with Berkshire County SKYWARN as run by Rick-WA1ZHM with Walt-N1DQU providing information from the net into NWS. Net Controls for the 146.940 Mount Tom Net were Bob Meneguzzo-K1YO and for the 146.970 Paxton Net, John Ruggiero-N2YHK. N9SC-Steve Craven provided a critical liaison link from the 146.970-Paxton Repeater Net to the 146.940-Mount Tom Net during the tornadic outbreak. Many Amateur Radio Operators and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters reported severe weather conditions despite being at risk from these powerful supercells. We are forever grateful for the reporting that helped save lives. The outpouring of damage assessment pictures and videos and reports near and after the event was unprecedented. This clearly helped Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), local and state emergency management perform their duties to try and bring as many resources to bear on the significant path of destruction carved out by the tornado outbreak.

For the victims, today is likely a painful reminder of what occurred and what loses they faced in terms of property damage and possibly lives lost. Our thoughts and prayers remain to all those people that are affected and we hope that they have fully recovered and moved on with their lives after this tornado outbreak.

For those not impacted by such a significant event as June 1st and not impacted severely by other significant severe weather events that have occurred over the past decade, this is a reminder that we must all be prepared for these significant weather situations that occur at low frequency but can be with high impact. The more self-sufficient and prepared we are, the easier the situation will be if we are faced with such a significant scenario if it comes our way and potentially occurs in a more widespread way. For those SKYWARN Spotters and Amateur Radio Operators who have not witnessed such severe weather, this is why we train and prepare because we never know the hour or day where a critical severe weather report can help the warning process and save lives.

On a personal level, we never want severe weather like this to happen but if it has to happen, the level of commitment, support and reporting of the situation in near realtime on June 1st with a high level of precision and quality but also in the quantity that the reports came through in our network is a testament to all of you for remaining dedicated and supportive of the National Weather Service SKYWARN program. It is an honor and a privilege for myself and many of our Amateur Radio SKYWARN Coordinators across the NWS Boston/Norton Coverage Area to serve as leaders of the program and we appreciate everything you do, as without all of you, we wouldn’t have the SKYWARN program we have today in our region. Having been the leader of the program for over 29 years, this was our finest hour in supporting the NWS office and saving lives and it couldn’t have been done without all of your support.

Given the 14-year anniversary, here are some stories from SKYWARN Spotters, Amateur Radio Operators and others from this day as collected from previous anniversaries:

Mike Rivers:
I chased that storm. Remember everything. Was a impressive weather day. Sad many lost a lot or all.

KB1MSJ-Bill Collins via WX1BOX Facebook Page:
I was in dispatch at MEMA that day constantly on the radios warning responders of the locations of these tornadoes.

Paul D Kaitz via WX1BOX Facebook Page:
I do remember this very well. Was working DCR fire control at the time.

Michelle Wright via WX1BOX Facebook Page:
A couple of family members were way too close to the tornado for comfort. I felt so helpless because I was unable to reach them to see if they were okay until two days later.

Steve Hooke – Norfolk County Task Force:
14 years ago today I responded to Brimfield with the Norfolk County Task Force to assist with search and rescue after the tornado hit. Only those who were there that night can really understand what we did and what we saw. The destruction was unimaginable. Those assigned to the task force that day have my ultimate respect.

Frank Cummings via the WX1BOX Facebook Page:
I visited a person in that area a few weeks after the storms. His house and property were essentially untouched. All that was left of his next door neighbor’s home was the foundation. and the devastation was widespread. The whole area looked like a game of Giant Pick Up Sticks – trees laying askew for as far as the eye could see and foundations left on lots stripped of almost vegetation. Terrible.

Gail Morrissey – Monson, MA – WX1BOX Twitter/Facebook Feed:
I live three houses down from a tilted one and was home when it hit. Not a fun experience. The upside down house, Judy and Doug’s, were up the street from me. I learned to be a weather spotter from you after this.

I was in Monson (still am) and was ‘in it.’ Lost my home and car in about 40 seconds. Crazy that I still remember every detail like it was yesterday.

