SKYWARN “Refresher CD-ROM” Planned

SKYWARN logoEastern Massachusetts amateurs may soon be able to review educational material on a CD-ROM and update their weather spotting credentials, writes NWS Taunton SKYWARN volunteer and South Shore District Emergency Coordinator Carl Aveni, N1FY.

According to Aveni, the SKYWARN “Refresher CD” has been in the planning stages for awhile. “National Weather is trying to work out the logistics of how to keep track of those folks who do the refresher course by way of the CD and then update their spotter IDs.”

N1FY says that the scheme needs to be finalized by the National Weather Service before the CD can be released for actual use.

Skywarn Spotter Training in Taunton

The Taunton Area Communications Group along with National Weather Services\’ Taunton Office and Morton Hospital and Medical Center proudly present SKYWARN WEATHER SPOTTER TRAINING on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 at Morton Hospital and Medical Center\’s Margaret Stone Conference Room, 88 Washington Street, Taunton, Mass. The class will run from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. For more information or to RSVP please email Greg Glynn W1VFB at W1VFB@arrl.net. The RSVP is to get some numbers as to how many people will attend. Please keep in mind that this class is for the non-amateur general PUBLIC as well as amatuer radio operators. This is a FREE class and participants will be certified as SKYWARN WEATHER SPOTTERS.

Latest SKYWARN Training Schedule

SKYWARN logoSKYWARN Weather Spotter Training season is upon us. The training is free and open to the public. Hams and non-hams alike are welcome to attend the training and learn about identifying and reporting severe weather patterns to the National Weather Service. Additionally, those that have previously taken the class are advised that it is a good idea to retake the class every five years or so to ensure that your skills and abilities are up to date and cutting edge.

The schedule is available on the WX1BOX Taunton Skywarn website.

–Thanks, wma.arrl.org

Eastern Mass. ARES Stand-By Activation Sunday into Monday

Hello to all….

….Eastern Massachusetts ARES Stand-By Activation Requested due to Major Nor’easter and some localized requests for Amateur Radio support for the Nor’easter and with large Amateur presence for the Boston Marathon for Monday…
….Stand-By ARES Activation to start Sunday Morning and last into Monday Afternoon/Evening with the time frame to be better defined Saturday Evening or Sunday Morning and updated through the ARES web site….

It is hard to believe as I write this request on Saturday 4/14 that we are expecting a powerful nor’easter. It is a beautiful Saturday with temperatures around 50 degrees and its one of the nicer days we have had in some time in our region.

Nonetheless, a major nor’easter is expected to bring a variety of weather threats to the region Sunday into Monday with the worst of the conditions Sunday and some level of residual impact on Monday. Please refer to Storm Coordination Messages that are posted on the NWS Taunton SKYWARN web site for the weather details at the following link:

http://www.wx1box.org/

While the worst of the storm seems centered around Sunday and we would typically wait a bit longer to go into stand-by mode, with many Amateurs preparing to support the Boston Marathon Monday and the fact that there have been a couple requests for support from served agencies for the nor’easter, now seems a good time to alert people to the storm and place ARES in stand-by mode in case a worst case scenario storm occurs and the storm causes a lot of problems while the Marathon is taking place.

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 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, Given this is a weather situation, ARES folks are asked to support the SKYWARN program with reports per the reporting criteria and monitor SKYWARN frequencies. The wx1box.org web site has the reporting criteria and frequencies available for review.

Any general Amateurs assigned to volunteer for the Boston Marathon should fulfill their commitment unless their safety/health/physical condition will be affected by the rainy, raw conditions. Any ARES/RACES/SKYWARN Amateurs assigned to volunteer for the Boston Marathon should fulfill that assignment unless called back by their ARES EC or DEC, RACES Radio Officer or EMA Director or if you feel your safety/health/physical condition will be severely affected by the rainy and raw conditions that are expected.

Given the race is expected to go on and conditions will be less than ideal but not as bad as initially thought at this time, the role of Amateurs in the marathon is even more important to protect the runners and be ready to do ambulance requests. The ARES stand-by mode is to get Amateurs that will not be at the Marathon monitoring to support storm operations for SKYWARN and ARES mobilization with little impact to the Amateurs already assigned to the Boston Marathon.

