* SKYWARN Newsletter #14


Hello to all...

In this edition of the SKYWARN Newsletter...

SKYWARN Training Update...
Specific METAR Format of Data Part 2...
New Section Emergency Coordinator for Rhode Island...
Needing Operators for NWS Taunton...
Training for the Operators for NWS Taunton...
Hurricane Marco forms in the Carribean...
First Widespread Snowfall in Eastern Masaschusetts and Rhode Island...

This newsletter was delayed to setup training for the operators at NWS
Taunton on Saturday of this week.

SKYWARN Training Update...

Here is an update on SKYWARN Training issues:

N1QIT-Jeanine Swick has contacted myself and Glenn Field for potential
training dates in the Fitchburg, MA area. The training would be held
at an auditorium at the Fitchburg Library. Possible dates for this
training are:

April 12th.
May 2nd.
May 10th.
May 17th.

A date should be firmed up within the next week or two for this area.

N1SNH-Henry Brown will be discussing at the Falmouth Amateur Radio
Association meeting a date and time for SKYWARN training that may
occur on one of their regular meeting nights. More details to follow
on this as it becomes available.

I hope to push more of the SKYWARN training issues over the next
two weeks.

Specific METAR Format of Data Part 2...

Here are some common abbreviations for the new METAR aviation weather
formats as described in the METAR/TAF aviation weather formats document.

ABBREVIATIONS:

AO1:   Automated Observation without precipitation descriminator. (rain/snow)
AO2:   Automated Observation with precipitation descriminator. (rain/snow)
AMD:   Amended Forecast (TAF)
BECMG: Becoming (expected between two digit beginning hour and two digit
		 ending hour)
BKN:   Broken 5-7 octas (eigths) cloud coverage.
CLR:   Clear at or below 12,000 feet.
COR:   Correction to the observation.
FEW:   >0-2 octas (eighths)
FM:    From (4 digit beginning time in hours and minutes.)
LDG:   Landing
M:     in RVR listing indicates visibility less than lowest reportable sensor
       value.
NO:    Not available.
NSW:   No Significant Weather
       Note: NSW only indicates obstruction to visibility or precipitation
	     previously noted has ended. Low ceilings, wind shear, and other
	     weather conditions may still exist.
OVC:   Overcast 8 octas (eighths) cloud coverage.
P:     in RVR indicates visibility greater than the highest reportable
       sensor value.
P6SM:  Visibility greater than 6 SM. (TAF only)
PK WND:Peak Wind
PROB40:Probability 40 percent
R:     Runway (used in RVR measurement)
RMK:   Remark
RY/RWY:Runway
SCT:   Scattered 3-4 octas (eighths) cloud coverage
SKC:   Sky Clear
SLP:   Sea Level Pressure
SM:    Statute Miles
SPECI: Special Report
TEMPO: Temporary changes expected (between 2 digit beginning hour and 2 digit
				   ending hour.)
TKOF:  Takeoff
V:     Varies (wind direction in RVR)
VC:    Vicinity
VRB:   Variable Wind Direction
VV:    Vertical Visibility
WS:    Wind Shear

DESCRIPTORS:

BC:    Patches
BL:    Blowing
DR:    Low Drifting
FZ:    Supercooled/freezing
MI:    Shallow
PR:    Partial
SH:    Showers
TS:    Thunderstorm

WEATHER PHENOMENA:

BR:    Mist
DS:    Dust Storm
DU:    Widespread Dust
DZ:    Drizzle
FC:    Funnel Cloud
FG:    Fog
FU:    Smoke
GR:    Hail
GS:    Small Hail/Snow Pellets
HZ:    Haze
IC:    Ice Crystals
PE:    Ice Pellets
PO:    Dust/Sand Whirls
PY:    Spray
RA:    Rain
SA:    Sand
SN:    Snow
SQ:    Squall
SS:    Sandstorm
UP:    Unknown Precipitation (Automated Observations)
VA:    Volcanic Ash

CLOUD TYPES:

CB:    Cumulonimbus
TCU:   Towering Cumulus

INTENSITY VALUES:

-       Light
no sign Moderate
+       Heavy

New Section Emergency Coordinator for Rhode Island...

K1KYI, Rick Fairweather, Section Manager for Rhode Island, has informed
me that there is a new Section Emergency Coordinator for Rhode Island
and that is N1JMA-Martin Mendelson. Martin has served as a contact
person for Rhode Island SKYWARN and has done a great job. Fred
Lightell-N1OSX will remain Rhode Island SKYWARN Coordinator under
Martin Mendelson. Congratulations to Martin Mendelson on his new
position, and he should do a very good job as Rhode Island ARES
Section Emergency Coordinator.

Needing Operators for NWS Taunton...

