Hello to all..

..Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms remain possible to likely over Southwest New Hampshire, Western and Central Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut Saturday Afternoon and Evening if sufficient heating and destabilization can occur with sufficient shear profiles ahead of a cold front. Strong to damaging winds, hail and urban to poor drainage flooding are the primary threats. Timeframe looks to be a bit later meaning after 300 or 400 PM Saturday Afternoon based on current models..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton remain possible to likely late Saturday Afternoon and Evening. If no ops are initiated, SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the potential for severe weather today..

Satellite imagery as of Noon today shows cloud cover over the region however some breaks in the clouds have been noted in New York and Pennsylvania. The key item that will determine any severe weather threat continues to be the amount of heating and destabilization that can occur as warm and humid air moves into the area. If sufficient heating can occur, isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible to likely over Southwest New Hampshire, Western and Central Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut for Saturday Afternoon and evening after 300 or 400 PM. The timing is a bit later based on current trends and model runs. The primary threats would be for strong to damaging winds, hail and urban and poor drainage flooding.

SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible to likely late Saturday Afternon and Evening. If no ops are initiated, SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the potential for severe weather today. This will be the last complete coordination message on the potential Saturday Afternoon/Evening severe weather threat. A shortened coordination message will be issued if time allows and Ops at NWS Taunton are initiated. Below is the NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook:

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

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

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://beta.wx1box.org
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Hello to all..

..Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms are possible to likely over Southwest New Hampshire, Western and Central Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut Saturday Afternoon and Evening if sufficient heating and destabilization can occur with sufficient shear profiles ahead of a cold front. Timeframe would be after 200 PM Saturday Afternoon based on current models..
..SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible to likely Saturday Afternoon and Evening..

After Thursday’s unusual but not unprecedented severe weather setup, a more conventional severe weather setup could occur for Saturday Afternoon and Evening. The key item that will determine any severe weather threat will be the amount of heating and destabilization that can occur as warm and humid air moves into the area. If sufficient heating can occur, isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible to likely over Southwest New Hampshire, Western and Central Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut for Saturday Afternoon and evening after 200 PM.

SKYWARN Activation with Ops at NWS Taunton are possible to likely Saturday Afternon and Evening. Another coordination message will be posted by Noon Saturday. Below is the NWS Taunton Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-2 Convective Outlook:

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

SPC Day-2 Convective Outlook:
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/day2otlk.html

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://beta.wx1box.org
“Like” on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wx1box

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Hello to all..

A difficult to forecast severe weather setup occurred on Thursday May 9th, 2013. The severe weather setup was one which allowed for the development of cold air funnel clouds. The majority of cold air funnel clouds do not touchdown but there are some that can touchdown and produce very localized damage. One of the more memorable cold air funnel cloud events was on August 20th, 1997, which had numerous funnel cloud sightings in Southeast Massachusetts and Cape Cod and one brief tornado touchdown in the Plymouth, Mass. area. Damage pictures taken by Holbrook EMA Director and Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotter KA1LKB-Rick Reuss have been posted to the WX1BOX Facebook page and below is the NWS Taunton Public Information Statement and Local Storm Report from yesterday’s severe weather event:

NWS Taunton Public Information Statement:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/5_9_13_stoughton_mass_tor_pns.txt

NWS Taunton Local Storm Report:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/5_9_13_lsr_1.txt

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://beta.wx1box.org
“Like” on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wx1box

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Hello to all..

Amateur Radio Coordinators for WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio station at the National Hurricane Center in Miami Florida, Julio Ripoll-WD4R and John McHugh-K4AG, have announced that the WX4NHC Communications Test will take place on Saturday June 1st, 2013 from 9 AM-5 PM EDT (1300-2100 UTC) across various modes. WX4NHC will be on the *WX_TALK* Echolink Conference node: 7203/IRLP 9219 system from 1-3 PM EDT (1700-1900 UTC) and net controls for the VoIP Hurricane Net will be active during that timeframe. Also, announced is a new QSL card and a letter requesting support from Amateur Radio Operators along coastal areas affected by hurricanes were also issued. Links to those items can be seen below:

http://beta.wx1box.org/local/WX4NHC_Hurricane_Season_letter_to_Ham_Radio_Operators.pdf
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/wx4nhc_qsl_front_web.jpg

We encourage all Amateurs using all the various Amateur Radio modes to make contact with WX4NHC during this communications test over the course of the day. This will help assure the equipment at WX4NHC will be ready for use. Amateur Radio stations in hurricane prone areas are also strongly encouraged to check into the test.

