[BARC-List] Amateur Radio Field Day Weather Coordination Message #1

[Paul J Olivieri]

Hello everyone,
Below I am forwarding a message about the extremely hot weather expected
for Field Day.

At the BARC Field Day site we will have a tight power budget so only
SMALL tabletop fans will be welcome to try to keep operators cool.

Also please note that we will try again this year to operate radios from
a 12 volt power bus to keep things
from crashing when the generator needs refueling.  Anyone bringing a
radio for use at Field Day,either 
club owned or personal, should please be sure to bring the 12 volt power
cord.

Thank you  and 73.

Paul Olivieri
N1ZKR

--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "SkyWarn Announcement List" 
Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2005 07:26:01 -0400
Subject: Amateur Radio Field Day Weather Coordination Message #1


Hello to all.....

.....The following is the first in a series of weather coordination
messages
for Amateur Radio Field Day. For Non-Amateurs, a description of Amateur
Radio Field Day is in the first paragraph of this coordination
message....
.....Intense Heat and Humidity is expected this weekend for Amateur Radio
Field Day over most of Southern New England. Heat indices could rise to
around the 100 degree range with high temperatures well into the 90's.
Amateurs are urged to use extreme caution in the heat and drink plenty of
liquids during the setup and take down of equipment this weekend and
while
operating in the field....
.....With the intense heat and humidity and the potential for a weak cold
front to enter the atmosphere, scattered thunderstorms will also be
possible. It is very uncertain this far out to determine the convective
potential but at least garden variety thunderstorms with lightning could
pose a threat to Field Day sites and the Storm Prediction Center has
highlighted the potential for isolated severe weather in their Day-3
convective outlook for Saturday into Sunday Morning....
.....Amateurs are urged to follow safety instructions for lightning and
for
severe thunderstorms should they occur during Field Day. SKYWARN
Coordinators will guard Field Day sites from significant weather this
weekend and monitor local SKYWARN repeaters to provide support and
coordination if thunderstorms threaten. A lower threshold for NWS Taunton
Ham Operations will be utilized this weekend to support this endeavor and
Ops at the SEMARA Club Station, W1AEC could also be utilized pending the
timeframe and area affected by any thunderstorm threat...

For the non-Amateur Radio Operators on the email list, Amateur Radio
Field
Day occurs on the 4th weekend of June every year and is a time where
local
Amateur Radio Clubs and individual Amateurs across the United States set
up
Amateur Radio stations across the region and work other Amateurs in a 24
hour contest that practices some radio operator skills, practices setup
of
Amateur Equipment in the field at various locations for the Amateurs who
elect to setup equipment versus operating their home or pre-installed
club
stations and is an overall fun event that Amateurs enjoy. The field
stations
put on by Amateur Radio Clubs and other groups allows the public to see
Amateur Radio Operators perform their duties in a fun atmosphere. Any
non-Amateurs in Eastern Massachusetts and Connecticut, that are
interested
in visiting the various Field Day sites can see a map of the sites that
are
open to the public via the following links:
http://ema.arrl.org/fd/fd_dir.php
http://www.arrl.org/sections/CT.html#FDAY

Non Amateurs in Rhode Island and New Hampshire that are interested in
visiting Field Day sites that may be open to the public can check for
Field
Day listings at individual clubs listed on the following ARRL links:
http://www.ri.arrl.org/
http://www.arrl.nhradio.org/contents.html

This weekend will be featuring a very hot and humid atmosphere that will
continue through the early and middle part of next week. Temperatures on
Friday, where some Field Day stations will be setting up will soar
through
the 80's to near 90 degrees with low temperatures Friday Night in the
60's.
On Saturday, temperatures are expected to soar into the 90's with even
more
humidity. Heat indices are expected to rise to near 100 degrees with the
increased humidity. Low temperatures Saturday Night may only fall into
the
mid 70's Saturday Night with highs on Sunday while possibly slightly
cooler
still reaching the mid 80's to low 90's across the region at a minimum.
The
only area that may escape the heat and humidity to some extent will be
South
Coastal Massachusetts and Rhode Island where southwest winds off the
ocean
may keep temperatures in the 80's. The Southwest flow will get modified
inland and not cool off this very hot and humid air mass. This heat and
humidity can pose significant stress on Amateurs working in the field to
setup and operate their stations. NWS Taunton has issued a Special
Weather
Statement concerning the threat that such heat and humidity can cause.
That
statement is listed in this coordination message. Please remember to
drink
plenty of liquids and remember the dangers that the heat can pose. The
National Weather Service has information dedicated to the dangers of
intense
heat and humidity. Those links are listed below:

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/heat/index.shtml
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/pub/heat.php
http://weather.gov/os/uv/

In addition to the heat, a weak cold front may push into the region some
time late Saturday and into Sunday. With such an unstable atmosphere in
place, it will not take much to get thunderstorm activity to fire in the
region. Thunderstorms are a significant safety threat to Field Day sites.
Non-severe thunderstorms with intense, cloud-to-ground lightning could
cause
significant impact to Field Day sites particularly those in open fields
where the highest point on that open field could be the antennas that are
setup for Field Day. It is important to exercise extreme caution should
thunderstorms be in the area. If there is enough time, bring down the
antennas to avoid damage, if there is not enough time for that, get away
from the antennas and equipment and try to sufficiently cover radio gear
from the elements and move away from the site into your vehicles, a
building
or sufficient structure until the weather has passed. If thunderstorms
were
to reach near or above severe limits, strong winds can pose a significant
threat to any outdoor Field Day site and may also bring large hail as
well.
Take all thunderstorm risks seriously if you are out in the field. Don't
become a victim of lightning or if a thunderstorm were to reach severe
limits, a victim of the strong winds and large hail that a severe
thunderstorm could also produce. The Storm Prediction Center has
indicated a
5% risk of severe weather for much of the region. This essentially means
a
risk for isolated severe thunderstorms across a large portion of Southern
New England away from coastal locations with the chance for garden
variety
thunderstorms and their lightning risk. The SPC Convective Outlook has
also
been posted as part of this coordination message.

As has happened in year's past, Field Day is occurring near the time of
the
National Weather Service's Lightning Safety Awareness Week. A link to the
NWS web site dedicated to the hazards of lightning is listed below:
http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/

In addition, Eastern Massachusetts ARRL has posted some of the safety
messages from Field Day to the web and that information can be seen at
the
following link:
http://ema.arrl.org/fd/Safety.html

In addition, NWS Taunton has posted several Public Information Statements
on
the threat lightning poses and will post one to two more statements
between
today and Friday. Those statements are also listed as part of this
coordination message.

Another update on Field Day Weather will be posted either tonight or
tomorrow morning. Below is the Special Weather Statement from NWS Taunton
concerning the heat and humidity, the Hazardous Weather Outlook, the SPC
Day-3 Convective Outlook and Public Information Statements concerning
lightning for Lightning Safety Awareness Week:

WWUS81 KBOX 230817
SPSBOX

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
356 AM EDT THU JUN 23 2005

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>019-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001-002-232100-
CENTRAL MIDDLESEX COUNTY MA-CHESHIRE NH-EASTERN ESSEX MA-
EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-
HARTFORD CT-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-
NORTHWEST MIDDLESEX COUNTY MA-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-
SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-
SUFFOLK MA-TOLLAND CT-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-
WESTERN ESSEX MA-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-
WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-
WINDHAM CT-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...AMHERST...ATTLEBOROUGH...BEVERLY...
BOSTON...BRISTOL...BROCKTON...BROOKLINE...CAMBRIDGE...CHICOPEE...
EAST HARTFORD...FITCHBURG...FRAMINGHAM...FRANKLIN...GLOUCESTER...
GREENFIELD...HARTFORD...JAFFREY...KEENE...LAWRENCE...LEOMINSTER...
LOWELL...LYNN...MANCHESTER...MANSFIELD...MILFORD...NASHUA...
NEW BRITAIN...NEWBURYPORT...NEWINGTON...NEWTON...
NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH...NORTHAMPTON...PLAINFIELD...PLYMOUTH...
PROVIDENCE...PUTNAM...QUINCY...SOMERVILLE...SPRINGFIELD...TAUNTON...
VERNON...WALTHAM...WEST HARTFORD...WEYMOUTH...WILLIMANTIC...
WINDSOR LOCKS...WOONSOCKET AND WORCESTER
356 AM EDT THU JUN 23 2005

...HEAT INDICES ARE EXPECTED TO BE NEAR 100 DEGREES SATURDAY
AFTERNOON...

