August 2nd, 2002 Severe Weather Outbreak Report
Severe
Weather Outbreak Report for August 2nd, 2002
by:
Robert Macedo, KD1CY, ARES SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS Taunton
The
third biggest severe weather outbreak of the year occurred on
Friday
August 2nd, 2002 as a MCS or Mesoscale Convective System hit
much of
Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut with damaging
winds
and large hail. The complex started from clusters of severe
thunderstorms
across Eastern New York and turn into one large MCS
over
much of the area before weakening and moving Southeast of the
area.
NWS
Taunton Operations began at 1:30 PM as a Severe Thunderstorm
Watch
was issued until 7 PM for much of the area. Carl Aveni, N1FY,
was
first on station followed by Delilah Maldonado, KB1IQC and I
around
2:15 PM. For Delilah, it was her first time ever at NWS
Taunton
and she did a stellar job logging reports of severe weather
as they
were received across much of the region.
The
IRLP link was established between the 448.175 Framingham Repeater
and the
147.105 Wilbraham Repeater so reports could be received from
Western
Massachusetts and Connecticut into NWS Taunton. Ray Weber,
KA1JJM,
Eric Tuller, N1QKO, and Jim Bernotas, N1VMH, were all on
frequency
from Western Massachusetts SKYWARN.
Activity
began in Franklin County Massachusetts as thunderstorms became
severe
in that area. Trees and wires were blown down in Bernardston,
Greenfield
and Deerfield, Massachusetts between 2:13-2:20 PM. Reports
came in
from N1VMH, Jim, and KB1FTT, Scott as they occurred in this
area. Trees
were blown down on top of a car in Hatfield, Massachusetts
in
Hampshire County Massachusetts. SKYWARN was active on the 146.985
Greenfield
and 146.94-Mount Tom Repeaters.
Severe
Thunderstorms also formed over portions of Central and Southern
Berkshire
County has the convective system developed. Quarter Sized
Hail
occurred in Lee, Mass. at 2:27 PM. Dime to Quarter
Sized
hail occurred in Monterey, Massachusetts at 2:31 PM with large
bracnhes
blown down in West Stockbridge, Mass. at 2:46 PM. SKYWARN
was
active on the 146.91 Mount Greylock Repeater through the efforts
of
Dave-K1TTT and George-KB2SAE. Meantime further damage reports
were
received in Hampshire County Massachusetts on the 146.94 Mount
Tom
Repeater as 8 Inch Diameter trees were blown down in Amherst
with a
1 foot diameter tree down in Belchertown, Massachusetts.
The
storms continued working East-Southeast and affected the
Southeastern
part of Hampshire and the Eastern part of Hampden County
Massachusetts.
In Hadley, Massachusetts, 4" Diameter Branches were
blown
down at 2:55 PM while in Ludlow, Massachusetts, Hampden County,
trees
and wires were blown down along with trees down in Palmer,
Massachusetts
at 3:05 PM.
Activity
in Franklin County raced into North-Central Worcester County
Massachusetts.
SKYWARN was active on the 145.37-146.925
Worcester-Templeton
linked repeater system through the efforts of Tom
Pratt-N1KKY.
On the Westminster/Fitchburg Mass. 5/8" hail fell per
N1ZYG,
Mark at 2:45 PM and later grew to Dime Sized Hail in Fitchburg
Mass at
3 PM. In West Boylston and Boylston Massachusetts at 3:10 and
3:15
PM, trees and wires were blown as severe thunderstorms ripped
through
Central Worcester County. In South Worcester, Dime Sized
Hail
was reported along with large trees down. As activity occurred
in
Central Massachusetts, activity from Berkshire County moved into
Hampden
County Massachusetts. In Westfield, Massachusetts, Dime Sized
Hail
occurred at 3:20 PM along with a report of trees down at 3:30 PM.
Also,
2.6" of rain in 15 minutes was recorded with the storm in
Westfield
between 3:15 and 3:30 PM. Trees were blown down in West
Springfield,
Mass. along with a gutter blown right off a house in
West
Springfield as well. Numerous reports of Pea Sized hail were
also
received during this timeframe.
Meantime,
back in Worcester County Massachusetts, 3 large trees were
blown
down in Southborough, Massachusetts along with three separate
areas
of trees down reported by Shrewbsury Fire Department via
Amateur
Radio at 3:34 PM through the efforts of Jim Colonies, WX1L.
Activity
began to work into Connecticut and Eastern parts of
Massachusetts.
SKYWARN
was active on the 146.64 Waltham Repeater through the efforts
of Mike
Nielsen, W1MPN. 8 Inch Diameter Trees were blown down in the
town of
Acton, Mass. at 3:30 PM as the activity in Worcester County
moved
eastward. At 3:42 PM, wind gusts to 50+ MPH and small branches
were
blown down in Hopkinton, Mass. Trees were blown down in Wayland,
Massachusetts
at 3:52 PM. Rotation was cited with this activity and
this
appeared to stem from the fact that as the clusters of severe
thunderstorms
evolved into a Mesoscale Convective System, the system
rotates
and that's why the rotation occurred. SKYWARN was also
active
on the 146.625-Haverhill and 145.47 Danvers Repeaters to cover
Northern
Middlesex and Essex Counties. This was done through the
efforts
of Mike, W1MPN, Mark, W1MAR, and Jim, KA1BSH.