Below is the announcement from Julio Ripoll-WD4R and John McHugh-K4AG, WX4NHC Coordinators:

Announcement from WX4NHC
Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center

WX4NHC Hurricane Season 2013 On-The-Air Station Test
Saturday, June 1st, 2013 from 9AM-5PM EDT (1300z-2100z)

The purpose of this event is to test the NHC Amateur Radio Station equipment, antennas and computers.

We will also be perform operator training in preparation for this year’s Hurricane Season.

We will be making informal contacts on many frequencies and modes and would appreciate signal reports and basic weather data exchange (“Sunny”, or “Rain”, etc.) from stations in any location.

WX4NHC will be On-The-Air on HF, VHF, UHF and 2 & 30 meter APRS.

We plan on testing on the following voice frequencies +/- QRM
3.950 MHz, 7.268MHz, 14.325MHz, 21.325MHz, 28.425MHz.

We will try to stay on 14.325 MHz most of the time and announce when we QSY.

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 1pm-3pm EDT (1700z-1900z)
(IRLP node 9219 / EchoLink WX-TALK Conference node 7203).
http://www.voipwx.net/

Local South Florida area VHF & UHF Repeaters will be contacted.

Non-Ham Radio Weather Enthusiasts are invited to submit their actual weather using the On-Line Hurricane Report Form at
http://www.wx4nhc.org/WX-form1.html

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, NO VISITORS will be allowed entry to NHC without prior clearance from NHC Security.

Only WX4NHC Operators on the NHC 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 Hurricane Annual Season Station Test.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Julio Ripoll Architect WD4R
WX4NHC Amateur Radio Asst. Coordinator
www.wx4nhc.org
Celebrating 32 years at the
National Hurricane Center
www.nhc.noaa.gov
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://beta.wx1box.org

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Hello to all..

The week of April 29th to May 3rd, 2013 was Severe Weather Preapredness Week. Below is a link to the NWS Taunton web page for Severe Weather Preparedness Week and a separate link with the Public Information Statements that were issued for Severe Weather Preparedness Week:

NWS Taunton Severe Weather Preparedness Week Web Site:
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/box/announcement/svrWxAwareWeek/index.php

NWS Taunton Public Information Statements for Severe Weather Preparedness Week:
http://beta.wx1box.org/local/svr_prepare_wk_2013.txt

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator        
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://beta.wx1box.org
“Like” on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wx1box

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Hello to all..

A slate of SKYWARN Training classes have been put together for the May to June timeframe. Additional classes are being worked in the June-July-August timeframe that will be driven by Amateur Radio Coordinators and added to the schedule as confirmed. Areas for additional classes that are being looked at include Rhode Island, Eastern Massachusetts and possibly in the Eastern Franklin County Massachusetts/Cheshire County New Hampshire area. The following links can be utilized to see updates for the SKYWARN Training Schedule:

http://beta.wx1box.org/node/36
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/box/officePrograms/skywarn/skywarnTraining.shtml

Please note that the NWS link will be updated with the New Braintree, MA class for Thursday 5/30/13 listed on the wx1box.org link in a future update. We have also listed the SKYWARN Training Schedule off the wx1box.org site below:

The following are SKYWARN Training Sessions booked for 2013. Further training
sessions will be booked over the course of the year so check back frequently
for updates.

Thursday May 9th, 2013: 6:30-9:30 PM:
Heath Community Center
Heath, MA
Taught by: NWS Taunton Forecaster
Registration: None Required

Thursday May 16th, 2013: 7-10 PM:
Marlborough CT Fire Department
200 West Road
Marlborough, CT
Taught by: NWS Taunton Forecaster
Registration: None Required

Tuesday May 21st, 2013: 7-10 PM:
“Alternatives”
50 Douglas Road
Whitinsville, MA
Taught by: NWS Taunton Forecaster
Registration: None Required

Thursday May 30th, 2013: 7-10 PM:
Massachusetts State Police Academy
340 West Brookfield Road
New Braintree, MA
Taught by: NWS Taunton Forecaster
Registration: None Required

