Hello to all…

..Rare May Coastal Storm/Nor’easter brought a widespread swath of 3-7″ of rain across portions of Southeast Massachusetts with 1-3″ of rain with isolated higher amounts across the rest of Southern New England. This caused flooding of some urban and poor drainage areas and even a few small streams/rivers in the region..
..Wind gusts of 40-55 MPH with isolated higher gusts to 65-70 MPH occurred along East Coastal Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands and some south coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island locations. This caused isolated pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages and contributed to minor coastal flooding with a few shore road closures across Southern New England..
..Post storm damage reports/pics/videos 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. Below is the WX1BOX Amateur Radio Storm Event Log, NWS Boston/Norton Rainfall Map, NWS Boston/Norton Public Information Statement and Local Storm Report..

WX1BOX Amateur Radio Log:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/reports_5_22_25_2-1.pdf

NWS Boston/Norton Rainfall Map:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/NWS-Norton-Rainfall-Map-5-22-25-5-23-25.jpg

NWS Boston/Norton Public Information Statement:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/PNS-5-23-25.pdf

NWS Boston/Norton Local Storm Report:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/LSR-5-23-25.pdf

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
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Hello to all…

..Late season Nor’easter will impact the region Thursday with a soaking rainfall, strong wind gusts at the coast with isolated pockets of wind damage and minor coastal flooding at the time of the Thursday late afternoon and evening high tide cycle..
..A Wind Advisory is in effect for Eastern Essex, Suffolk, Eastern Norfolk, Eastern Plymouth Counties of Massachusetts from 2 PM to 11 PM Thursday and for Cape Cod and the Islands from 11 AM to 11 PM Thursday for sustained winds of 15-25 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH with isolated higher gusts to 55 MPH possible. Southeast Coastal areas outside of the Wind Advisory could see wind gusts of 40 MPH with isolated higher gusts. With fully leaved trees and these wind gusts, isolated to scattered pockets of tree and wire damage and power outages will be possible..
..A Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect from 4 PM to 7 PM Thursday for South Coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island including Block Island and 6 PM to 11 PM Thursday for East Coastal Massachusetts and Cape Cod and the Islands for minor coastal flooding and splashover at the time of the Thursday late PM/evening high tide. A few vulnerable shore roads could be closed during high tide..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation and possibly a few Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets will be utilized for rain gauge, wind gust reports 40 MPH or Greater, Wind Damage and Coastal Flood Reports on Thursday. Pictures and videos of storm damage and flooding can be sent as a reply to this message, via our WX1BOX Facebook/X/Bluesky feeds or through the email address pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter unless otherwise indicated..

A late season nor’easter is on tap for the region on Thursday. While not the most intense nor’easter, it will have some impacts in the region and has received a bit more attention since its coming at an atypical time of year in late May. The headlines depict the current thinking. Key factors include:

1.) Strength of winds will be determined by the strength of the low and will be maximized if the European model suite is correct.
2.) Minor coastal flooding coverage will depend on the strength of the winds and the timing of those wind near high tide along with ability for the storm to build wave action ahead of the late PM/evening tide cycle.
3.) Rainfall will also be maximized if stronger model solutions verify.
4.) Cannot rule out a bit of snow in the highest elevations of the Berkshires from this storm event and will monitor this aspect

SKYWARN Self-Activation and possibly a few Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets will be utilized for rain gauge, wind gust reports 40 MPH or Greater, Wind Damage and Coastal Flood Reports on Thursday. Pictures and videos of storm damage and flooding can be sent as a reply to this message, via our WX1BOX Facebook/X/Bluesky feeds or through the email address pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter unless otherwise indicated. If time allows, another coordination message will be issued by 11 AM Thursday Morning. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Wind Advisory Statement, Coastal Flood Advisory Statement, Area Forecast Discussion and Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:

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 Coastal Flood Advisory Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=CFW&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1&highlight=off

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

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…

The long standing Amateur Radio Hurricane Watch Net will be doing a special event for its 60th Anniversary of their net’s support of hurricanes. The details on this special event are below from KB5HAV-Bobby Graves, Hurricane Watch Net – Net Manager:

The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) will host a two-day on-air Special Event to celebrate our 60th Anniversary. During this event, taking place June 7–8, 2025, our members will operate using the callsign WX5HWN.

Operations will take place on, or near, 14.325 MHz ±, and 7.268 MHz, ± at the following times:

Saturday, June 7
· 14.325 MHz: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM EDT (1400-0100 UTC)
· 7.268 MHz: 5:00 PM EDT to 10:00 PM EDT (2100-0200 UTC)

Sunday, June 8
· 14.325 MHz & 7.268 MHz 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM EDT (1400–2100 UTC)
Note: Operations on 7.268 MHz will conclude at 3:00 PM EDT (1900 UTC).