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.

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Pager #: (508) 354-3142
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 1-800-445-2588 Ext.: 72929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://users.rcn.com/rmacedo
1

Boxboro ARES-SKYWARN Presentation On-line

Richard Amirault, N1JDU writes on the warc64 mailing list:

The ARES-SKYWARN talk moderated by [Eastern MA Section Emergency Coordinator] Rob Macedo, KD1CY at the 2006 ARRL New England Division Convention in Boxboro is now on-line in streaming video. Real Player and a broadband connection is needed to view:

http://n1jdu.org/videos/Boxboro_06_Skywarn.ram

Richard Amirault
Boston, MA, USA
http://n1jdu.org
http://n1jdu.org/Fandom/science.htm

W1BOS to Operate From Blue Hill Observatory for SKYWARN Recognition Day

Boston ARC logoOn Saturday, 2 December 2006, SKYWARN Recognition Day will be held for the eighth straight year. SKYWARN Recognition Day is an event where National Weather Service Forecast Offices get on the air and make contacts with other NWS Offices as well as all Amateurs and any Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters. The purpose is to thank the thousands of Amateur Radio SKYWARN Spotters whose timely severe weather reports into NWS Forecast Offices across the country protect life and property.

The [Boston Amateur Radio Club] will participate for the fourth year in a row from the Blue Hill Observatory in Milton. Operating hours will be from 0900 to 1500. Details will be in the November newsletter but mark your calendars now for a fun event.

Blue Hill ObservatoryFun – you want some fun? How’s about an antenna held 200 feet aloft by a kite in 2004? Then there was the gale-force snowstorm in 2003. [See CQ Snow.] There are antennas to be installed and HF/VHF/UHF stations to be operated and visitors to be greeted at the station with the oldest continuous weather records in the country.

On a good day the visibility is over 100 miles from the Blue Hill Observatory. We invite you and any other hams to help and participate. Contact Mark, KB1EKN at emgmgt@comcast.net.

–Thanks, Boston ARC’s The SPARC, October, 2006

SKYWARN Busy as Thunderstorms, Large Hail, Flash Flooding Hit New England

Flooding on Walnut St., Peabody. Photo courtesy KB1KQWThe ARRL Headquarters web site carried a news story about SKYWARN activities during Tuesday afternoon’s severe weather in Eastern MA and other portions of New England.

“An outbreak of severe weather in New England July 11 kept SKYWARN nets in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire busy fielding reports of high winds, large hail, flooding and even possible tornadoes. Amateur Radio SKYWARN coordinators assisted with damage assessment well into the evening. More severe weather is forecast for today.

“‘We haven’t had a severe weather outbreak like this in quite some time,’ said ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY.” [Full story]

SKYWARN Training Schedule Update For July Sessions

SKYWARN logoRob Macedo, KD1CY writes in SKYWARN Newsletter #230:

We have two additional SKYWARN training sessions upcoming for the month of July. One will be in Boston/Cambridge and the other will be in Bedford, NH. Below are the dates and particulars for the training:

07/15/2006 1030 AM-1:30PM MIT Tang Center, E51-345, Cambridge Room

Sat. 70 Memorial Drive

Cambridge, Mass.

-Parking available on Memorial Drive and in lot on Amherst Street.

-Easy Access from I-93, Route 3, I-90 via Memorial Drive Westbound,
Wadsworth to Amherst, or Main to Ames to Amherst Street.

-Also easy access from MBTA Red Line (Kendall MIT), short walk from
MBTA #1 bus.

-Maps available at http://whereis.mit.edu/map-jpg?mapterms=E51 and http://tinyurl.com/n2q24

For more information contact Bill Ricker N1VUX, n1vux@arrl.net

07/26/2006 6:30-9:30 PM Bedford, NH Safety Complex

Wed. Bedford, NH

For more information contact Jeff Des Rosiers-N1OOL at n1ool@comcast.net or Hillsborough County NH SKYWARN Coordinator Jim Blaine-WD4JZO at jtblaine@verizon.net

The 2006 SKYWARN training session has been very successful to date and we look forward to having more trained spotters after these final two sessions in the month of July. Thanks to all for their continued support of the 2006 SKYWARN program.