Anyone interested in becoming an operator for NWS Taunton please
let me know. The bigger the list the better we can cover NWS Taunton's
needs. I have obtained two to perhaps four more operators to be
added to the list, and always have the need for more operators.

Training for the Operators for NWS Taunton...

This Saturday November 30th at 1 PM will be the first in a series of training
sessions for the operators at NWS Taunton. This will describe the operation
of the packet station and go into some operation of the voice system.
This will also verify operation procedures of the station that are in
my SKYWARN procedure. I will be offering these training sessions until
all people who are interested have completed having these sessions.

Hurricane Marco forms in the Carribean...

Hurricane Marco formed over the Carribean and meandered around the
Carribean during the past several days. Its strength varied. After
briefly reaching hurricane status Marco rapidly weakened to a tropical
depression then bounced back and forth between depression and tropical
storm status. Meantime, it dumped heavy rains and strong winds on Cuba.
Finally, the storm dissipated on Tuesday November 26th. Here is the
data on Hurricane Marco.

HURRICANE MARCO:

							   TS    HUR
ADV #  LAT   LONG  DATE  TIME  WND  MB    PRES   DIR  MPH  DIST  DIST
-----  ---   ----  ----  ----  ---  --    ----   ---  ---  ----  ----
01     14.6  81.2  1118  2100  35   1003  29.62  NE   1
02     14.6  81.3  1119  0300  35   1002  29.59  NE   1
03     14.4  81.0  1119  0900  35   998   29.47  NE   1
04     14.3  80.7  1119  1500  40   998   29.47  E    1    70
04A    13.9  80.5  1119  1800  50   995   29.38  SE   1    70
05     13.9  80.0  1119  2100  60   993   29.32  E    6    105
05A    13.7  79.9  1120  0000  60   993   29.32  SE   5    105
06     13.8  79.5  1120  0300  65   993   29.32  E    5    105
07     13.9  79.4  1120  0600  75   993   29.32  E    5    140   85
08     13.9  78.0  1120  0900  75   985   29.09  E    7    140   85
08A    14.2  77.6  1120  1200  75   987   29.15  E    8    140   30
09     14.8  77.2  1120  1500  75   987   29.15  NE   9    140   30
09A    15.0  77.1  1120  1800  75   987   29.15  NNE  9    140   30
10     14.9  77.4  1120  2100  70   1000  29.53  NNE  6    140
10A    15.2  77.1  1121  0000  60   1000  29.53  NNE  5    140
11     15.1  76.9  1121  0300  50   1000  29.53  NNE  1    140
11A    15.2  76.8  1121  0600  50   995   29.38  NNE  1    140
12     15.2  76.7  1121  0900  45   993   29.32  NNE  1    140
12A    15.2  76.8  1121  1200  45   993   29.32  NNE  1    140
13     15.3  76.6  1121  1500  45   995   29.38  NNE  1    140
13A    15.4  76.6  1121  1800  45   995   29.38  NNE  1    140
14     15.9  76.5  1121  2100  45   994   29.35  N    1    140
14A    15.9  76.8  1122  0000  45   992   29.29  N    1    140
15     15.9  76.7  1122  0300  45   992   29.29  N    1    140
15A    15.9  76.0  1122  0600  50   996   29.41  E    1    140
16     15.9  75.7  1122  0900  65   985   29.09  E    1    140
16A    15.9  75.6  1122  1200  65   989   29.21  E    1    140
17     15.9  75.5  1122  1500  65   989   29.21  E    1    140
17A    15.9  75.2  1122  1800  65   995   29.38  E    1    140
18     16.0  74.9  1122  2100  50   995   29.38  NE   5    140
18A    16.1  74.9  1123  0000  50   995   29.38  E    1    140
19     16.0  74.9  1123  0300  50   995   29.38  E    1    140
20     16.0  74.4  1123  0900  45   993   29.32  W    1    115
21     15.5  74.5  1123  1500  35   1000  29.53  W    1
22     15.5  75.0  1123  2100  35   1004  29.65  W    3
23     15.8  75.4  1124  0300  35   1004  29.65  E    3
24     15.6  76.9  1124  0900  35   1005  29.68  W    7
25     15.7  78.1  1124  1500  35   1007  29.74  W    10   <--Date Correction
26     16.4  79.7  1124  2100  35   1004  29.65  W    12
27     16.9  80.7  1125  0300  35   1003  29.62  W    12
28     17.9  82.3  1125  0900  35   1004  29.65  WNW  14
29     18.7  83.0  1125  1500  65   1003  29.62  NW   14   85
29A    19.0  83.3  1125  1800  50   1006  29.71  NW   14
30     19.5  83.9  1125  2100  50   1009  29.80  NW   13
30A    19.8  84.1  1126  0000  50   1009  29.80  NW   12
31     20.4  84.5  1126  0300  50   1009  29.80  NW   13
31A    20.2  84.5  1126  0600  45   1010  29.83  NW   8
32     20.3  84.6  1126  0900  40   1009  29.80  NW   6
32A    20.1  84.3  1126  1200  40   1009  29.80  Stationary
33     19.9  84.3  1126  1500  35   1013  29.91  Stationary
34     19.3  85.1  1126  2100  30   1014  29.94  SW   8

First Widespread Snowfall in Eastern Masaschusetts and Rhode Island...

