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Special Announcement: 2016 WX4NHC Annual On-Air Communications Station Test

May 24, 2016 Rob Macedo Leave a comment

Hello to all..

Please see the following information from WD4R-Julio Ripoll, Assistant WX4NHC Coordinator on the 2016 WX4NHC On-Air Communications Test which will be held this Saturday May 28th, 2016 from 9 AM-5 PM EDT (1300-2100 UTC) across various bands and modes on Amateur Radio. We encourage Amateur Radio Operators in our region to participate.

WX4NHC will be On-The-Air for the Annual Station Test
Saturday, May 28th , 2016 from 9AM- 5 PM EDT ( 1300z- 2100z)
This will be our 36th year of public service at NHC.

The purpose of this event is to test Amateur Radio Station equipment, antennas and computers prior to this year’s Hurricane Season, which starts June 1st and runs through November 30th.
This event is good practice for Ham Radio Operators world-wide as well as NWS Staff to become familiar with Amateur Radio communications available during times of severe weather.

We will be making brief contacts on many frequencies and modes, exchanging signal reports and basic weather data exchange (“Sunny”, or “Rain”, etc.) with any station in any location.

WX4NHC will be On-The-Air on HF, VHF, UHF , 2 & 30 meter APRS and WinLink wx4nhc@winlink.org subject must contain “//WL2K”.
We will try to stay on the Hurricane Watch Net frequency 14.325 MHz most of the time.

Due to space and equipment limitations, we will have 2 operators per shift, we can not be everywhere and every mode at the same time.
You may be able to find us on HF by using one of the DX Spotting Networks,
Such as the DX Summit Web Site: http://www.dxsummit.fi/Search.aspx

We will also be on VoIP Hurricane Net 4pm-5pm EST (2000-2100z)
(IRLP node 9219 / EchoLink WX-TALK Conference node 7203). http://www.voipwx.net/

Florida VHF & UHF Repeaters will be contacted.

QSL Cards are available via WD4R.
Please send your card with a S.A.S.E.
Please do NOT send QSLs directly to the Hurricane Center address, as it will get delayed.

Due to security measures;
Please, NO VISITORS will be allowed entry to NHC without prior clearance from NHC PIO and Security.
Only WX4NHC Operators on the pre-approved operating schedule will be allowed entry.

For more information about WX4NHC, please visit our website
www.wx4nhc.org

Thank you for your participation in the WX4NHC Annual Station Test event.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Julio Ripoll Architect WD4R
WX4NHC Amateur Radio Asst. Coordinator
www.wx4nhc.org
Celebrating 36 years at the
National Hurricane Center
www.nhc.noaa.gov
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

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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Severe Weather Coordination Message #1 – Thursday 5/19/16 Strong Thunderstorm Potential

May 19, 2016 Rob Macedo Leave a comment

Hello to all..

..Strong Thunderstorms possible today during the afternoon and evening hours primarily in Western and Central Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut but all areas should monitor. Hail is the primary threat but strong winds are also possible. Extent of any strong thunderstorms will be contingent on heating and destabilization and level of instability with cold air moving in aloft over the region as we get into this afternoon into early evening..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor any strong thunderstorm development today. This will likely be the only coordination message on the strong thunderstorm potential for today unless a significant upgrade to the situation occurs. Below is the NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook..

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

Respectfully Submitted,

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Storm Coordination Message #1 – Thursday 5/5/16 Minor Coastal Flooding and Strong Wind Potential in East Coastal Massachusetts

May 5, 2016 Rob Macedo Leave a comment

Hello to all..

..Offshore low pressure system will bring a round of minor coastal flooding and wind gusts around 40 MPH to East Coastal Massachusetts. A Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect from 9 PM Thursday Evening through 1 AM Friday Morning for East Coastal Massachusetts including the North Shore and Cape Cod and Nantucket Island. Minor coastal flooding at the time of high tide late tonight may affect vulnerable shore roads across north and east facing beach locations in the advisory area. Strong wind gusts should remain below wind advisory criteria but could gust around 40 MPH in the Coastal Flood Advisory area..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the potential for minor coastal flooding and the strong wind gusts in East Coastal Massachusetts. This will be the only coordination message on this potential. Below is the NWS Taunton Coastal Flood Advisory Statement and Hazardous Weather Outlook..