Josh Adler – WX1BOX Twitter Feed:
Flew into these storms coming back from LAX to Logan. Single most turbulent flight I’ve ever been on. It was a wild ride!

Joe Sciacca – SKYWARN Spotter and Meteorologist for Precision Weather Forecasting, Inc.:
Here are my memories of June 1, 2011: I was a sophomore in high school at Austin Prep in Reading, MA. It was a Tuesday morning and I was on my way to school. Around 7:30 am I looked to the west and I saw huge overshooting cloud tops. I told my mom that today was going to be a dangerous severe weather day in Southern New England. Checking the radar before school started around 8, I saw a powerful line of thunderstorms in western New England moving east with hail reports. Little that I knew, that the hail was up to 4 inches in diameter. In my younger forecasting days, I had limited model data but the data that I had at the time indicated to me that this was going to be unusual setup. I saw alot of shear, a well mixed boundary layer, and high severe weather parameters. Around 10am or so, the line of thunderstorms moved into the Reading area and there was loud thunder and heavy rain. I checked the radar and satellite and saw clearing coming in from the west. When I saw the clearing sky, I upped my tornado threat to a 8/10 for central Southern New England. I told the kids in my class that a tornado will likely happen today in Western MA. They laughed and said “tornadoes don’t happen here”. As the afternoon went on, about 1 pm in my last class of the day I checked on the weather conditions in the region and I saw a tornado watch issued to our west I think in NY state. We had a entire afternoon of strong heating and destabilization of the atmosphere. Once school let out around 2 and on my way home closer to 3, I looked out to the west, and I saw massive cloud tops that I think were near 80 or so miles to my west from I-93 in Reading, MA. Once I got home, I tuned on the TV and then closer to 4, the tornado warnings started in western MA and it was several hours of live tornadoes on local TV stations like WHDH 7, NECN, WBZ, WCVB. At one point the EAS came on TV. That was insane for me who at the time was 16. It was impossible for me to do my homework that afternoon because of the severe weather and the excitement that I had of watching the TV meteorologist handle what was becoming a historic weather event locally. By time 10pm came, I remember the storms approached into Boston with a severe thundershower if I remember correctly. At this time I had to call it a day since I had school the next day.

Bob Yates – SKYWARN Spotter (Provided an additional photo from Brimfield from 6/1/11):
I volunteered for a few days delivering sandwiches and water from the church just after roads were cleared-

Eric Mikal Birkeland – SKYWARN Spotter:
The damage scar can still be seen by satellite after it snows.

Billy Doyle – SKYWARN Spotter:
I remember very well I was at Cracker Barrel in Sturbridge and a monson on call fire fighter was eating and his pager went off

Jeff Aborn – SKYWARN and Co-Op Observer – Provided Photos from the tornado path on the WX1BOX Tornado feed:
On the afternoon of June 1, 2011 an EF-3 tornado traveled 38 miles through parts of western & central Massachusetts. It caused damage in W Springfield, Monson, Brimfield, and Southbridge. Three lives were taken by the storm and 200 injuries. Jeff–Staffordville

We hope this remembrance makes people never forget what happened on June 1st 2011 and remind ourselves again that we must remain, prepared and vigilant especially here in New England where events such as June 1st can happen but on a low frequency basis. A June 1st 2011 video collage has been posted at our WX1BOX Video Youtube Channel with the direct link listed below as well as a June 1st 2011 tornado timeline video by SKYWARN Spotter Dan Butler. Also listed below is the NWS Massachusetts Tornado Summary, the NWS June 1st, 2011 Facebook Graphic, the ARRL Story on the June 1st Tornado Outbreak, the NWS Taunton June 1st Local Storm Report and the Raw Storm log from the WX1BOX Amateur Radio Station.