The first widespread snowfall in Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island
occurred Tuesday Night into Wednesday Morning as a departing Gale Center
in Nova Scotia brought down some colder air and changed over leftover
light rain to light snow. Portions of East Coastal Massachusetts and
Cape Cod and the Islands are getting ocean effect snow that will result
in 1-3 inches of snow in those areas.

Here is a report filed at 10:30 AM by NWS Taunton on this first snowfall.
This will be updated in the next SKYWARN Newsletter if necessary.

* BOSPNSBOS
TTAA00 KBOS 271921 
CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-RIZALL-NHZ011-012-280000-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT 
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
220 PM EST WED NOV 27 1996

HERE ARE SOME SNOW REPORTS FROM SELECTED LOCATIONS AROUND SOUTHERN
NEW ENGLAND. ALL OBSERVATIONS WERE TOTALS FROM THIS SNOW EVENT
WHICH BEGAN VERY EARLY THIS MORNING.

THANKS TO ALL LOCAL MEDIA AND COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS FOR PROVIDING
REPORTS.  THIS PRODUCT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON OUR HOMEPAGE AT
HTTP://BRISTOL.LL.MIT.EDU/.

SNOWFALL /IN INCHES/

...NWS OFFICES AND MAJOR COMMERCIAL AIRPORTS...

BLUE HILL                    FINAL        2.5    
BOSTON LOGAN AIRPORT /BOS/   530AM        0.6          
TAUNTON NWSFO /BOX/          FINAL        1.5
HARTFORD /BDL/               FINAL        TRACE     
PROVIDENCE /PVD/                
WORCESTER /ORH/              7AM          1.0  
 
...EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS...
NEW BEDFORD                  FINAL        1.0
WINTHROP                     FINAL        1.9
EASTON                       FINAL        1.7
MANSFIELD                    FINAL        1.7
PLYMOUTH                     925AM        1.3
MARSTONS MILLS               850AM        3.5
TYNGSBORO                    845AM        2.0
HOPKINGTON                   835AM        2.8
MIDDLEBORO                   815AM        0.5
MILTON                       810AM        1.5
OSTERVILLE                   730AM        1.5        
S. SANDWICH                  730AM        0.5
WRENTHAM                     720AM        1.6
NATICK                       710AM        2.5
CARVER                       710AM        0.8
FOXBORO                      7AM          1.0
W. MEDWAY                    7AM          2.0
MAYNARD                      7AM          2.5
WALPOLE                      7AM          2.5
BEDFORD                      7AM          1.6
NEWBURYPORT                  7AM          0.5

...CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS... (WORCESTER COUNTY ONLY)
SHREWSBURY                   735AM        2.2
WESTBORO                     625AM        1.1
BARRE                        7AM          2.0  
ASHBURNHAM                   7AM          1.3
S. ROYALSTON                 7AM          2.7

...WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS...
CHARLEMONT                   FINAL        0.1
E. BRIMFIELD                 FINAL        1.5
SUNDERLAND                   FINAL        TRACE
WORTHINGTON                  FINAL        0.3
WARE                         FINAL        0.5

...SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...(HILLSBOROUGH AND CHESHIRE COUNTIES) 
FRANCESTOWN                  715AM        1.0
JAFFREY                      7AM          1.0
KEENE                        7AM          2.0
GREENVILLE                   7AM          1.5
MARLOW                       7AM          2.0
MANCHESTER                   7AM          1.5
WALPOLE                      7AM          0.1
NEW IPSWICH                  640AM        2.5

...NORTHERN CONNECTICUT...  (HARTFORD/TOLLAND/WINDHAM COUNTIES) 
PUTNAM                       FINAL        0.1
BAKERSVILLE                  FINAL        TRACE

...RHODE ISLAND...
WARWICK                      850AM        1.0
SCITUATE                     730AM        0.5
GLOCESTER                    730AM        0.5
TIVERTON                     720AM        1.0
WOONSOCKET                   7AM          2.0
CLAYVILLE                    7AM          1.0
NORTH FOSTER                 7AM          2.0

MRD                  

That's all for this edition of the SKYWARN Newsletter. Topics, questions, or
comments for the newsletter please contact me.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!!!!!

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Greater New Bedford ARES Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875
Work Phone #: (508) 435-1000 Ext.: 3411
Email Address: rmacedo@ma.ultranet.com
Packet Address: KD1CY @ AA1FS

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