Our Net Control Stations – located across the United States – will all use the WX5HWN callsign, passing the virtual baton from one member to the next throughout the event.

The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1 through November 30. While the season typically peaks from mid-August to late October, tropical cyclones can form at any time.

Special Certificate Available:
To receive a commemorative certificate, please email your request to wx5hwn@hwn.org no later than June 30, 2025.

Certificates for confirmed contacts will be sent electronically only. Please, no QSL cards or postal requests.

For more details about the Hurricane Watch Net, visit: www.hwn.org, our QRZ page for WX5HWN, and our Hurricane Watch Net Social Media pages on Facebook and X (formerly known as Twitter).

73 & God Bless,
Bobby
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bobby Graves – KB5HAV
7856 New Light Road
Starkville, MS 39759
(601) 405-7885

Hurricane Watch Net
Net Manager
Webmaster
www.hwn.org

We hope Amateur Radio Operators with HF capability can participate in this special event supporting the Hurricane Watch Net. 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)
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
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Hello to all…

On Saturday Evening, May 17th, 2025, WD4R-Julio Ripoll, Founder and Coordinator of WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center, received the prestigious Dayton Hamvention (a national Amateur Radio Convention), Special Achievement Award for 45 years of service to the National Hurricane Center and for founding the Amateur Radio station in 1980.

Julio announced at the 2025 National Hurricane Conference Amateur Radio Workshop in New Orleans, Louisiana that he will be retiring as the coordinator for the station at the end of the 2025 Hurricane Season. He will continue on for some time after 2025 to support the operation as an Amateur Radio Operator. On hand from the WX1BOX Amateur Radio Team to be present in this award presentation was North Shore ARES SKYWARN Coordinator, KB1KQW-Jim Palmer, who also took a photo of Julio and the Awards Committee that presented this award to Julio. Picture attached to this web post.

We congratulate Julio on this award and we look forward to working with him in the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season. We are also hopeful that he may visit the New England area in the Fall of 2025. If so, we will be looking to have him do a special presentation for the New England region on his support of the National Hurricane Center over the last 45 years and also give Julio our in-person thanks and gratitude for his many years of service to the National Hurricane Center which has included several activations for landfalling tropical systems in the New England area (Irene, Sandy and Henri specifically) and participation in hurricane exercises for Amateur Radio in the mid-2000s through early 2010s. We appreciate Julio and the entire WX4NHC Amateur Radio team’s support during hurricanes. We also appreciate the support of the Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters that support Southern New England SKYWARN and the WX1BOX Amateur Radio team!

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 Saturday Afternoon and Evening between 2-8 PM particularly across Western, Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut but could extend to portions of Central and Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island where the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed Western Massachusetts and Northwest Connecticut in a slight risk for severe weather with a marginal risk for severe weather for Central and Eastern Massachusetts to Northeast Connecticut and Rhode Island. Strong to damaging winds, hail, frequent lightning and heavy downpours causing urban and poor drainage flooding are the main threats with a secondary threat for an isolated tornado in Western Massachusetts and Northwest Connecticut..
..There could also be a few showers and isolated thunderstorms Saturday Morning between 9 AM-12 PM. This activity is expected to be sub-severe but the strongest storms could produce heavy downpours and perhaps some small sub-severe hail and sub-severe strong wind gusts..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor any severe thunderstorm potential for Saturday particularly in the Afternoon and Evening. Pictures and videos of storm damage can be sent as a reply to this message, via our WX1BOX Facebook, X, Bluesky feeds or to the email address pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter unless otherwise indicated..

The potential exists for severe thunderstorms particularly in Western Massachusetts and Northwest Connecticut but areas through Central and Eastern Massachusetts, Northeast Connecticut and Rhode Island away from the coast should also monitor. The headlines depict the current thinking. Key factors include:

1.) Sufficient heating and destabilization for strong to severe thunderstorm development. Satellite imagery shows breaks in the clouds and stratus that should become more prominent by early afternoon particularly in Western Massachusetts and Northwest Connecticut. If the low clouds and stratus break up to allow sunshine further east, that would increase the risk for severe weather in eastern areas.
2.) Any morning shower and thunderstorm development this morning and how that affects clearing and destabilization for the afternoon activity. Any thunderstorm development this morning is not expected to be severe but heavy
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 for Saturday particularly in the Afternoon and Evening. Pictures and videos of storm damage can be sent as a reply to this message, via our WX1BOX Facebook, X, Bluesky feeds or to the email address pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter unless otherwise indicated. This will likely be the only 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…