Monday June 10th, 2013: 7-10 PM:
Manchester Health Department Rooms: 162 and 164
1528 Elm Street
Manchester, NH
Taught by: NWS Taunton Forecaster
Registration: None Required

Tuesday June 11th, 2013: 630-930 PM:
Masenic Regional High School
175 Turnpike Road
New Ipswich, NH
Taught by: NWS Taunton Forecaster
Registration: None Required

Monday June 17th, 2013: 7-10 PM:
Morton Hospital and Medical Center – Margaret Stone Conference Room
88 Washington Street
Taunton Mass.
Taught by: Amateur Radio Coordinator
Registration: Pre-registration required. RSVP via Rob Macedo-KD1CY via email at rmacedo at rcn dot com

Please forward the SKYWARN Training Schedule to all interested 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 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://beta.wx1box.org

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Hello to all..

While these NWS Taunton Public Information Statements were issued some time ago in the March 18th-23rd 2013 timeframe, here are the NWS Taunton Flood Awareness Week Public Information Statements from that timeframe and on Friday April 19th, 2013, new services have been announced for NWS River Stage Forecasts and River Flood Warning services beginning on May 28th, 2013 for the Connecticut River at Middle Haddam CT. Those statements are listed via the link below:

http://beta.wx1box.org/local/spring_flood_awareness_week_pns_3_19_3_23_13.txt

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator        
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://beta.wx1box.org

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Hello to all..

The following message is being posted via the SKYWARN email list to allow for widest distribution to Amateurs supporting the Boston Marathon. We appreciate everyone’s patience with this message.

A Boston Marathon Coordination Message has been posted to the Eastern Massachusetts ARES web site. It is giving information to Amateur Radio Operators who are supporting the Boston Marathon from around the region, weather safety information as it pertains to the marathon event and information to Eastern Massachusetts ARES members who cannot support the marathon to have a heightened state of awareness on Monday April 15th from 7 AM-7 PM in case of an incident outside of the marathon route that they may be able to support. ARES members in the Eastern Massachusetts section that are supporting the Boston Marathon directly are to support that mission as their top priority and utilize this coordination message for weather safety information only. A link to the coordination message is listed below:

http://ares.ema.arrl.org/node/657

We appreciate those Amateur Radio Operators and Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters who are supporting this year’s Boston Maraton event!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://beta.wx1box.org

Read more

Hello to all..

..A coastal low is on track to bring some wintry precipitation to the higher elevations of Southern New Hampshire and Northwest and North-Central Massachusetts Friday Morning along with a period of heavy rain up to 1-1.25″ region wide and winds of 25-35 MPH along the coast..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is now in effect from 12 AM to Noon Friday for Southern New Hampshire and for Franklin, Northern Worcester, Northern Middlesex, Weestern Hampshire and Western Hampden Counties of Massachusetts for 1-2 inches of sleet and a trace to one-tenth inch of ice accumulation particularly for higher elevation locations. In southern areas of the advisory, highest sleet amounts will be above 1,000 feet..
..Rainfall may produce pockets of localized urban/poor drainage flooding on Friday. Winds are expected to remain below Wind Advisory criteria but will be monitored..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor Friday’s storm. This will be the last coordination message on this event unless a significant change to the situation occurs. Below is the NWS Taunton Winter Weather Advisory Statement and Hazardous Weather Outlook..

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

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

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://beta.wx1box.org

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Hello to all..

..A coastal low will bring some wintry precipitation to the higher elevations of Southern New Hampshire and possibly Northwest and North-Central Massachusetts Friday Morning along with a period of heavy rain up to 1-1.25″ region wide and winds of 25-35 MPH along the coast..
..A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 5 AM to Noon Friday for Southern New Hampshire for up to 1 inch of sleet and up to one-tenth inch of ice accumulation particularly for higher elevation locations..
..Rainfall may produce pockets of localized urban/poor drainage flooding on Friday. Winds are expected to remain below Wind Advisory criteria but will be monitored..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor Friday’s storm. Another coordination message will be issued by 1130 PM this evening. Below is the NWS Taunton Winter Weather Advisory Statement and Hazardous Weather Outlook..

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

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

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://ares.ema.arrl.org
http://beta.wx1box.org

Read more