Page 68 – WX1BOX – Amateur Radio Station at NWS Boston/Norton

Severe Weather & Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend Coordination Message #1 – Friday 6/26/20-Sunday 6/28/20 Severe Weather Potential

June 26, 2020 Rob Macedo

Hello to all..

..The following is the first in a series of messages on Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend and providing information on the weather during this period. This is a tradition spanning over 17 years for Amateur Radio Operators involved with Field Day and the NWS Boston/Norton SKYWARN Program..
..2020 Field Day weekend will mostly be dry but has potential shower and thunderstorm risks in isolated to scattered locations each day including the threat for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms with conditions being warm on Friday and becoming hot and humid Saturday and Sunday..
..There will be chance for isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms on Friday with the potential for an isolated strong to severe thunderstorm on Friday in Southeast Massachusetts and Rhode Island. After some morning showers and possibly embedded thunderstorms Saturday Morning, conditions will clear and become hot and humid Saturday Afternoon into the evening with the threat of a bit more coverage of isolated to scattered to strong to severe thunderstorms dependent on the timing of the morning activity where the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed all of Southern New England in a marginal risk for severe weather Saturday. Another round of isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms is possible on Sunday Afternoon and evening well…
..Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend is an annual event where Ham Operators across the United States setup at Emergency Operations Centers, field locations, home locations etc. to operate and test their equipment and skills and make as many radio contacts as possible during the weekend. Due to COVID-19, Amateur Radio Field Day across Southern New England will be quite different with far less Field Day sites than normal in the region and those that are up and running in the field adhering to social distancing guidelines with limited to no public access. There will be many more Amateur Radio Field Day operations operating at home and not at field locations. Amateur Radio Field Day resource information is listed below..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor conditions throughout Field Day weekend Friday through Sunday with Amateur Radio Call Up Nets brought up

Here are some links to information on these Amateur Radio Field Day Sites from across the region understanding limited to no public access in 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions and far less field day sites than normal years:

Amateur Radio Field Day Information: http://www.arrl.org/field-day
Amateur Radio Field Day National Locator: http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator
Eastern Massachusetts Field Day Home Page: https://ema.arrl.org/field-day/
Eastern Massachusetts Field Day Directory: http://ema.arrl.org/field_day/
ARRL President K5UR-Rick Roderick’s Field Day 2020 Statement: http://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-president-rick-roderick-k5ur-issues-field-day-2020-statement

While most of Friday and the weekend will be dry, there will be scattered showers and thunderstorm chances each day and the potential for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms particularly on Saturday Afternoon and Evening and Sunday Afternoon and Evening with a more isolated chance for strong to severe thunderstorms in Southeast Massachusetts and Rhode Island on Friday. There will also be the risk for an area of showers and embedded thunderstorms Saturday Morning in portions of Southern New England and it will be the timing of that activity that determines the risk for severe thunderstorms later Saturday Afternoon and Evening. Coordination messages will be sent throughout the weekend to monitor the severe weather potential throughout Friday and the weekend.

Below are links to the NWS Boston/Norton Hazardous Weather Outlook, NWS Boston/Norton Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-3 Convective Outlook for Saturday 6/27/20:

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

NWS Boston/Norton Experimental Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/box/ehwo

SPC Day-3 Convective Outlook for Saturday 6/27/20:
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/outlook/archive/2020/day3otlk_20200625_0730.html

Amateur Radio Field Day sites are encouraged to bring a NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio, monitor various cell phone weather apps where Amateur Operators may have those available and have a dedicated Ham Radio that can monitor their local SKYWARN Frequency for their area as a best safety and preparedness practice. Also sites that have mobile Internet capability can utilize that capability as a way to monitor for weather information. With Mobile Internet capability, utilizing Echolink to monitor the New England Reflector system on Echolink Conference *NEW-ENG3* Node: 9123/IRLP 9123 would be helpful as well. Please see the link below for the latest SKYWARN Frequency information for the region:
https://wx1box.org/southern-new-england-skywarn-frequency-list/

During setup and takedown of Amateur Radio Field Day sites and even while operating, be sure to drink plenty of fluids and eat accordingly. Also having a jacket or sweatshirt during evenings as conditions cool and rain gear for any showers and thunderstorms etc. may also be useful while operating this year’s Field Day. The link below features information on Heat Safety:
https://www.weather.gov/safety/heat

Given the threat for thunderstorms in isolated to scattered locations over the course of Friday and the weekend, lightning is a threat to any and all Amateur Radio Field Day sites. Remember your lightning safety tips and details on lightning safety can be seen at the following link:
https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning

The next Amateur Radio Field Day coordination message will be posted by 300 PM Friday Afternoon.