..Another round of heavy rainfall could cause minor flooding of rivers, streams, urban and poor drainage areas for Western and Central Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut. Soaking Rain expected in Eastern New England but with lesser amounts and flooding not anticipated..
..A Flood Watch is in effect from late tonight through Saturday Morning for Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire Counties of Massachusetts and Hartford and Tolland Counties of Connecticut for 2-3″ of rain with isolated higher amounts potentially causing flooding of rivers, streams, urban and poor drainage areas. Areas outside of the Flood Watch could see 0.50″-1.50″ of rain with isolated higher amounts..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor for rain gauge and flooding reports Friday through Saturday. Another coordination message will be posted, if necessary, Friday Morning for any significant changes to the current forecast if time allows. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Flood Watch Statement, Area Forecast Discussion and Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook..

NWS Boston/Norton Flood Watch Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=FFA&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1&highlight=off

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

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
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Hello to all…

..Isolated Strong Thunderstorms are possible today from 2-8 PM Wednesday across interior Massachusetts, particularly along and Route 2 with the greatest risk further north into Northern New England. Strong Wind Gusts, small hail, heavy downpours and frequent lightning are the main threats. Severe weather is not expected but can’t rule out a strong thunderstorm approaching severe limits. It could be a day with a number of small hail reports particularly across Northern Massachusetts..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor for SKYWARN reporting criteria hail, strong wind gusts, any wind damage and any brief street flooding from heavy rainfall for Wednesday Afternoon and Evening. This will be the only coordination message unless a significant update occurs and time allows for the update. Below is 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

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…

..Extended period of soaking rainfall, while beneficial for mild drought conditions, could bring flooding of small rivers, streams, urban and poor drainage areas particularly if some higher-end model output rainfall occurs..
..A Flood Watch is now in effect through 8 PM Tuesday Evening for Northern Connecticut and Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Worcester Counties of Massachusetts for 2-4″ of rainfall with higher amounts of up to 5″ possible. This could cause flooding of small rivers, streams, urban and poor drainage areas..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor for rain gauge and flooding reports from this event which started Sunday Evening and will last through the Tuesday Evening timeframe. Another more complete coordination message will be posted by 10 AM Tuesday Morning. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Flood Watch Statement, Area Forecast Discussion and Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook..

NWS Boston/Norton Flood Watch Statement:
https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=FFA&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1&highlight=off

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

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…

A major NWS system upgrade was started today, Monday 5/5/25 and will last through late Wednesday PM 5/7/25. The details on the upgrade impact in this maintenance window are listed in this document below:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/WFO-Boston-System-Upgrade-May-5-7-2025.pdf

There will be no impact to core services and the NWS Gray Maine office will be doing service backup to the office. A few key items that will be out of service include all the NOAA Weather Radio Transmitters, the automated forecast phone line will be accessible but recordings won’t update, locally generated forecast maps as detailed in the document, total water level forecasts for coastal areas will be less frequent but remain available at https://water.noaa.gov/wfo/box through the period and some text products as detailed in the document will not be updated.

This will be the only announcement on this upgrade unless it unexpectedly extends past this maintenance window. Thanks to all for their support of the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN program.

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
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Hello to all…

..First severe thunderstorm event of the 2025 season on Saturday 5/3/25 brought a rather robust event with scattered to numerous pockets of wind damage, small hail, frequent lightning and heavy downpours to Western, Central and Northeast Massachusetts and Northwest Connecticut. Over 11,000 customers were without power in Massachusetts late yesterday afternoon/evening with most getting power back Sunday Morning..
..Areas hardest hit by this event include a section of Springfield, Mass where an apparent “Gustnado” affected a localized area of the city along the leading edge of the severe thunderstorm bow echo that went through the area..
..NWS and the WX1BOX Amateur Radio team are interested in receiving more storm damage photos, videos and reports from this event. They can be sent as a reply to this message, via our WX1BOX Facebook/X/Bluesky feeds or through the email address pics@nsradio.org with credit given to the spotter unless otherwise indicated. Another post coordination message could be issued some time on Monday depending on additional information received. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Local Storm Report, current WX1BOX Amateur Radio Log, Definition of a Gustnado, Gustnado in Springfield YouTube Video, and the WX1BOX Facebook Photo Album created for this severe weather event..

NWS Boston/Norton Local Storm Report:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/LSR-5-3-25.pdf

NWS Gustnado Definition:
https://forecast.weather.gov/glossary.php?word=gustnado

KB1QQR-Paul Taschereau Gustnado – Springfield MA Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8CvTbC55Ug

WX1BOX Amateur Radio Log:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/reports_5_3_25.pdf

WX1BOX Facebook Photo Album:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set?vanity=wx1box&set=a.1094952535999896

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