Amateur Radio SKYWARN Video – June 1st, 2011:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dBRGRQx9bI

Dan Butler SKYWARN Spotter – June 1st, 2011 – Springfield Massachusetts Tornado – Warning: Please note light profanity in this video as there are livewitness videos as part of the timeline:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yvp7NGsxruE

NWS Boston/Norton June 1st, 2011 Facebook Graphics:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=326947176276952&set=a.237876368517367
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/June-1st-2011-Massachusetts-Tornado-Outbreak_2022_infographic.jpg

NWS Boston/Norton Local Storm Reports 6/1/11:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/lsr_6_1_11.txt

NWS Boston/Norton Public Information Statement – Tornado Classifications from 6/1/11:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/PNS_Jun_1_2011_BOX_TOR.pdf

ARRL Story from 6/1/11 – Central Massachusetts Experiences Rare Tornado, Area Hams Hasten to Help:
https://www.arrl.org/news/central-massachusetts-experiences-rare-tornado-area-hams-hasten-to-help

NWS Boston/Norton-WX1BOX Raw Amateur Radio Storm Log:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/storm_reports.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)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
https://ares.ema.arrl.org
https://www.wx1box.org
Like us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – https://twitter.com/wx1box
Subscribe on Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/@wx1box-nwsboston-amateur-radio

Hello to all…

Sunday June 1st, 2025 marks the start of the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season. The 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season is expected to be an above normal season per the NOAA/National Hurricane Center, Colorado State University and other outlooks. To mark the start of Atlantic Hurricane Season, NWS Boston/Norton has published a Public Information Statement with the names of the tropical systems for 2025 as well as some tropical cyclone history in Southern New England and tropical cyclone safety tips. Also, the National Hurricane Center/Tropical Prediction Center in Miami FL will issue advisories on named systems, Tropical Storm and Hurricane Watches and Warnings when a system threatens a land area, Tropical Cyclone Updates on named systems and Tropical Weather Outlooks for potential areas of tropical cyclone development and have issued a summary of their product services and Atlantic storm names in their 8 AM Sunday 6/1/25 Tropical Weather Outlook. The Public Information Statement and NHC Tropical Weather Outlook from 8 AM EDT – Sunday June 1st, 2025 is listed in the links below:

NWS Boston/Norton – Public Information Statement – Start of 2025 Hurricane Season:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/PNS_Start_of_Hurricane_Season_2025.pdf

National Hurricane Center – NHC – Tropical Weather Outlook of tropical names and Tropical Products/Services:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/NHC_Tropical_Weather_Outlook_1st_day_of_Atlantic_Hurricane_Season_2025.pdf

It is noted that the threat of a hurricane to a land area in the Atlantic basin would cause the activation of WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio station at the National Hurricane Center, the Hurricane Watch Net on HF and the VoIP Hurricane Net on Echolink, IRLP and other VoIP modes. The founder and coordinator of WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio station at the National Hurricane Center was recognized by the national Amateur Radio Convention known as Dayton Hamvention for his 45 years of continuous service. Also note that the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) will be holding a special event on Amateur Radio HF on Saturday 6/7/25-Sunday 6/8/25. Info on that event, Julio’s award and the web page resources for these nets/groups are listed below:

WX4NHC – the Amateur Radio station at the National Hurricane Center:
http://www.wx4nhc.org/
https://wx1box.org/2025/05/18/special-announcement-wd4r-julio-ripoll-founder-coordinator-of-national-hurricane-center-amatuer-radio-station-wx4nhc-receives-prestigious-dayton-hamvention-special-achievement-award/

Hurricane Watch Net:
https://hwn.org/

Hurricane Watch Net – 60th Anniversary Special Event:
https://wx1box.org/2025/05/20/special-announcement-hurricane-watch-net-60th-anniversary-on-air-celebration-special-event/

VoIP Hurricane Net
https://voipwx.net/

Please use this time to prepare if a tropical system were to affect Southern New England and remember that the timely reporting of severe weather conditions during tropical systems can save lives and property and the NWS Boston/Norton forecaster and Amateur Radio teams appreciate all your support!

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
Follow us on Twitter – https://twitter.com/wx1box
Subscribe on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@wx1box-nwsboston-amateur-radio