NWS Taunton Coastal Flood Advisory Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.whus41.KBOX.html

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

Respectfully Submitted,

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Special Announcement: Severe Weather Preparedness Week 4/25/16-4/29/16 and Flood Safety Awareness Week 3/14/16-3/18/16

May 1, 2016 Rob Macedo Leave a comment

Hello to all..

This past week was declared Severe Weather Preparedness Week by NWS Taunton. NWS Taunton issued several Public Information Statements and graphics for Severe Weather Preparedness Week. Below are links to the Severe Weather Preparedness Week information:

NWS Taunton Severe Weather Preparedness Week – April 25th-29th, 2016:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/severe_weather_preparedness_week_2016.txt
http://www.weather.gov/box/SevereWeatherPreparednessWeek

Also, last month, NWS Taunton declared the week of March 14th-18th, 2016 Flood Safety Awareness Week. Public Information Statements issued that week from Flood Safety Awareness Week can be seen at the following link:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/flood_safety_awareness_week_2016.txt

We hope this safety information is useful to all SKYWARN Spotters and Amateur Radio Operators. Please forward these safety tips broadly where possible.

Respectfully Submitted,

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Severe Weather Coordination Message #2 – Friday April 22nd 2016 Strong to Severe Thunderstorm Potential

April 22, 2016 Rob Macedo Leave a comment

Hello to all..

..Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms remain possible across Western and Central Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut from Friday Mid-Afternoon through Friday Evening. Strong to damaging winds, hail and heavy rainfall with the potential for urban and poor drainage flooding are the main threats..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence by 3 PM Friday Afternoon..

With warm conditions over Southern New England on Friday, a cold front will approach the region as we move into the mid-afternoon and early evening hours Friday. There will be sufficient strong winds aloft as well as cooling aloft. There is also sufficient heating and destabilization and the timing of the cold front is close enough to Southern New England that this should set the stage for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms with strong to damaging winds, hail and heavy rainfall with the potential for urban and poor drainage flooding as the main threats. The threat area is largely over Western and Central Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut but could go as far northeast as extreme Northeast Massachusetts near the New Hampshire state border.

SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton will commence by 3 PM Friday Afternoon. This is the last coordination message on this event as we move into operations mode. Below is the NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook:

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

Respectfully Submitted,

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Severe Weather Coordination Message #1 – Friday April 22nd 2016 Strong to Severe Thunderstorm Potential

April 21, 2016 Rob Macedo Leave a comment

Hello to all..

..Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms are possible across Western and Central Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut from Friday Mid-Afternoon through Friday Evening. Strong to damaging winds, hail and heavy rainfall with the potential for urban and poor drainage flooding are the main threats..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible after 1 PM Friday Afternoon..

With warm conditions over Southern New England on Friday, a cold front will approach the region as we move into the mid-afternoon and early evening hours Friday. There will be sufficient strong winds aloft as well as cooling aloft. Presuming there is sufficient heating and destabilization and the timing of the cold front is close enough to Southern New England, this should set the stage for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms with strong to damaging winds, hail and heavy rainfall with the potential for urban and poor drainage flooding as the main threats. The threat area is largely over Western and Central Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut but could go as far northeast as extreme Northeast Massachusetts near the New Hampshire state border.

SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible after 1 PM Friday Afternoon. Another coordination message will be posted by 1000 AM Friday Morning. Below is the NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook:

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

Respectfully Submitted,

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Fire Weather Coordination Message #1 – Wednesday 4/20/16-Thursday 4/21/16 Fire Weather Potential

April 20, 2016 Rob Macedo Leave a comment

Hello to all..