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 us on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/wx1box
Follow us on Twitter – http://twitter.com/wx1box

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Severe Weather Coordination Message #2 – Wednesday 6/24/20 Severe Weather Potential

June 24, 2020 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Isolated to scattered strong to possibly severe thunderstorms are possible Wednesday Afternoon and Evening particularly in central and eastern parts of Southern New England except for Cape Cod and the Islands. Strong to damaging winds, hail, and torrential rainfall with the potential for urban and poor drainage flooding are the main threats. Severe weather potential timeframe is between 12-7 PM Wednesday..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the severe weather potential for Wednesday Afternoon into early evening..

A cold front will sweep across the region this Wednesday Afternoon and early evening. This will set the stage for isolated to scattered strong to possibly a severe thunderstorm or two across the area. Key factors on this severe weather potential include:

1.) As of 1130 AM, cloud cover appear to be thinning across the area allowing for some heating and destabilization in parts of the area. If clouds can continue to thin and allow for enough instability, this would air in some strong to isolated severe thunderstorm development.
2.) Wind fields are marginal but if enough instability can develop that will allow for the development of isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms.
3.) The timing of the cold front to allow for heating and destabilization for strong to severe thunderstorm development. The cold front is currently just getting into and through Berkshire County Massachusetts as of 1130 AM this morning.

SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the severe weather potential for Wednesday Afternoon into early evening. This will be the last coordination message as we shift to monitoring mode. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion and SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook:

NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.fxus61.KBOX.html

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

Respectfully Submitted,

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Severe Weather Coordination Message #1 – Wednesday 6/24/20 Severe Weather Potential

June 23, 2020 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are possible Wednesday Afternoon and Evening across much of Southern New England except for Cape Cod and the Islands. Strong to damaging winds, hail, and torrential rainfall with the potential for urban and poor drainage flooding are the main threats. Severe weather potential timeframe is between 12-7 PM Wednesday..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the severe weather potential for Wednesday Afternoon into early evening..

A pre-frontal trough will swing through the area Wednesday Morning bringing with it heavy showers and a few isolated thunderstorms across Western New England. A second and possibly more potent round of thunderstorms with an isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorm risk is possible Wednesday Afternoon into early evening. Key factors on this severe weather potential include:

1.) Any clouds and showers and thunderstorms in the morning clearing the region allowing more heating and destabilization during the mid to late morning and early afternoon hours.
2.) Wind fields are marginal but if enough instability can develop that will allow for the development of isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms.
3.) The timing of the cold front to allow for heating and destabilization for strong to severe thunderstorm development.

SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor the severe weather potential for Wednesday Afternoon into early evening. Another coordination message will be posted by 1130 AM Wednesday Morning. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion:

NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.fxus61.KBOX.html

Respectfully Submitted,

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Special Announcement: Prevailing Winds Newsletter – June 2020 Edition Available

June 14, 2020 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

The Prevailing Winds Newsletter June 2020 edition is now available. Links to this edition of the newsletter and the Prevailing Winds Newsletter Archive are available at the following links:

Prevailing Winds Newsletter – June 2020 via NWS Boston/Norton Web Site:
https://www.weather.gov/media/box/prevailing_winds/2020_06_prevailing_winds.pdf

Prevailing Winds Newsletter – June 2020 via NWS Boston/Norton Web Site:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2020_06_prevailing_winds.pdf

Prevailing Winds Newsletter Archive – NWS Boston/Norton Web Site:
https://www.weather.gov/box/prevailing_winds

Prevailing Winds Newsletter Archive – NWS Boston/Norton Web Site:
https://wx1box.org/prevailing-winds-newsletter-archive/

We hope folks enjoy the latest edition of the Prevailing Winds Newsletter and can view the archive of prior newsletters for past great info for weather spotting and the National Weather Service.

