Hello to all…
***EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS ARES PLACED ON STAND-BY FOR ALL AREAS EFFECTIVE 11:00PM FRIDAY, JANUARY 28 THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING, JANUARY 30 DUE TO POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM FORECASTED BLIZZARD***
***BLIZZARD WARNINGS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF EASTERN MA SECTION INCLUDING CAPE COD/MARTHAS VINEYARD FROM MIDNIGHT SATURDAY THOUGH 5:00AM MONDAY. WINTER STORM WARNINGS UP FOR NW MIDDLESEX AND FRANKLIN/HAMPDEN/HAMPSHIRE/WORCESTER COUNTIES IN MA***
***COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT FOR EASTERN ESSEX/PLYMOUTH/BARNSTABLE COUNTIES FOR THE SATURDAY MORNING AND EVENING HIGH TIDES. POCKETS OF MINOR TO PERHAPS ISOLATED MODERATE COASTAL FLOODING LIKELY.
***WIND GUSTS OVER 60MPH POSSIBLE ALONG THE IMMEDIATE EASTERN MA COAST. GUSTS TO HURRICANE FORCE POSSIBLE ON THE CAPE AND ISLANDS***
*** PLEASE PLAN TO REPORT SKYWARN CRITERIA ACCORDING TO THE STANDARD SKYWARN OPERATING PROCEDURE. PICTURES OF STORM DAMAGE MAY BE SENT TO PICS@NSRADIO.ORG ***
*** ARES AVAILABITY REQUESTED THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING – PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DEC WITH AVAILABITY WITH A CC TO HURRICANE@W1MV.ORG ***
Models continue to agree a trend that brings a period of heavy snow and strong winds to the region starting in the early morning hours of Saturday, January 29 and continuing heavy at times throughout the day before tapering off late in the evening. Widespread snowfall accumulation of 18-24+ inches is possible across much of Eastern Massachusetts with 24-30 inches possible across the South Shore. Isolated higher amounts are possible depending on where the heaviest snow bands set up over the area
Wind speeds in the blizzard warning area are forecasted to increase to 25-35mph sustained with gusts of 50-60mph likely across much of Eastern MA with gusts of 60-70mph possible along the immediate coast. It is possible that the outer Cape may experience wind gusts over 70-75mph which would be close to hurricane force. Winds of this magnitude may cause power outages along with pockets of scattered damage. Travel during the storm is not recommended. For further meteorological updates, including the latest Blizzard Coordination Message, please see the NWS Taunton SKYWARN home page at http://www.wx1box.org
A coastal flood advisory is also in effect for pockets of minor to low-end moderate coastal flooding along the Eastern MA coastline. High tide is anticipated at approximately 9am Saturday morning, and another high tide around 9pm Saturday evening.
For a complete listing of current warnings, please refer to the NWS Boston website at www.weather.gov/boston. While no immediate requests for support have been received, we are closely monitoring the situation for any activation of local or regional shelters.