Updated Skywarn Training Schedule

Skywarn logoThe SKYWARN Training Schedule for 2006 has been updated with sites in Wilmington, Peabody and Gardner added. We will be working on a site on the South Coast of Massachusetts, Northeast Connecticut and interior Southeast Massachusetts. A link to the SKYWARN training schedule, which includes all the sites is listed at the link below:

http://users.rcn.com/rmacedo/trsched.htm

The schedule also appears below for your conveience

The following is an update on SKYWARN training for 2006. Further updates will be posted on the web site as needed.

06/08/2006 7-10PM Worcester Emergency Management Operations Center
Thurs. 50 Skyline Dr., Worcester, Mass.

06/10/2006 Noon-3PM Wilmington Middle School
Sat. Carter Lane, Wilmington, Mass.

06/17/2006 Noon-3PM Natick Public Training Center (In the Rear of Police/Fire Department Complex)
Sat. 20 East Central Street (Route 135) Natick, Mass.

The training session is open to the public free of charge and is a 90 minute slide show, which covers interpreting basic weather charts and products, along with training on reporting Marine weather observations. The training stresses what types of weather and thresholds should be reported.

For those 16 and older, identification cards are handed out along with a special phone number for reporting directly to the National Weather Service, upon completion of the training.

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Pager #: (508) 354-3142
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 1-800-445-2588 Ext.: 72929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@rcn.com
http://users.rcn.com/rmacedo

Eastern MA ARES, SKYWARN Efforts Acknowledged on ARRLWeb

EMA ARES logoSKYWARN logoEastern MA ARES and SKYWARN members received a nice write-up on the ARRL national website describing their efforts in the wake of last week’s nor’easter in which “near-blizzard conditions and high winds” prompted ARES and SKYWARN teams to activate in Eastern Massachusetts on December 9.

The article quotes Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY describing the damage caused by the storm. Macedo acknowledged the superb communications efforts put forth by several dozen Amateurs throughout the region.

“The quick-hitting nature of the storm tested the ability of Eastern Massachusetts ARES and SKYWARN to react quickly to a rapidly intensifying winter storm that brought hurricane force winds and near blizzard conditions to the region,” said KD1CY.

The full story can be viewed at http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/12/15/2/?nc=1.

Eastern MA ARES, SKYWARN Efforts Acknowledged on ARRLWeb

EMA ARES logoSKYWARN logoEastern MA ARES and SKYWARN members received a nice write-up on the ARRL national website describing their efforts in the wake of last week’s nor’easter in which “near-blizzard conditions and high winds” prompted ARES and SKYWARN teams to activate in Eastern Massachusetts on December 9.

The article quotes Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY describing the damage caused by the storm. Macedo acknowledged the superb communications efforts put forth by several dozen Amateurs throughout the region.

“The quick-hitting nature of the storm tested the ability of Eastern Massachusetts ARES and SKYWARN to react quickly to a rapidly intensifying winter storm that brought hurricane force winds and near blizzard conditions to the region,” said KD1CY.

The full story can be viewed at http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/12/15/2/?nc=1.

SEMARA Members QRV For SKYWARN Recognition Day

SEMARA logoSoutheastern MA Amateur Radio Association members plan to staff the club’s station, W1AEC and operate in Skywarn Recognition Day on December 3, 2005.

“I plan to be at the club on Saturday morning about 10 a.m. and remain until the last person leaves or has had enough fun,” writes Ron Silvia, WB1HGA.

Silvia says there will be two stations available for folks to operate. Plans call for both SSB and Morse code operation at W1AEC.

“This year I am adding something different: PSK 31 will be available for use during this event. I will bring my HF station set up for this mode. So depending on what goes, we may have as many as 3 stations running!” WB1HGA adds.

