SKYWARN Newsletter #27
Hello to all...
SKYWARN Training Update...
SKYWARN Activated On Thursday 3/6...
SKYWARN Reporting Tips...
APRS and SKYWARN Info from NWS Brookaven Officials...
More Information G-Waves...
ARES/RACES/SKYWARN Pagers Update...
Latest Prevailing Winds SKYWARN Newsletter Now Online...
***Newsletter issued 3/10/97.
SKYWARN Training Update...
Here is an update on SKYWARN Training. As of this writing Glenn Field
would like to hold training in the following areas in the June through
mid July timeframe, as his schedule is filled up for April and May.
Western Rhode Island
North Shore/Greater Boston Area
Southern New Hampshire
A complete list of SKYWARN training sites appears on my web
page as well as in the Prevailing Winds SKYWARN Newsletter
on the NWS Taunton web page.
Here is an update on the other are for possible SKYWARN Training
now slated for the June to Mid July timeframe per Glenn Field:
North Shore: Terry Stader MEMA Area I Radio Officer, has secured MEMA
Area I headquarters for SKYWARN training for a date to
be decided on by Glenn Field. It is currently expected
to use that site to train people involved in public
safety or emergency management. Also, I have asked Terry
to assist in securing the VA Hospital in Bedford, MA
along with Carl, N1FYZ.
Boston Area: Awaiting word from NUARC on SKYWARN Training at Northeastern
University.
Southern NH: Awaiting word from Don Dillaby on a date to
use the Nashua Town Hall for SKYWARN Training.
Western RI: Awaiting word from N1JMA, Martin Mendelson, and K1KYI,
Rick Fairweather, on SKYWARN Training in the Warwick RI
area.
SKYWARN Activated On Thursday 3/6...
High westerly winds of 50-75 MPH caused tree and power line damage
across a large portion of Southern New England. SKYWARN was activated
from 1-5 PM and reports streamed in from many areas of tree damage,
power outages, road closures, and wind reports. The network worked
very well, and it was another example of Amateur Operators using
the 2 meter and 440 Mhz bands that are currently threatened by
commericial interests.
Here are some wind reports from this event:
Worcester: 72 MPH
Buzzards Bay tower: 70 MPH
New Bedford Hurricane Barrier: 63 MPH
Acushnet Fire Department: 58 MPH
Anyone interested in obtaining the complete report on this wind
event, can contact me.
SKYWARN Reporting Tips...
Ron Moniz, K1CI, found this SKYWARN Reporting Procedure which
could be useful for SKYWARN groups.
Reporting Procedure
TELE' System of Reporting
T = Time of Observation
E = Effect (Hail, Winds, Etc.)
L = Location
E = Estimated or Measured
A sample report would be:
At 4:35 pm we had pea size hail, winds of about 40 miles per hour, and rains
of about 2 inches per hour, with moderate
cloud-to-ground lightning. I am 2 miles southeast of downtown Wakeman, and
observations are estimated.
Report Limitations
To limit reports to weather conditions of significant nature only, and to
avoid the 'Sunshine' reports; only the following
conditions should be reported:
TORNADO OR FUNNEL CLOUD ALOFT
WALL CLOUD (not Roll Cloud)
CLOUD ROTATION (Sustained)
DAMAGING WINDS (above 40 mph)
LARGE HAIL (over 1/2 inch)
HEAVY RAIN (causing flooding)
HEAVY LIGHTNING
ANY DAMAGE FROM THE ABOVE
SPOTTER'S AIDS
HAIL - Estimating Size
Pea Size = 1/4 inch
Marble Size = 1/2 inch
Dime Size = 3/4 inch
Quarter Size = 1 inch
Golfball Size = 1-3/4 inch
WINDSPEED - Estimating
22 -31 mph - Large branches in motion
32 - 38 mph - Whole tree in motion
39 - 54 mph - Twigs break off trees
55 - 72 mph - Shallow trees uprooted
73 - 112 mph - Scattered structural damage
RAINFALL - Estimating Rates
NOTE: The NWS used to have a system to estimate rainfall. However, it is
impossible to determine rainfall by looking at it.