Respectfully Submitted,

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Post Severe Weather Coordination Message #1 – Saturday 6/6/20 Severe Thunderstorm Event

June 7, 2020 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Scattered Severe Thunderstorms caused pockets of significant tree and wire damage with the hardest hit areas across South-Central Worcester, Western Norfolk and Northwest Bristol Counties of Massachusetts with more scattered damage across Northeast Connecticut, Northern Rhode Island, and parts of Northeast Massachusetts into North-Central Plymouth Counties of Massachusetts during the mid-afternoon hours..
..Second round of severe thunderstorms after 830 PM through about 1000 PM caused additional pockets of wind damage and hail up to 1″ in diameter across portions of Eastern Worcester, South-Central Middlesex and Northern Norfolk Counties of Massachusetts..
..At the height of the severe thunderstorms, over 14,000 were without power in Massachusetts. We will be posting a Facebook Photo Album later on Sunday and continue to look for additional reports and photos from this severe thunderstorm event. We’ll look to post a second post severe weather coordination message by Monday Morning. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Local Storm Report, Public Information Statement and WX1BOX Amateur Radio log..

NWS Boston/Norton Local Storm Report:
https://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KBOX/2006070146.nwus51.html

NWS Boston/Norton Public Information Statement:
https://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KBOX/2006062109.nous41.html

WX1BOX Amateur Radio Log:
https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/reports_6_6_20.pdf

Respectfully Submitted,

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Severe Weather Coordination Message #2 – Saturday 6/6/20 Severe Weather Potential

June 6, 2020 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms are likely Saturday Afternoon and Evening across much Southern New England along and north and west of the Cape Cod Canal with the greatest threat in Central and Eastern Southern New England. Strong to damaging winds, hail, frequent lightning and brief heavy downpours leading to brief urban and poor drainage flooding are the primary threats..
..The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has placed much of the NWS Norton Coverage area along and north and west of the Cape Cod Canal in a marginal risk for severe weather. Timeframe for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms will be in 1-7 PM Saturday Afternoon and Evening timeframe from west to east across the area..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation with Amateur Radio Call-Up Nets will monitor severe weather potential for Saturday Afternoon and Evening..

A warm and muggy day is expected in Southern New England ahead of a cold front that will sweep across the region bringing an end to the warm and humid conditions. Accompanying the cold front will be the risk for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms. The headlines depict the current thinking. Key factors for today’s severe weather potential are as follows:

1.) Sufficient heating and destabilization to allow for strong to severe thunderstorm development. Satellite imagery shows significant clearing ahead of the cold front across Southern New England with lower clouds in southeast New England burning off and heading eastward. This should allow for sufficient instability coupled with sufficient wind shear for isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms.
2.) Amount of dry air aloft. Some dry air aloft could allow for stronger wind gusts but too much dry air could stunt thunderstorm development in the area and affect the coverage of strong to severe thunderstorms. At this time, a broken line of isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorms is the current likely scenario.
3.) The timing of the cold front through the region which at this time looks to occur at time of peak heating and destabilization.

SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor severe weather potential for Saturday Afternoon and Evening. This will be the last coordination message on this severe weather potential. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Special Weather Statement on severe weather potential, Hazardous Weather Outlook, Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook and SPC Day-1 Convective Outlook:

NWS Boston/Norton Special Weather Statement:
https://kamala.cod.edu/offs/KBOX/2006060842.wwus81.html

NWS Boston/Norton Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.flus41.KBOX.html

NWS Boston/Norton Enhanced Hazardous Weather Outlook:
https://www.weather.gov/box/ehwo

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

Respectfully Submitted,

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Severe Weather Coordination Message #1 – Saturday 6/6/20 – Severe Weather Potential

June 5, 2020 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

..Isolated to Scattered Strong to Severe Thunderstorms are possible Saturday Afternoon and Evening across interior Southern New England. Strong to damaging winds, hail, frequent lightning and brief heavy downpours leading to brief urban and poor drainage flooding are the primary threats..
..Timeframe for thunderstorms will be in the Saturday early to mid-afternoon through early evening timeframe. Any isolated to scattered strong to severe thunderstorm potential will be contingent on sufficient clearing and destabilization along and ahead of a cold front, frontal timing which is currently expected to be favorable in the mid to late Saturday Afternoon timeframe and whether there will be sufficient mid-level moisture to sustain thunderstorm strength..
..SKYWARN Self-Activation will monitor severe weather potential for Saturday Afternoon and Evening. Another coordination message will be posted by 1000 AM Saturday Morning. Below is the NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion with information on the potential..