[See also: WX1BOX QRV For SKYWARN Recognition Day and Boston ARC To Operate in SKYWARN Recognition Day, December 3, 2005]

WX1BOX QRV For SKYWARN Recognition Day

SKYWARN logoSKYWARN Recognition Day 2005 begins Friday December 2nd at 7 PM and ends on Saturday December 3rd at 7 PM. NWS Taunton, WX1BOX, will be on the air from 7 PM-12 AM on Friday Night and from 7 AM-7 PM Saturday.

At the time of this newsletter writing, 96 National Weather Service Offices are participating across the country for this year’s event. It is a nationwide event where certificates can be achieved for working a variety of endorsements that are available by working certain NWS Offices. It is a tremendous opportunity to contact NWS Offices as the National Weather Service recognizes all the Amateur Radio Operators who support the SKYWARN program with timely severe weather reporting into NWS for the protection of life and property. The endorsement checklist will be posted to the web-site on SKYWARN Recognition Day Web Site on Friday. Here is the link to the SKYWARN Recognition Day Web Site:

http://hamradio.noaa.gov/

The *WX_TALK*, EchoLink Conference Server Node# 7203/IRLP Reflector 9219 will be utilized between 11 AM-Noon EST (1600-1700 UTC) by WX4NC-NWS Raleigh, North Carolina and WX4NHC, the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida will utilize the system from 4-6 PM EST (2100-2300 UTC). NWS Taunton will most likely be on this system during at least a couple of timeframes. We will also utilize the New England Network (*NEW-ENG* EchoLink Node#: 9123/IRLP Reflector 9058) for most if not all of this timeframe so that people can have access to us on that system or via WX-TALK/IRLP Reflector 9219. Further details will follow in a subsequent update or two as SKYWARN Recognition Day draws closer.

In addition, Amateur Radio will be active for SKYWARN Recognition Day from the Blue Hill Observatory under call-sign W1BOS/MQE. [See BARC To Operate In SKYWARN Recognition Day.] This station is being sponsored by the Boston Amateur Radio Club (BARC) and will be on the air on 2 Meters and 20 Meters. Further details will be posted as received and a web site link is posted with further information as its own topic later in this newsletter.

The following is a tentative schedule that will be followed over the course of the SKYWARN Recognition Day event. It is hoped to make contact with many of the hardworking SKYWARN Spotters from across the NWS Taunton County Warning Area and around the country to thank them for their support of the SKYWARN program. Some forecasters from NWS Taunton have volunteered to go on the air and either give announcements or speak to certain spotters directly.

Below is a schedule that we will be on for 2 Meter/440 Repeaters that we will attempt access during the course of SKYWARN Recognition Day. We will also be on at random on 6 Meters, 20 Meters, 40 Meters and 80 Meters. If time and band conditions allow, 10 and 15 Meters will be utilized. We will also be on VoIP full time utilizing the New England Network and the *WX-TALK*/9219 Reflector system as we work HF and VHF/UHF modes. If we are not on one system, please try the other system though we should have capability to monitor both systems simultaneously. The goal is to hit as many repeaters and networks within range of NWS Taunton at least once possibly twice where possible. Some SKYWARN repeaters such as repeaters in Southern New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts are not reliably reachable from NWS or have other repeaters on those frequencies so they cannot be reached. We will also try Simplex 2 Meters at several points within the schedule as it will be a good test of our capabilities and a fun experiment to try during this event. The tentative schedule of where we will monitor is listed below.

Friday December 2nd, 2005:

7:00-7:30 PM: 146.595 Simplex
7:30-8:00 PM: 147.000-Darmouth Repeater
8:00-8:30 PM: 145.490-Fairhaven Repeater
8:30-9:00 PM: 147.180-Bridgewater Repeater
9:00-9:30 PM: 146.79-Vernon, CT Repeater (linked via IRLP.)
9:30-10:00 PM: 147.225-Killingly, CT Repeater
10-10:30 PM: 146.760-Scituate, RI Repeater
10:30-11:00 PM: 146.970-Paxton Repeater
11:00-11:30 PM: 145.470-Danvers Repeater
11:30 PM-12:00 AM: 146.640-Waltham Repeater

**Will Attempt to monitor both the New England Network and the *WX-TALK*/IRLP Reflector 9219 systems during this entire timeframe.