We ask that you report rainfall by the following criteria:
Measured rainfall - with a rainguage and stopwatch - report would be
"1/2 inch of rain in 20 minutes."
Visibility - report would be "Heavy rain with visibility of
approximately 1/4 of a mile."
GENERAL TORNADO INFORMATION
Tornadoes usually cone from the southwest and rotate counter-clockwise. They
form on the back, or trailing edge, of a
thunderstorm. The best position to see a tornado is to the southwest of the
storm. Most tornadoes occur from April to July between 2 PM and 10 PM but keep in mind that they may occur anytime of the year, day or night.
More Information G-Waves...
Ron Moniz, K1CI, also passed along this additional information on
G-Waves for interested weather observers.
Here's some more info on GWaves (or Mountain Waves in this case)
I got off an aviation site:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 February 1997
MWAVE - a mountain wave diagnostic
Produced by the Experimental Forecast Facility at the Aviation
Weather Center
Experienced pilots know that when they fly over mountainous
terrain,they may encounter turbulence caused by mountain
waves. Experienced aviation meteorologists know that only
pilot reports of turbulence associated with thunderstorms can
match the severity of some pilot reports of mountain wave
turbulence. Research aircraft in the early 1950s estimated one
mountain wave updraft speed about 80 mph, a speed comparable
to that of a severe thunderstorm's.
Mountain waves develop as air flows over a mountain in a stably
stratified atmosphere. Since buoyancy is the restoring
force, mountain waves can also be called gravity waves. Ocean
waves are gravity waves but because of the sharp air-water
density boundary these waves travel horizontally. Unlike ocean
waves, mountain waves can propagate both horizontally and
vertically because there is no sharp density boundary in the
atmosphere. These waves may refract depending on the
environmental conditions. In particular, horizontal waves may be
refracted vertically. This may lead to a streamline slope
becoming zero (vertical) or even negative (overturning). When this
happens the wave becomes unstable and breaks.
Breaking waves are sometimes called malignant as opposed to nonbreaking
benign waves.
MWAVE is a mountain wave diagnostic developed by the Experimental
Forecast Facility (EFF) at the Aviation Weather Center. The important
parameters are the vertical profiles of the wind speed (U) and the
stability or temperature changes with height (N) and the height of the
mountain (h) over which the air is flowing. MWAVE computes two
diagnostics. First isthe strength of the wave which MWAVE estimates
as the drag the mountain wave exerts on the atmosphere. It is
proportional to the product N*U*h, and units are in millibars.
Second is the breaking potential which MWAVE estimates
as a non-dimensional wave amplitude proportional to H*h/U. Mountain
waves may be strong but non-breaking, asevidenced by an aircraft
experiencing a smooth ride but significant up-and-downdrafts. They may
also be breaking but weak with barely noticeable turbulence.
The dangerous waves are strong and breaking. The maps of MWAVE you
see are composites of breaking pressure dragin the labelled layers.
Actual output to the AWC forecasters is in layers 1000-2000 ft thick.
The areas are usually small because they are tied to they mountains that
generate them. The EFF has thresholded the output into turbulence
intensities:
Breaking pressure drag Turbulence Intensity
1 mb
Light-Moderate
2 mb
Moderate
3 mb
Moderate-Severe
5 mb
Severe
This is experimental output. The Experimental Forecast Facility is
evaluating the output to see if there are any flaws. Anyone
using this product as a flight-briefing aid should always consult
the latest AWC turbulence advisories.
- Don McCann, EFF meteorologist
Mountain Wave forecasts available from the 21Z RUC model run
Eastern United States
1000-375mb (Surface-25,000ft)
2100 UTC Analysis
0000 UTC Forecast
0300 UTC Forecast
0600 UTC Forecast
0900 UTC Forecast
375-150mb (25,000-45,000ft)
2100 UTC Analysis
0000 UTC Forecast
0300 UTC Forecast
0600 UTC Forecast
0900 UTC Forecast
GIF forecast image files are approximately 16k in size.
Please read disclaimer regarding availability of weather
forecasts and data
Data distribution via the Internet is not considered an
operational delivery mechanism by the NWS due to our
inability to insure access to this service, therefore,
the information available here shall not be used for flight
planning or other operational purposes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Ron, K1CI
Thanks to Ron, K1CI, for providing both of these interesting articles.
