SKYWARN Newsletter #213

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Hello to all...

SKYWARN Program 2004 Updates...

SKYWARN Training Update...

Major Nor'easter SKYWARN Activation of 12/5-12/7/2003 in Separate Report...

Strong Winds Affect Southern New England on October 15th, 2003...

SKYWARN Self-Activation Report for October 29th, 2003...

SKYWARN Self-Activation Report for November 13th, 2003...

Strong Winds Affect Southern New England 11/28-11/29/2003...

SKYWARN Activation Report from December 14th, 2003...

***Newsletter Issued 1/18/04.

SKYWARN Program 2004 Updates...

The SKYWARN Program at NWS Taunton will be going into 2004 in high

gear as equipment enhancements and meetings are planned out as we

begin to execute SKYWARN program goals for 2004. Here are some

updates:

-A new computer has been provided that should better support the

Internet dial-up connection that has been provided to us at NWS

Taunton. This computer is a Pentium II with Windows 98-Second Edition

on it and an 8-Gig Hard Drive. This will mean in addition to the pager

and packet software at the station, we will also have Echolink software

installed and we should have the capabilities to run everything we

need off of the new system.

-Several SKYWARN training sessions have been setup. See write-up

below and several other training sessions should be booked within

the next 1-2 weeks.

-The SKYWARN Strategy Meeting for SKYWARN Coordinators, Spotters and

Net Controls has been set up for Saturday March 6th at 10 AM at

NWS Taunton. This meeting will occur after a leadership meeting between

Bob Thompson, Glenn Field, Bill Babcock and myself in early February.

-Over the next 1-2 weeks, Local Storm Reports (LSR's) and Public

Information Statements (PNS') from the July 2003-January 2004 will

be sent out. Also, the yearly Tropical WX Summary from the National

Hurricane Center will also be sent out.

-In the next newsletter, a final cold temperature report will be

issued as several more low temperature readings came in after the

report issuance on January 17th with a narrative report of some

of the issues the severe cold caused. It will also feature some of

the good WX stations and equipment that is available to people at

varying price ranges. That article will appear in the next newsletter

based on feedback from several spotters who reported the low

temperature information.

Further updates on happenings in the NWS Taunton SKYWARN program will

be posted in later newsletters.

SKYWARN Training Update...

The following is an update on SKYWARN training for year 2004. Further

updates will be posted both on this email list and on the web site

as needed.

05/15/2004 Noon-3PM Braintree Town Hall

Sat. Braintree, Mass.

05/22/2004 Noon-3PM North Kingstown, RI Library

Sat. North Kingstown, RI

05/25/2004 7-10PM Ipswich High School

Tues. Ipswich, Mass.

As more training sites get confirmed, they will appear in the SKYWARN

Newsletter.

Major Nor'easter SKYWARN Activation of 12/5-12/7/2003 in Separate Report...

The Major Nor'easter SKYWARN Activation Report of Friday Night December

5th through Sunday December 7th, 2003 will be done in a separate posting

to both the web-site and to the Newsletter email list. This Major

Nor'easter, which has so far been the biggest snowstorm of the year,

and one of the biggest storms in the month of December was of

significant duration and had significant impact on Southern New England.

Strong Winds Affect Southern New England on October 15th, 2003...

Strong winds affected much of Southern New England on October 15th,

2003. This would be the start of several strong wind events that

would affect Southern New England.

Wind Advisories were posted for much of Southern New England. The

strongest wind gusts occurred during the mid-afternoon and evening

hours with wind gusts of 46-50 MPH common across Southeast Massachusetts

and Rhode Island and other locations having wind gusts of 40-46 MPH.

Winds gusted to 63 MPH on Blue Hill, 60 MPH in Beverly, Mass. and 60

MPH in West Falmouth, Massachusetts. SKYWARN was self-activated for

wind damage reports around the region.