NWS Boston/Norton Area Forecast Discussion:
https://kamala.cod.edu/ma/latest.fxus61.KBOX.html

Respectfully Submitted,

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Special Announcement: Start of the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season

June 1, 2020 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

Today, Monday June 1st, 2020, marks the start of the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season. The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season is expected to be above normal per the NOAA/National Hurricane Center, Colorado State University and Penn State University outlooks among others. 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 2020 as well as some tropical cyclone history in Southern New England and tropical cyclone safety tips. This can be seen at the following link:

https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/pns_start_of_hurricane_season_2020.pdf

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. Their suite of products and tropical system names are listed in their first couple of tropical weather outlooks and the link from 8 AM EDT – Monday June 1st Tropical Weather Outlook is listed below:

https://wx1box.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/two_at_start_of_hurricane_season_2020.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 and IRLP. Web page resources for these groups are listed below:

WX4NHC – the Amateur Radio station at the National Hurricane Center:
http://www.wx4nhc.org/

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

VoIP Hurricane Net:
http://voipwx.net/

With the COVID-19 pandemic, there is already a strain on public safety resources and if a tropical storm or hurricane threatens our region, our role to provide timely severe weather reporting to protect life and property as SKYWARN Spotters and Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters will be even more critical and our own preparedness will also be critical as well. Please use this time to prepare if a tropical system were to affect Southern New England.

Respectfully Submitted,

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Special Announcement: NWS Boston/Norton Will Do Event Review Webinars This Week on the 5/15/20 Severe Thunderstorms and the 5/23/20 Flooding on the Islands

May 31, 2020 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

NWS Boston/Norton will be doing event review webinars on recent weather events including the May 15th 2020 Severe Thunderstorms and the May 23rd 2020 flooding on the islands. The May 15th, 2020 severe thunderstorm event review will be Wednesday 6/3/20 from 5-6 PM and the May 23rd 2020 Flooding on the Islands event review will be Thursday 6/4/20 from 5-6 PM. Registration details for these webinars can be seen at the following link:

https://www.weather.gov/box/Event_Review

We hope many will get the chance to see these event reviews provided by NWS Boston/Norton meteorologists.

Respectfully Submitted,

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Special Announcement: WX4NHC On-Air Test Saturday 5/30/20 from 9 AM-5 PM EDT – WX4NHC Will Be on Echolink WX_TALK/IRLP 9219 – 5/30/20 4-5 PM EDT

May 24, 2020 Rob Macedo

Hello to all…

WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio station at the National Hurricane Center, will be active with its on air-test Saturday 5/30/20 from 9 AM-5 PM EDT. They will be on the *WX_TALK* Echolink conference node: 7203/IRLP 9219 reflector system from 4-5 PM EDT (2000-2100 UTC) Saturday 5/30/20. A link to the WX4NHC On-Air Test Announcement from Assistant WX4NHC Coordinator, WD4R-Julio Ripoll, is listed below:

Below is our WX4NHC Annual Station Test announcement and a brief statement about the upcoming hurricane season.

The 2020 Hurricane Season outlook is about 140% more active than the average season.

That is about 14-18 named storms, which includes 7-9 hurricanes, possibly 4 major hurricanes (Cat-3 to Cat-5).

The 2019 season had 18 named storms, 6 became hurricanes, of which 3 were major hurricanes.

The above average prediction is largely due to the hot Atlantic and Caribbean waters and lack of a substantial El Niño in the Pacific.

The combination of a busy hurricane season and the ongoing Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic could be a nightmare scenario for areas affected by hurricanes.

FEMA and local Emergency Management Agencies are issuing COVID-19 guidelines for Hurricane Shelters, which include face masks and social spacing.

Please stay informed and prepare your Hurricane Supplies early.

Good Luck and Stay Safe!

73 de WX4NHC

Announcement from WX4NHC
Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center, Miami Florida

WX4NHC will be On-The-Air for the Annual Station Test
Saturday, May 30th , 2020 from 9AM- 5 PM EDT ( 1300z- 2100z)
This will be our 40th year of public service at NHC.

The purpose of this event is to test WX4NHC Amateur Radio Station Operations and 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 to practice 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, Rain, Temperature, 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. Also 7.268 MHz depending on propagation.

However, we will be operating different frequencies depending on QRM.

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 EDT (2000-2100z)
(IRLP node 9219 / EchoLink WX-TALK Conference node 7203). http://www.voipwx.net/

Florida Statewide SARNET and local 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 and COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic: NO VISITORS will be allowed entry to NHC.

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

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

73, Julio – WD4R
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Julio Ripoll Architect WD4R
WX4NHC Amateur Radio Asst. Coordinator
www.wx4nhc.org
Celebrating 40 years at the
National Hurricane Center
www.nhc.noaa.gov

Respectfully Submitted,

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