SKYWARN
was active in Connecticut through the efforts of Harv, K1PZS.
Reports
of a measured wind gust of 52 MPH and 6" Inch tree limbs
down on
wires was reported in Manchester, CT at 3:55 PM. At 4 PM,
1.5"
of rain fell in 15 minutes in Enfield, CT. Other reports
of wind
damage received in Connecticut were at 3:25 PM, windows
blown
out of a home in West Suffield, CT, trees down in Hartland
CT at
3:32 PM, 5-8" Diameter Limbs down in Windsor CT at 3:50 PM,
6"
Diamter Limbs down in Suffield, CT at 3:56 PM, 8 Inch Diameter
Trees
down in Willington, CT at 4:05 PM and 6-7" Diameter
limbs
down in Ashford, CT at 4:12 PM. These reports were relayed
by Ray,
KA1JJM, from non-Amateur SKYWARN spotters in those areas.
This
activity maintained its intensity and moved into Northern and
Central
Rhode Island from Southern Worcester County, Mass. and
Windham
County CT. A few reports of Pea Sized hail were also
received
during this timeframe.
MEMA
Framingham (WC1MA) went on the air through the efforts of Tom
Kinahan-N1CPE.
We forwarded information to Tom on currend damage
infromation
from MEMA and they kept in touch with us in case they
received
damage reports. The 53.31-Mount Wachusett Repeater was
utilized
for that communication.
SKYWARN
was active on 146.76 Scituate, RI Repeater through the efforts
of John
Buco, N1EGS, Ralph Nahigian, KE1GL, and Martin Mendelson, N1JMA.
Small
branches were blown down in West Foster, RI at 4:20 PM.
Reports
from Ralph, KE1GL, had 1" hail and trees down in Smithfield,
RI at
4:15 PM along with wires being blown down in a few locations.
At 4:30
PM, telephone poles and wires were blown down
on
Pontiac Avenue in Cranston, RI. Also, at 4:25 PM in Coventry, RI,
a
16" Diameter tree was blown down blocking Pembroke Lane with reports
of
branches up to 6" in diameter blown down. TV Media had an unconfirmed
report
of a tornado in Coventry, RI but this was proven wrong by John
Buco,
N1EGS, who talked with people in the area of the possible
tornado
and no damage occurred. Striaght line winds that bounced off
of
trees and the terrain likely led the public involved with the
report
to believe there was a tornado in the area. This highlights
the
importance of spotters and coordinators to confirm damage and
also to
disprove incorrect reports.
SKYWARN
was also active on the 146.895 Walpole Repeater as activity
skirted
Norfolk County Massachusetts. Dave Doe-K1HRV and Roger Turner-
W1ZSA
were on frequency.
Activity
refired in Western Massachusetts and Northwest CT as activity
was
occurring in Rhode Island. In Colebrook, CT, several reports of
Quarter-Half-Dollar
Sized Hail was reported at 4:30 PM. Quarter Sized
hail
and trees were blown down in Winchester, CT as well. These
reports
were relayed from the Litchfield County SKYWARN Net. The
Litchfield
County SKYWARN Net was run by Dixie Delancey, KD1UK.
Berkshire
County SKYWARN remained active as more severe thunderstorms
formed
in the Central and Southeast parts of the county. At 4:18 PM,
trees
were blown down in West Pittsfield, Mass. At 4:58 PM,
trees
and wires were blown down in Otis Massachusetts. The activity
moved
eastward and prompted a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Western
Hampden
County where trees were blown down in Blanford at 5:05 PM. 3-5"
Diameter
branches were blown down in Lenox, Mass. at 5:15 PM. SKYWARN
remain
active on the 146.91 Mount Greylock and 146.94 Mount Tom
Repeaters.
Activity
continued in the Western parts of Hartford County, CT. At
5:15
PM, a dozen 2-3 foor diameter trees were blown down in Farmington,
CT. At
5:15 PM, trees and wires were blown down in Bristol, CT with
numerous
roads blocked restricting travel significantly. At 5:20 PM,
trees
and wires were blown down in Burlington, CT. Reports were
relayed
to Ray Weber, KA1JJM, by John Bagioni a private meteorologist
who
lives in Burlington, CT and checked out the three towns for
possible
damage. John is also a trained SKYWARN Spotter. He reported
that
soo many roads were blocked in Bristol, CT at one point that
it
restricted his way to get home and some roads were not opened
until
the next day.
Activity
slowed down as the evening hours came and Carl, N1FY, secured
from
the operation. Delilah, KB1IQC, and I remained on station for
a few
more hours.
Activity
refired in the Northwest part of Franklin County
Massachusetts
were a Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued. The
severe
thunderstorm was in a very uninhabited area but went through
the
Monroe State Park. At 7:18 PM, three trees were blown down per
the
Monroe State Park official and relayed by Ray, KA1JJM. Activity
was
monitored through the rest of Franklin County, Massachusetts by
Jim,
N1VMH, but no further severe criteria reports were received.
The
SKYWARN Activation was secured at 9:20 PM. Special thanks to
all
those that assisted in this Severe Weather Outbreak.
Respectfully
Submitted,
Robert
Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES
SKYWARN Coordinator
SEMCARES
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