SKYWARN activation will monitor the progress of the storm, and we appreciate any reports of wind damage / flooding that you may have. If you have any pictures of the damage, please send them to pics@nsradio.org. SKYWARN will be running various nets across our section on the assigned SKYWARN repeaters, and the list of SKYWARN repeaters can be found at: http://wx1box.org/southern-new-england-skywarn-frequency-list/. In addition, here is a preliminary list of SKYWARN nets across the section and their start times:
600 AM: Cape Cod and Islands WX Net – 147.375-Falmouth Repeater PL: 110.9 Hz
630 AM: Western Mass Emergency Net – HF – serving Western and Eastern Mass and surrounding areas: 3944 KHz
645 AM: MMRA Repeater Network
700 AM: South Coast SKYWARN Net: 147.000-Dartmouth Repeater PL: 67.0 Hz
700 AM: Norfolk County SKYWARN Net: 146.895-Walpole Repeater PL: 123.0 Hz
700 AM: Worcester County SKYWARN Net: 146.970-Paxton Repeater PL: 114.8 Hz
700 AM: Western Mass SKYWARN VHF Net: 146.940-Mount Tom Repeater PL: 127.3 Hz
715 AM: Boston SKYWARN Net – 145.230 PL: 88.5 Hz
715 AM: NB1RI RI SKYWARN Net: NB1RI linked repeater system
730 AM: Hartford-Tolland County SKYWARN Net – 146.790-Vernon, CT Repeater – PL: 82.5 Hz
730 AM: Metro Boston/Middlesex County SKYWARN Net: 146.640-Waltham Repeater – PL: 136.5 Hz
800 AM: Cape and Islands SKYWARN Net – 146.955-Barnstable Repeater PL: 88.5 Hz
800 AM: North Shore SKYWARN Net – 145.470-Danvers Repeater PL: 136.5 Hz
900 AM: Westford/PART – Northern Middlesex County SKYWARN Net – 146.955-Westford Repeater PL: 74.4 Hz
** – The Echolink *NEW-ENG3* Conference node: 9123/IRLP 9123 will be monitored throughout the duration the event. The 147.180-Bridgewater Repeater will be connected through that system and some of the nets listed above will be connected for those repeaters that have Echolink and IRLP capability.
*** – Other repeaters may be monitored on an as needed basis based on Amateur Radio Operator availability.
The latest SKYWARN coordination message for this storm (issued on 1/28 at 10:00pm) can also be located at http://wx1box.org/2022/01/29/blizzard-coordination-message-5-late-friday-night-1-28-22-saturday-night-1-29-22-blizzard-major-winter-storm-impacts/
As we continue to progress through the storm, please advise your local EC/DEC/ADEC of your availability to support a potential deployment anytime from this evening 1/28 through Monday Evening, 1/31. We are creating a list of availability for ARESMAT deployment if needed for various local EOC’s, Red Cross, Salvation Army, NWS Storm Survey Teams, and hospitals as required. Keep your situational awareness level high for any updates from ARES leadership by checking your email for updates and our ARES web site at http://ares.ema.arrl.org and monitoring local SKYWARN/ARES/RACES frequencies for any updates on this developing situation.
When sending your availability, please send the following: Name, Call-sign, License Class, Capability (HF / VHF / UHF), Availability, and any other special notes we should be aware of. We ask that as you contact your DEC, please send a copy of the message to hurricane@w1mv.org where multiple members of the EMA ARES Leadership will be able to access your availability.
What is ARES Stand-By mode?
ARES stand-by mode is to alert Amateurs within ARES that a mobilization is possible on a wide-scale and that some localized mobilizations are or could be taking place in isolated areas. It means to take a look at your Go-Kit and have batteries and equipment ready to go and charged up and take care of any requirements at home in case a mobilization is required and you can participate. Do NOT self-deploy. Wait for guidance from leadership for any deployment. It is an honor to be ready even if you don’t deploy for the event. Hopefully, this is just another exercise of our preparedness and capabilities. If not, the ARES leadership looks forward to working with you if any wide scale mobilization is required after the impact of this major storm to the region is fully understood.
Thanks for your continued support of Eastern Massachusetts ARES!
Respectfully Submitted,
Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Jim Palmer (KB1KQW)
North Shore ARES District Emergency Coordinator
SEC/ASEC:
SEC – KD1CY – kd1cy@comcast.net
ASEC – N1YLQ – mpleger@comcast.net
DECs:
Essex County – KB1KQW – kb1kqw@nsradio.org
Middlesex County – W1AHM – AMartin.MA.UltraNet@RCN.Com
Metro-Boston – KB1KQW – kb1kqw@nsradio.org
Norfolk County – W1SHS – w1shs@arrl.net
Bristol County – N1YLQ – mpleger@comcast.net
Plymouth County – N1YLQ – mpleger@comcast.net
Cape & Islands – WQ1O – wq1o@comcast.com
KD1CY/KB1KQW