Wind damage was reported across portions of Southern New England and

in some cases closed roads. In Hingham, Mass at 3 PM, a tree down across

Route 228 closed the road for about an hour. In Fitchburg, Mass.,

Trees and Large Limbs were blown down at 3:10 PM. In Cumberland, RI,

a two foot diameter limb was brought down over railroad tracks. In

Andover, Mass., a small tree was blown down. In Westboro Mass. at

4PM, an 8" Diameter limb was blown down and in Greenfield Mass. a

tree and power lines were blown down. At 4:25 PM, 5" Diameter Limbs

were blown down in Merrimack, NH and at 4:50 PM in West Coventry, RI

multiple 12" inch limbs were blown down. At 5:05 PM in Goffstown, NH,

a large tree was blown down on to a house and at 5:35 PM in Amherst, NH,

trees and wires were blown down. At 5:55 PM, trees and wires were blown

down on to a house in Milford, NH. At 6PM, 6-8" limbs were blown down

in Chelmsford, Mass with wires down in North Grosvenordale, CT. At

8:30 PM in Milton, Mass., a 1 foot diameter tree was blown down on to

two parked cars. At 8:35 PM, in Westwood Mass., three trees 14-20"

in diameter were blown down and one fell on to a parked car and at

9 PM in Cambridge Mass. 2-5" Diameter Branches were blown down.

Special thanks to all Spotters and Coordinators who forwarded wind

damage reports to NWS Taunton during this event.

SKYWARN Self-Activation Report for October 29th, 2003...

SKYWARN was self-activated on October 29th as the potential for

wind damage and flash flooding affected portions of Southern New

England. Wind damage began occurring in Southeastern Massachusetts

and Carl Aveni-N1FY self-activated SKYWARN from his work location

at the Brockton VA Hospital. At 10:20 AM in East Bridgewater, Mass.,

an 8 foot tree was snapped 2.5 feet above the base. In Taunton Mass.,

at 10:50 AM, numerous 3" diameter branches were blown down damaging

a police cruiser. At 10 AM, in Foxboro, Mass., a tree was blown down

on to a car and chairs were blown from the patio into the yard. Winds

at Blue Hill gusted to 69 MPH during this event. In Westwood, Mass.,

a 20" Diameter tree with wires were blown down at 11:15 AM.

A Flash Flood Warning was issued for parts of Franklin County as

rainfall exceeded Flash Flood guidance in this area. SKYWARN was

self-activated by N1VMH-Jim Bernotas and KA1JJM-Ray Weber. At 12:30

PM in West Deerfield, Mass., the West Deerfield River went above

flood stage and in Greenfield, Mass. the Deerfield River flooded the

rear half of th Golf Course at 2:36 PM. The West Deerfield River

crested at 9.8 feet in West Deerfield at 2:45 PM before receding.

SKYWARN was secured at 4 PM. Special thanks to all spotters and

coordinators who assisted during this activation of SKYWARN.

SKYWARN Self-Activation Report for November 13th, 2003...

High Wind Warnings were posted for all of Southern New England as

the strongest wind event of the year would affect the region on

Thursday November 13th extending into Saturday November 14th, 2003.

SKYWARN was self-activated on Thursday Evening November 13th as

the strongest winds would occur that evening through Friday Morning

but remained strong into Friday Evening.

The Southeastern Massachusetts ARES District Station, W1AEC, located

at the SEMARA (Southeast Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association) was

activated to support this self-activation of SKYWARN. The IRLP

Reflector was setup linking the 145.49 Fairhaven Repeater, the

443.800 South Dartmouth Repeater, the 145.39 Scituate Repeater, the

447.025 Johnston RI Repeater and the 147.135-Wilbraham Repeater

together.

Reports of damage started early in the afternoon on November 13th when

Ralph Nahigian-KE1GL reported trees and wires down in West Warwick,

RI at 1 PM. The Avon CT Office of Emergency Management reported a

measured wind gust to 67 MPH at 3 PM.

Reports of wind damage sped up as the day wore on with Nantucket

reporting peak wind gusts of 59 MPH at 5:39 PM at the ASOS station

and another gust to 59 MPH per an Amateur Radio Spotter at 6:30 PM.

The Worcester, Massachusetts ASOS station reported a peak wind gust

of 58 MPH at 6:47 PM. In Rhode Island, a tree was blown down on

to a trailer home in Cumberland, RI at 7:30 PM and at the same time,

trees and wires were blown down on Horton Avenue in Cranston, RI.