APRS and SKYWARN Info from NWS Brookaven Officials...
I sent an email to Paul Toth the ARES DEC for SKYWARN in Northern
New Jersey and got this interesting information about APRS and
SKYWARN at NWS Brookhaven. I have edited this information with
some additional comments.
Greetings from Northern NJ where I am the DEC for SKYWARN.
I have been working closely with Andy (WB2FXN), Joe (AB2M) and others in
the deployment of APRS at Brookhaven and am part of the Technical
Guidance Committee at NWS-Mt. Holly, NJ, which also has an APRS station
on line.
The decision to move to APRS as one of our communications vehicles was
based, in part, because it provides a broad range of information
services of use to NWS and Emergency Management. In addition to what
you have seen already, Keith and Mark Sproul have been working
feverishly during the last four weeks on enhancements, improvements and
modifications that are a resulr of direct input from Gary Conte and his
Mt. Holly counterpart, Joe Miketta and several hams, including myself.
Some of the mods include the ability to automatically identify stations
by STATE and COUNTY, the ability to graphically track a station's
telemetry over extended periods, the ability to sort data numerous ways
to easily spot trends. Additional enhancements specifically for SKYWARN
are being readied for release including:
- A Rapid Severe Weather Dialog for reporting Severe conditions.
- A multi-line dialog for issuing WATCH/WARNING information to the net
at large.
- County labeling overlays for easier map identification
- Immediate symbol displays tied to Severe Weather Reporting
>>> These enhancements are nearly completed and will be sent to me
once completed.
Additionally, under development, is code that will take low res NEXRAD
data and display storms graphically and routines to automatically
capture WATCH/WARNING data, parse it and automatically beacon that
information.
What's the difference between DosAPRS and the Windows product? The same
difference between any DOS program and Windows applications: Graphics,
the 640 K memory limitation of DOS vs unlimited memory with Windows
which in turn translates into FEATURES. The DOS program is already
bumping into severe limitations. There is lots o room for growth with
the Windows and Mac products.
I view APRS as a strategic technology, one that works even when spotters
are not in the immediate area. The automatic instrumentation that can
be connected to the world via APRS can continue to provide raw data even
when the manned SKYWARN network may come up short. Another one of its
strengths is the ability to provide NWS with hard text or graphic copy
that, yes, can do directly to the printer and eventually, because NWS
has asked for it, electronically via network connections.
A couple developments you should be aware of and hopefully will
support...
I made a trip last Friday to Newington to meet with Rick Palm. My
purpose was to gain League support for:
Amateur station callsigns and operating authority for every NWS office
to support the SKYWARN program. The proposal would also assign each
station with a WX [region #]+NWS Designator callsign. For example,
Brrokhaven's call would be WX2OKX, Mt. Holly's WX2PHI. This would also
make these stations distinctive on the APRS maps.
I also spoke with Rick about League recognition of 145.790 as the
National APRS frequency on 2 meters and designation of a 440 frequency
similarly for APRS in that band. There are plans afoot in NJ to operate
the APRS net on 440 at 9600 baud.
Rick was most receptive to the ideas, particularly since one of the
continuing operating hurdles NWS faces is the need to have licensed
staff to operate APRS in the face of continuing staff reductions.
I (and other in NNJ) also view APRS as a means and technology to more
fluently and productively introduce Amateur Radio into our schools. It
provides real science, math and communciations benefits in the classroom
while given administrative types insight into weather conditions that
can affect school operations. It is an oppportunity to expose a new
generation of "wired" students to the "wireless" world of Amateur Radio
and its many benefits.
WinAPRS will run fine on a 486DX2-50 or 66 or Pentium based system with
16 MB of memory, a 120 MB Hard Disk and Windows 95. Make sure you have
at least two Serial Ports, three would be preferable, particuarly when
Keith and Mark have the routines ready to capture raw NWS WATCH/WARNING
streams and automatically parse and beacon those messages. A 17" SVGA
Monitor is also recommended. The larger the monitor, the easier it will
be for the meteorologists to view the displays.
One additional point....we are not dumping all our eggs into the APRS
basket just yet. We still see a need for voice nets, even the Internet.
