SKYWARN Newsletter #25

Hello to all...

SKYWARN Training Update...
Framingham ARA Offers Assistance for SKYWARN...
Sending the SKYWARN Document to Those Who Couldn't Attend the Meeting...
Snowstorm Affects the Region at the start of the week...
...Severe Thunderstorms Affect the Region at the end of the week
APRS now online at my shack...
Personal Note...

***Newsletter Issued: 2/23/97

SKYWARN Training Update...

Nothing new to report here, so here is last week's newsletter posting,
revisited.

North Shore: Carl, N1FYZ, is working on getting the VA Hospital in
             Bedford, MA for SKYWARN Training.
             Also, Terry Stader, MEMA Area I Radio Officer, is assisting
             in securing MEMA Area I headquarters for possible SKYWARN
             training.

Boston Area: Awaiting word from NUARC on SKYWARN Training at Northeastern
             University.

Southern NH: Awaiting word from Don Dillaby and David Day on a date to
             use the Nashua Town Hall for SKYWARN Training.

Connecticut: Awaiting a date to use the Canton High School in Canton
             Connecticut for SKYWARN Training.

Western RI:  Awaiting word from N1JMA, Martin Mendelson, and K1KYI,
             Rick Fairweather, on SKYWARN Training in the Warwick RI
             area.

We are rapidly approaching a full SKYWARN Training Schedule for this
year, and the devotion and work of all Amateur Radio Operators, Weather
Spotters, ARES and Emergency Management people are the reason for it.
Thanks to all for their assistance in obtaining SKYWARN training for
the region.

Framingham ARA Offers Assistance for SKYWARN...

Marc Stern, WA1R, has offered the assistance of Framingham ARES, and
the Framingham ARA's three repeater systems for SKYWARN. These
repeaters are 145.27, 147.15 and N1FOD 448 Mhz. More details
as they become available but it is expected to have a weekly net on
Sunday Night's along with their regular ARES net. Not all the details
have been worked out as of yet, with regard to alternate NCS's, but
we'll keep everyone posted.

Sending the SKYWARN Document to Those Who Couldn't Attend the Meeting...

Documents have been sent out to all who are currently listed in the
document, thanks to everyone for their input and their patience
in receiving them. As updates are made you can download the latest
document off the Eastern Mass ARES/RACES/SKYWARN homepage at:

http://www.ultranet.com/~rmacedo

Snowstorm Affects the Region at the Start of the Week...

At the start of this week, light snows fell across much of Southern
New England. One to two inches of snow was common across Western
New England, with two to four inches common across Eastern New England.

The East Coast of Massachusetts from Plymouth through Provincetown
had some enhanced snow which brought accumiliations there from 4-7
inches. See the Spotter Reports Storm Summary section on my web
page for specific snowfall totals.

...Severe Thunderstorms Affect the Region at the end of the week

From winter to almost Summertime conditions, Saturday featured temps
in the mid 50's to mid 60's and with a strong cold front with temperatures
twenty to thirty degrees colder behind it, this meant thunderstorms.
SKYWARN was briefly activated across Western Massachusetts and Southern
New Hampshire, as winds gusted to 60 MPH and pea sized hail fell. The
SKYWARN station at NWS Taunton was briefly manned per Walt Drag lead
forecaster. Bob Metivier, N1XZJ, and his wife Sue, N1YJO, along with
Ed Capone, hydrologist, N1LTP, manned the station and gathered reports
for NWS Taunton. A great training exercise for the region, and a job
done well by all, hopefully, we can continue our fast response to
these situations. A complete report appears on the NWS Taunton
web page under Local Storm Report in the other forecasts, observations,
and discussions section.

On a sidenote, the Severe Thunderstorm Watch that was issued for
Western Mass, was NOT the earliest a watch has been issued, last year,
a Severe Thunderstorm Watch was issued January 20, 1996, for a line
of Severe thunderstorms that went through Western and Central
Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, proving that severe
weather can and will happen anywhere, and anytime, no matter how
rare it may be in this region. The rarity here in Southern New
England, just makes it more difficult to prepare.

APRS now online at my shack...

I now have APRS online hear at my shack, using a DOS version 7.7e. There is
a Win'95 version available as well, which I may experiment with in the
future. While I have not learned all of its intracicies,
it is quite interesting. I am able to intercept
weather reports from Woods Hole, Bellingham, Melrose, and Watertown
Mass automatically every ten minutes. It also draws a map of the region
and I am finding many stations in the region, particulkarly inside
of Interstate 495. I am hoping to hook up my Ultimeter 2000 WX Station
to the APRS System soon.

Personal Note...

Please note starting immediately, I am now working first shift, 8 AM-5 PM,
permanently, please alter your calling schedules with me as indicated.

That concludes this week's edition of the SKYWARN Newsletter,
Comments, Questions, or Suggestions are always welcome. The next
SKYWARN Newsletter will be issued in the March 1st-2nd timeframe.

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Greater New Bedford ARES Emergency Coordinator
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503  (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: (508) 435-1000 Ext.: 3411  (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo@ma.ultranet.com
Packet Address: KD1CY @ AA1FS
http://www.ultranet.com/~rmacedo

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