..The combination of breezy conditions, low relative humidity and dry and sunny conditions will result in elevated fire weather both today and into Thursday across Southern New England. This coordination message covers the potential fire weather conditions for both days..
..A Red Flag Warning is in effect for all of Southern New England from 10 AM-6 PM for the continued dry conditions and wind gusts in the 15-30 MPH range. These conditions could result in elevated fire spread potential. Similar conditions could exist on Thursday. On Friday, showers and even possibly a few thunderstorms will end any fire spread potential. This will be the only coordination message on fire weather potential through Thursday. Below is the NWS Taunton Red Flag Warning and Hazardous Weather Outlook..

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

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

Respectfully Submitted,

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Special Announcement: Boston Marathon Weather Coordination Message #1 – Monday April 18th 2016

April 17, 2016 Rob Macedo Leave a comment

Hello to all..

While this may be a bit off topic for some SKYWARN Spotters, Amateur Radio Operators and Red Cross volunteers, many of which are SKYWARN Spotters, will be involved in the Boston Marathon on Monday April 18th. To reach out to the highest level of Amateur Radio Operators involved in the event, this coordination message is being sent out to the SKYWARN email list and posted to the various Amateur Radio lists. We appreciate everyone’s patience with this message. This is a joint message between the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES)-SKYWARN program at NWS Taunton and Eastern Massachusetts ARES. This is likely to be the only coordination message on the Marathon unless a significant change in the weather forecast occurs. See information below:

Eastern Massachusetts ARES members not participating in the Boston Marathon are requested to be on standby for marathon activities on Monday April 18th from 6 AM-7 PM for any significant issues outside of the Boston Marathon that may require Amateur Radio Emergency Communications support and for any unexpected issues on the Boston Marathon route. With over 280 Amateur Radio Operators staffing the Boston Marathon route, the start line and the finish line, if an issue arises needing Amateur Radio support outside of the Marathon route or an unexpected issue arises in marathon operations, it is important that any ARES members not involved in the marathon can help with any response that is required. The Amateur Radio Station at the National Weather Service in Taunton, WX1BOX, will be active on Monday April 18th for the Boston Marathon to provide weather support to the Amateur Radio community participating in the marathon and to gather any weather reports of significance during the marathon. This station will also be used to coordinate any ARES response to any significant incidents regarding Amateur Radio support outside of the marathon zone including any incidents that need to be provided to the State EOC for situational awareness information.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Multi-Agency Coordination Center (MACC) at the SEOC (State Emergency Operations Center) will be active for the Boston Marathon. Amateur Radio Operators will be at the SEOC to support Amateur Radio communications and will be on the air under call sign, WC1MA, while many agencies will be there performing primary operations for the marathon.

The weather outlook for the Boston Marathon is one that should be favorable for volunteers but potentially too warm for the runners which could result in increased ambulance requests along the course for this year’s marathon and a higher than average year of medical related issues. The Weather Forecast across the Boston Marathon is for mostly sunny conditions throughout the day. Temperatures are expected to be around 50 degrees in the pre-dawn and daybreak hours rising to the low to possibly even mid-70s by afternoon. There is a backdoor cold front that will begin to move towards Southern New England which would increase winds to 25-35 MPH for a period of time right after the front passes, and drop temperatures 25-30 degrees. There has been some wavering regarding the timing of this front. At this time, models have been showing this frontal passage is expected to be after 5 PM but there is a chance that it could be somewhat earlier in the afternoon to allow some cooling of the warm conditions expected for this year’s marathon. Nonetheless, odds currently favor a warm marathon with cooling conditions towards the latter part of the marathon or after most runners have finished. This will be monitored closely.