In Western Massachusetts, reports of wind damage came in particularly

in the higher elevations. Numerous trees were reported down in

Huntington, Worthington and Chester at 8:22 PM. At 8:24 PM, numerous

trees were down in Ludlow. In Berkshire County numerous reports

of trees down and power outages were reported in Otis, Cheshire,

Lanesboro, Middlefield, New Ashford, Peru, Washington, Windsor,

Tolland and Sunderland, Massachusetts.

In Southeastern Massachusetts, a 30" Diameter tree was blown on to

a house damaging a roof in Halifax Massachusetts at 8:33 PM. Another

wind gust to 52 MPH was reported on Nantucket Island per a Ham Spotter.

Large Limbs and Wires were reported down back in Chicopee,

Massachusetts at 8:43 PM. At 8:52 PM in Woonsocket RI, a peak wind

gust to 53 MPH was recorded. Limbs and Wires were blown down in

Marion, Massachusetts at 9:22 PM. During this period wind gusts

of 49-54 MPH were common across the region.

In Rhode Island, Woonsocket reported a peak wind gust to 59 MPH at

9:24 PM. Back in Western Massachusetts, Limbs were blown down on

to wires at 9:40 PM. In Boston, Massachusetts a tree was blown

down on to a street at 9:40 PM. In Sunderland, Massachusetts, a Sunoco

Sign was blown and sheered right off the sign pole at 9:41 PM. In

Marstons Mills, Mass., a peak wind gust to 52 MPH was reported at

9:49 PM. In Wales, Massachusetts, a tree was blown down on to wires

on McBride Road. In Foster, RI, one tree was blown down at 10 PM.

In Wilbraham, Massachusetts, wires were blown down

on Fernwood Drive at 10:05 PM. In Enfield, CT, at 10:19 PM, one tree

was blown down. At 10:46 PM, trees and wires were reported down in

Warwick, RI and at 10:50 PM, a power pole down was block part of

Eddy Street in Providence, RI. Wind gusts of 50-55 MPH were common

during this timeframe with the highest gust of 58 MPH reported at the

Westfield, Mass. ASOS station at 11:04 PM and a peak wind gust of

64 MPH measured in East Falmouth at 11 PM.

Wind damage continued into the late night and early morning hours of

November 14th. At 11:52 PM, a wind gust to 58 MPH with numerous 3-4"

branches were blown down. At 12:10 AM on the 14th, numerous large

branches were blown down and these were spotted as we left the

SEMARA Club, where the Amateur Radio Station is located and secured

the Self-Activation support of SKYWARN for the evening. At 12:20 AM,

in Westerly RI, a peak wind gust to 56 MPH was reported. At 3:00 AM,

a 62 MPH measured wind gust was reported in Middletown, RI. At 8:20

AM, Large branches were reported down in New Bedford as the DPW began

clean-up from the strong winds. At 9:00 AM in Marion, Mass. 17"

Diameter trees were blown down with power outages. At 9:10 AM,

measured wind gust of 50 MPH, power outages and trees down

were reported in Southwick and Tolland, Massachusetts. Additional

wind damage was reported across Northeast Massachusetts, Southwest

NH and Central Massachusetts Thursday Night and Friday Morning.

All reports came in via the IRLP network and the 146.76-Scituate RI

Repeater. SKYWARN Nets were active on the 146.94, Mount Tom, and the

147.000, Soapstone CT Repeater. With other repeaters in a low-level

stand-by mode and net controls monitoring for any wind damage reports.

Coordinators that assisted included N1VMH-Jim Bernotas, KA1JJM-Ray

Weber, KE1GL-Ralph Nahigian, N1EGS-John Buco, N1FY-Carl Aveni,

WQ1O-Frank O'Laughlin and K1PAI-Roger Jeanfaivre along with numerous

other spotters who gave the reports into W1AEC, the SEMARA ARES

district station who forwarded reports to NWS Taunton.

Strong winds continued through Friday November 14th but not quite

as strong as the night before. Wind Advisories remained in effect,

however, with winds gusting to 50-55 MPH over the area. The winds

helped to spread a massive fire at an abandoned mill in Pawtucket,

RI forcing evacuations of neighborhoods surrounding the mill and

spot fires to neighboring homes and opening a shelter in the area.

Special thanks to all SKYWARN Spotters and Coordinators for their

support during this SKYWARN Self-Activation.