Mobile operations with APRS still still are very experimental. I
believe a year or two down the road it can be the backbone technology
NWS can rely on for the SKYWARN program. And with additional
enhancements soon to be released to support Sheltering operations and
other emergency communications supports for orgs like the American Red
Cross and OEMs, this is a tool with a lot of potential.
Please keep us posted on your decisions and developments. Should NWS
need Amateur support on the licensing issue, I hope we will be able to
call on you and your colleagues in New England for a helping hand.
73!
Paul J. Toth Section PIC-ARRL/Hudson Div/NNJ
KB2WNZ DEC/SKYWARN - No. New Jersey
Dir. of Networking SKYWARN Coordinator -
EverTech Corp. Middlesex Co. & Union Co.,NJ
EC - Union Co. ARES
As of this writing of the newsletter, I hope within the next one to
two months to setup WinAPRS at my station, and work with Paul Toth
on perfecting APRS at my station. If NWS can get a faster computer
for our use, or if I can get a system within reason, APRS could
go online at NWS Taunton in towards the latter portions of this
newsletter.
ARES/RACES/SKYWARN Pagers Update...
The ARES/RACES/SKYWARN Pagers are now available through Russ Howard,
and I have already purchased one. It works very well, unlike my work
pager! These pagers are available simply by working with Russ Howard.
State that you are in ARES or SKYWARN and that you want to get into
the plan that Robert Macedo has worked out with your company. This plan
currently covers only Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island but I
can check into getting other areas involved if necessary.
Here are details on the Pager Service and Russ Howard's contact
information:
Example of the numeric pager costs...
6.00 pager * 6 months * 5% tax = $37.8
0.50 insurance *6 months = $3.00
$5.00 one-time activation
Grand total 1st bill $45.80
$40.80 subsequest billing every 6 months
Example of the Alpha pager costs...
9.00 pager * 6 months * 5% tax = $56.70
0.50 insurance *6 months = $3.00
$5.00 one-time activation
Grand total 1st bill $64.70
$59.70 subsequest billing every 6 months
1.) A copy of the pager rental contract is being mailed for review.
2.) Pricing rate for numeric type is $6.00
3.) Pricing rate for alphanumeric type is $9.00
4.) Cost for insurance $0.50/month
5.) The billing cycle is semi-annually or every 6 months (whichever way
you want to say it)
6.) No deposit if paid semi-annually
7.) There is a one-time only activation charge of $5.00 per pager
8.) Number of pages per month for numeric by calling local number - 500
9.) Number of pages per month for alphanumeric by using the software -
500 w/software
10.) Number of operator pages per month for alphanumeric - 150 +
$10.00/month/extra fee
11.) Telephone numbers listed - Toll Free in 508 & 617
12.) Software is $39.95 on-time fee and can be distributed.
13.) Coverage area - 931 service - RI & Eastern MA/Concord NH
14.) Voice mail available for $5.00/month additional cost
15.) Alphanumeric is the Advisor Pro (2-line display) which is
comparable to Advisor Gold
16.) Numeric is the Bravo LX from Motorola
17.) Anyone who owns a pager now is better to sell it outright, not
worth connecting.
Minimum information is name, address, phone, date of birth, social
security number. They do NOT do credit checks since this is a group.
Just don't try to screw us on the fee. The minimum age is 18 so it will
have to be in a parent's or guardian's name for minors :(.
I will have further information hopefully next week. If you have any
further questions, feel free to call.
73 - N1VUF - Brad - (508) 991-5466
Here is Russ Howard's contact information:
Russ Howard: Account Executive
Voice Mail for Eastern Massachusetts: (508) 354-2277
Voice Mail for Rhode Island: (401) 581-1977
Fax: (401) 722-5975
Leave a msg and he'll call you back ASAP.
Latest Prevailing Winds SKYWARN Newsletter Now Online...
The Prevailing Winds SKYWARN Newsletter, which will be mailed out
to all SKYWARN observers, is now on the NWS Taunton web page as
well as linked in the SKYWARN Section of my homepage.
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 16th-17th timeframe.
Respectfully Submitted,
Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Greater New Bedford 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 #: (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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