From a SKYWARN perspective, the 146.64-Waltham Repeater and 145.23-Boston Repeater are being utilized for Marathon operations. From an ARES perspective, the Minutemen Repeater Association Repeater Network is being utilized for marathon operations. Please review the SKYWARN Frequency listing for your closest alternate repeater from a SKYWARN or ARES perspective.
http://beta.wx1box.org/node/37

For Amateur Radio, Red Cross and all other volunteers along the route, it is recommended that you dress in layers for this event so that you can put on or take off clothes as needed for comfort. Be sure to drink liquids and eat properly during the event and that you are self-sufficient so that you can be of full help to the function and not distract everyone from the main purpose of supporting the runners by having a health issue on your end that can be avoided. No rain is expected at this time so there should be no need for rain gear.

For those people that are planning to go to the Boston Marathon as spectators, the following link details guidelines for spectators for the 2016 Boston Marathon:
http://www.mass.gov/eopss/docs/mema/2016-marathon-spectator-policies.pdf

Barring a significant change in the weather forecast, this will be the only coordination message on the Boston Marathon. We appreciate everyone’s support in this event and hope those that volunteer enjoy themselves and feel the self-satisfaction of supporting this historic event and those that are monitoring the Marathon or events outside of the Marathon realize that the monitoring is an important function as well and is a testament to being able to scale other incidents beyond the marathon if required. Thanks to all for their support!

Respectfully Submitted,

Marek Kozubal
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Email Address: kb1ncg@gmail.com

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Wind and Fire Weather Coordination Message #1 – Saturday April 16th 2016 – Wind and Fire Weather Potential

April 16, 2016 Rob Macedo Leave a comment

Hello to all..

..Strong Winds today over Nantucket may reach minimal Wind Advisory criteria while wind gusts to 35-40 MPH coupled with dry weather conditions may result in increased fire weather conditions over the region today..
..A Wind Advisory is now in effect for Nantucket Island through 7 PM for sustained winds of 25-30 MPH with gusts to 40-50 MPH. Areas outside of the wind advisory especially at the coast could see wind gusts to 40 MPH with gusts to 35 MPH inland. This may cause isolated pockets of tree and wire damage and isolated power outages..
..A Red Flag Warning is now in effect from 10 AM-6 PM Saturday for Central and Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island for dry conditions and gusty winds resulting in elevated fire spread potential..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the windy conditions for today. This will be the only coordination message regarding the winds and fire weather for today. Below is the NWS Taunton Red Flag Warning Statement, Special Weather Statement on Fire Weather, Wind Advisory Statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook and the Storm Prediction Center, (SPC) Day-1 Fire Weather Outlook..

NWS Taunton Red Flag Warning Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KBOX/1604160801.wwus81.html

NWS Taunton Special Weather Statement – Fire Weather:
http://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KBOX/1604160816.wwus81.html

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

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

Respectfully Submitted,

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Storm Coordination Message #1 – Coastal Flood Potential Late Saturday Night 4/9/16-Early Sunday Morning 4/10/16

April 9, 2016 Rob Macedo Leave a comment

Hello to all..

..Coastal Storm will organize too far south of Southern New England to cause any significant precipitation but is likely to bring a round of widespread minor to isolated pockets of moderate coastal flooding across East Coastal Massachusetts..
..A Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect from Midnight to 5 AM tonight for East Coastal Massachusetts and Nantucket Island for expected widespread minor to isolated pockets of moderate coastal flooding. This means potential for shore road closures with immediate shore roads flooded and impassable near the time of high tide between 2-3 AM tonight. Wind gusts between 30-40 MPH are expected overnight..
..There could be some light snow across South Coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island and Cape Cod and the Islands but not much more than a coating to half-inch of snow on grassy surfaces are expected at this time and some areas could see little to no precipitation..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the potential for coastal flooding across East Coastal Massachusetts for the overnight Saturday Night into early Sunday Morning high tide. This will be the only coordination message on this storm situation. Below is the NWS Taunton Coastal Flood Advisory Statement, Hazardous Weather Outlook and Winter Weather Graphics..

NWS Taunton Coastal Flood Advisory Statement:
http://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.whus41.KBOX.html

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

NWS Taunton Winter Weather Graphics:
http://www.weather.gov/box/winter

Respectfully Submitted,

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