Strong Winds Affect Southern New England 11/28-11/29/2003...

SKYWARN self-activated and monitored late on November 28th into

November 29th as strong winds once again buffeted the region. Wind

Gusts up to 55 MPH were common across much of Southern New England.

No Local Storm Report with wind damage was issued by a Public

Information Statement with wind measurements of 45-55 MPH were

common late Friday Night into Saturday across the region. Some

wind gusts higher than 55 MPH were reported in isolated locations.

In Woonsocket, RI, a 57 MPH wind gust was reported at 1:50 PM. A

58 MPH wind gust was reported at Blue Hill at 5:37 PM and a 58

MPH wind gust was reported at Worcester Airport at 2:52 PM. This

was the third wind incident in an 8 week period across Southern

New England.

Special thanks to all SKYWARN Spotters and Coordinators who forwarded

reports to NWS Taunton during this wind event.

SKYWARN Activation Report from December 14th, 2003...

SKYWARN was activated on Sunday December 14th as a major snowstorm

was expected for the region. The storm was expected to produce very

heavy snowfall rates with thundersnow resulting in significant

accumulations. Unlike the December 5th-7th storm, this storm would

dump the heavy snow in a shorter period of time and there was also

the potential for a changeover to sleet and freezing rain with a

changeover to rain expected further inland into Southeastern

Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

SKYWARN with Ops at NWS Taunton began at 3 PM with KB1CYO-Phil

Maclaughlin and I manning the station. The Echolink-IRLP bridge

was utilized to connect much of Southern New England together for

this event. This included New Haven County SKYWARN's Repeater near

East Haven, CT. This arrangement worked reasonably well and

improvements were made on this connection based on some minor issues

that occurred during this activation.

Reports were rolled through various repeaters over the course of the

next several hours. Nets were done every 1-3 hours based on

precipitation rates and the need for reports over the region.

Snowfall rates of as much as 2" per hour occurred

across the region. A Gravity Wave, however, developed and this created

a whole in the precipitation over Connecticut and stronger winds

along south coastal areas of CT. This allowed temperatures to warm

up causing a changeover in precipitation sooner in many areas and

resulting in less snow accumulations across much of the region and

the 3-4" snowfall per hour rates that were feared did not materialize.

Nonetheless, many parts of interior Southern New England received

6-10" of snow with isolated higher amounts. 2-6" of snow occurred

over much of Rhode Island and Southeast Massachusetts and mostly

rain occurred over Cape Cod and the Islands.

SKYWARN Coordinators from across the region assisted with gathering

reports across all of the SKYWARN Repeaters. These reports included

snowfall, changeover in precipitation and any wind gusts or damage

meeting criteria. Some Repeaters and coordinators that assisted

included the following:

Ray Weber-KA1JJM, Western Mass. SKYWARN on the 146.94 Mt. Tom Repeater.

Jim Bernotas-N1VMH, Western Mass. SKYWARN on the 146.985 and 145.13,

Greenfield and Amherst Repeaters.

Roger Jeanfaivre-K1PAI, CT SKYWARN on the 147.000 Soapstone, CT

Repeater.

Bernie Dubb-KB1DGY on the 147.225-Killingly CT Repeater for Windham

County CT SKYWARN.

Jim Cahill-N1TZM and Martin Mendelson-N1JMA on the 146.76-Scituate,

RI Repeater, also SKYWARN was active on the 147.165-Exeter, RI

Repeater.

Bill Ricker-N1VUX on the 146.64-Waltham Repeater.

Tony Duarte-N1XRS on the 145.49-Fairhaven Repeater.

Roger Turner-W1ZSA and Dave Doe-K1HRV on the 146.895-Walpole Repeater.

Several Amateurs on the 443.350-Pack Monadnock Repeater.

ARES Coordinators via AOL Instant Messenger Chat and various Eastern

Massachusetts Repeaters.

These reports allowed NWS Taunton to make their forecasts more precise

and allowed for spotter reports to be disseminated to the media and

the public more quickly. Special thanks to all who provided support

on this activation of SKYWARN.

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)

ARES SKYWARN Coordinator

Southeast Massachusetts ARES District Emergency Coordinator

SEMARA ARES 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

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