SKYWARN Newsletter #28
Hello to all...
SKYWARN Training Update...
SKYWARN Document Revisions...
Cuts in National Center for Environmental Prediction Funding...
Two Storms Cause Problems Across Southern New England This Week...
Minor Changes at the NWS Taunton Ham Station...
Severe Weather Awareness Week Information...
Next Newsletter April 6th, 1997...
***Newsletter issued 3/16/97.
SKYWARN Training Update...
There has been no change in so here is the update from last week's
newsletter.
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 Document Revisions...
I will be adding my new pager number to my listing. I will also
be taking out Clifford Ey, W1SJV's name off the list as he
is no longer a part of NWS Taunton's SKYWARN program. Also,
I have reprogrammed the voice radio and will be changing the
memory listings of the radio so that they match perfectly. The
updated document will be left at NWS Taunton this week, and the
SKYWARN Document will be updated on my web site as well. For those
who do not have internet email or web service, documents will be
provided at the next SKYWARN Meeting, Thursday June 5th.
Cuts in National Center for Environmental Prediction Funding...
SCH UPDATED NEWS...PROPOSED STORM PREDICTION CENTER BUDGET CUTS
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The story
The Storm Chaser Homepage has learned from VERY reliable sources that
the National Center for Environmental Prediction (NCEP)'s budget has
been cut rather badly, and the PROPOSAL being pushed through NCEP,
with the final decision now pending, states that the Storm Prediction
Center (SPC)---a branch of NCEP---which issues tornado and severe
thunderstorm watches, updates to same, as well as guidance for
spotters and emergency management personnel and the public, will be
instructed to do the following:
1. The current plan is to cut 2 SPC GS-13 level severe weather
forecasters. They would be re-assigned to other National Weather
Services offices in positions yet to be determined.
2. The proposed SPC response to these staffing losses are as follows:
a) No GS-14 Lead Forecaster coverage for midnight shifts during CST
(generally October through roughly Easter). The only SPC presence
overnight would be a GS-12 Hazardous Weather Update meteorologist, who
could call in a lead forecaster (if that would even be possible). This
would directly and severely impact the watch program for the overnight
hours during the cooler months of the year, when climatology indicates
a substantial risk of strong/killer tornadoes in the southern United
States.
b) No more midnight shifts by the GS-13 Mesoscale Meteorologists year
round, resulting in the loss of all Weather Watch Status Reports
(updates to determine what part of a watch is to be cancelled, or if
it will be expanded or extended and why), Mesoscale Discussions (1-3
hour forecasts of where severe weather may break out), and Convective
"Severe Weather" Outlooks (seen on TV, heard on NOAA weather and
comercial radio stations) during the overnight hours (12AM to 8AM
Central Time). These cuts would substantially reduce the flow of
important information to NWS field offices, local emergency managers,
and the media.
c) Specific products directly affected: limited (or no) severe
thunderstorm/tornado watches from 12AM-8AM CT, no more midnight CT
"day 1" (today's severe weather) outlook or 2 AM CT "day 2"
(tomorrow's severe weather) outlook, no more Mesoscale Discussions or
Weather Watch Status Reports from 12AM-8AM CT.
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There is no question that if these position cuts and product changes
are implemented, the National Weather Service Watch and Outlook
programs will suffer noticeably, as will local NWS offices, spotter
organizations, and (in the end) the general public.
Weather forecasters aware of the situation are understandably abhorred
by this development. A morning severe weather outlook routinely
available via NOAA weather radio, seen as a "Special Weather
Statement" on The Weather Channel and other media outlets in the
morning, which is derived from the Day 1 outlook, is no doubt in grave
jeopardy under this proposal. This outlook is used by ham radio
operators, emergency management officials and others to decide early
whether or not the day will be a "severe weather day", and thus gives
coordinators lead time to organize before the severe weather event
strikes. Storm chasers use the SPC information to supplement their
forecasts, and to catch anything they may have missed. However, the
ultimate loser are the tens of millions of people in the Great Lakes,
Midwest, Plains and eastern United States regions, who lose out on
hazardous weather information for overnight and morning severe
thunderstorm events through the rush hour commute, and the National
Weather Service local offices, who miss out on guidance from the best
severe weather forecasters in the country.
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WHAT TO DO?
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People are already asking how this can be stopped before it even gets
through. The only way to prevent this from happening, as is almost
always the case, WRITE your local Congressperson and tell him or her
politely, but firmly, that the Storm Prediction Center MUST be fully
staffed 24 hours a day, all year long, and that SPC MUST be fully
funded to ensure full protection of the public from severe weather
events and episodes at all times. As one forecaster said: "These
people are the keepers of the gates of hell. Remove the keepers, and
the gates swing wide open. If that happens...it will be downright
ugly. Why this may be happening after all the progress we have made to
keep the public relatively safe from severe weather is absolutely
beyond me."
Two Storms Cause Problems Across Southern New England This Week...
Two storms caused headaches for travellers during the past week:
Monday March 10th, 1997: 2-4 Inches of snow with higher amounts in
interior Eastern Massachusetts snarled traffic, and caused many
fender benders during the morning commute. Snowfall totals in
the Bellingham to Hopkinton area were the highest with 4-6 inches
reported.
Friday March 14th, 1997: Heavy snow hit northwestern portions of
Southern New England with 5-7 inches of snow. Meantime, in Eastern
portions of New England, sleet and freezing rain fell causing
treacherous roadways. Sporadic power outages were reported in
portions of the hills of Northern Connecticut. Also, winds kicked
up in Southeastern portions of Massachusetts. Scott, KE1CN, reported
that his neighbor's wind instrument was blown down as winds gusted
to 67 MPH at his location in Onset.
Severe Weather Awareness Week Information...
Severe Weather Awareness Week is coming soon for the region. I will
be posting the public information statements that come out daily
on the email list, separate from the SKYWARN Newsletter. Many people
find these statements informative. I also will attempt to post these
statements via packet as well.
Minor Changes at the NWS Taunton Ham Station...
As stated previously, I made changes to the voice radio's memory
programming and I have also provided twenty copies of two different
Reporting forms, with a third giving all the detailed observations
that we use on our weather net here in the South Coast during this
week.
Next Newsletter April 6th, 1997...
Its that time of year again, End of Quarter at work, and that means
10-12 hour shifts for the next two weeks, luckily all the same shift.
Therefore, the next SKYWARN Newsletter will not be until April 6,1997,
Comments, Questions, and Suggestions are always welcome.
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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