**It is possible we may switch off to different repeaters or simplex during time slots if we run out of contacts.

Saturday December 3rd 2005:

7:00-9:00 AM: 146.595 Simplex
9:00-9:30 AM: 145.230-Boston Repeater
9:30-10:00 AM: 146.640-Waltham Repeater
10:00-10:30 AM: 146.79-Vernon, CT Repeater (linked via IRLP.)
10:30-11:00 AM: 147.225-Killingly, CT Repeater
11:00-11:30 AM: 145.470-Danvers Repeater
11:30 AM-Noon: 146.895-Walpole Repeater
Noon-2:00 PM: 146.595 Simplex
2-2:30 PM: 146.955-Barnstable Repeater
2:30-3:00 PM: 146.955-Westford Repeater
3:00-3:30 PM: 146.970-Paxton Repeater
3:30-4:00 PM: 147.165-Exeter, RI Repeater
4:00-4:30 PM: 146.760-Scituate, RI Repeater
4:30-5:00 PM: 145.490-Dartmouth Repeater
5:00-5:30 PM: 147.180-Bridgewater Repeater
6:00-6:30 PM: 146.895-Walpole Repeater
6:30-7:00 PM: 147.000-Dartmouth Repeater

**Will Attempt to monitor both the New England Network and the *WX-TALK*/IRLP Reflector 9219 systems during this entire timeframe.

**It is possible we may switch off to different repeaters or simplex during time slots if we run out of contacts.

We look forward to this fun event and will hope that Mother Nature will not bring forth another large snowstorm like in 2003, which featured the biggest snowstorm of the 2003-2004 Winter. Thanks and we look forward to a fun event, another update will be posted either Thursday Night December 1st or Friday Morning December 2nd.

—from SKYWARN Newsletter #228

Boston ARC To Operate in SKYWARN Recognition Day, December 3, 2005

Boston ARC logoMark Duff, KB1EKN writes:

For the third year in a row, the Boston Amateur Radio Club will participate in Skywarn Recognition Day (SRD) at the Blue Hill Observatory in Milton, MA. We will be operating on Saturday December 3rd from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on both HF and VHF.

SRD consists of Amateur Radio operators who set up at the National Weather Service (NWS) offices and other weather related locations and contact similar stations around the world. Many NWS Offices including NWS Taunton have permanently installed Amateur Radio equipment. Hams have assisted the National Weather Service by providing real-time reports of severe weather and storm conditions.
We recently played a key role by providing communications during the hurricanes that affected the Gulf. Although the NWS operates a network of 120 Doppler radars to track severe storms, at greater ranges weather radar has a difficult time sampling conditions close to the ground. The information we provide plays a key role in aiding forecasters.

Stations will exchange signal reports, location and a brief description of the current weather at their respective locations (“sunny,” “partly cloudy,” “windy,” etc). This is a great opportunity for members to operate the club’s Yaesu 897 and make some DX contacts.

If you are interested in participating please, contact me directly at emgmgt@comcast.net. We are looking for assistance on Friday, December 2nd with setup, and operators on Saturday, December 3rd.

[See also: CQ Snow, and Boston ARC To Operate From Blue Hill Observatory During SKYWARN Recognition Day]

N1VUX Presents SKYWARN Talk at Boston ARC

N1VUX SKYWARN Talk at BARC, 9/15/05Bill Ricker, N1VUX presented on SKYWARN at the September 15, 2005 meeting of the Boston Amateur Radio Club in West Newton. In addition to his club talks, Ricker, a long-time SKYWARN veteran, helps conduct many of the official SKYWARN training sessions throughout New England. Attendees included Eastern MA Section Manager Mike Neilsen, W1MPN.

[See also: Low-tech spotter scans the skies, alert to danger, Boston Globe, Feb. 1, 2004.]

Photo: Bill Ricker, N1VUX (right), Bob Salow, WA1IDA, background