A STRONG BERMUDA HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL BRING A HOT AND HUMID
AIRMASS INTO THE REGION ON SATURDAY. MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES SHOULD RESULT
IN HIGH TEMPERATURES RISING INTO THE MID 90S AWAY FROM THE SOUTH
COAST SATURDAY. SURFACE DEWPOINTS ARE EXPECTED TO CLIMB INTO THE
UPPER 60S...TO NEAR 70 DEGREES. THIS WILL RESULT IN HEAT INDEX VALUES
OF NEAR 100 DEGREES SATURDAY AFTERNOON MAKING IT FEEL VERY
UNCOMFORTABLE OUTSIDE.

IF YOU PLAN TO BE OUTSIDE ON SATURDAY...AVOID PROLONGED EXPOSURE OR
STRENUOUS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. YOUR BODY CAN LOSE UP TO A GALLON OF
WATER AN HOUR THROUGH PERSPIRATION. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS TO AVOID
DEHYDRATION. ALCOHOLIC AND CAFFEINATED BEVERAGES CAN INCREASE THE
RATE OF WATER LOSS IN YOUR BODY...INCREASING THE RISK OF HEAT
EXHAUSTION OR STROKE.

$$

FRANK


FLUS41 KBOX 230844
HWOBOX

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
444 AM EDT THU JUN 23 2005

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-240930-
BARNSTABLE MA-BLOCK ISLAND RI-BRISTOL RI-CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-
CHESHIRE NH-DUKES MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-
EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-
EASTERN KENT RI-EASTERN NORFOLK MA-EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-HARTFORD CT-
NANTUCKET MA-NEWPORT RI-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-
NORTHWEST MIDDLESEX MA-NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-
SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-
SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-SUFFOLK MA-TOLLAND CT-
WASHINGTON RI-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-WESTERN ESSEX MA-
WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
WESTERN KENT RI-WESTERN NORFOLK MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA-WINDHAM CT-
444 AM EDT THU JUN 23 2005

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWEST NEW HAMPSHIRE...
MASSACHUSETTS EAST OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY...NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST
CONNECTICUT...AND ALL OF RHODE ISLAND.

.DAY ONE (TODAY AND TONIGHT)...
NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN (THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY)...
HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO SOAR INTO THE MID 90S ON SATURDAY
AWAY FROM THE SOUTH COAST....CAPE AND ISLANDS. THIS WILL COMBINE
WITH HIGH DEWPOINTS TO RESULT IN VERY UNCOMFORTABLE HEAT INDEX VALUES
OF AROUND 100 DEGREES SATURDAY AFTERNOON. THIS IS A POTENTIAL
DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ANYONE PARTICIPATING IN STRENUOUS OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES...AS WELL AS YOUNG CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY. A SPECIAL
WEATHER STATEMENT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS CONCERN.

A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE REGION AND PROBABLY STALL SOMEWHERE
OVER OUR AREA SATURDAY NIGHT OR SUNDAY. THIS WILL BRING THE CHANCE
FOR SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.

.SPOTTER CALL TO ACTION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH FRIDAY.

$$

FRANK

SPC AC 230736

   DAY 3 CONVECTIVE OUTLOOK
   NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
   0236 AM CDT THU JUN 23 2005

   VALID 251200Z - 261200Z

   ...THERE IS A SLGT RISK OF SVR TSTMS SAT/SAT NIGHT ACROSS THE NRN
   PLAINS....

   CLOSED MID-LEVEL CIRCULATION ALREADY APPEARS TO BE DEVELOPING OFF
   THE CALIFORNIA COAST...AS SOUTHERN STREAM JET NOSES ACROSS THE LOWER
   LATITUDE EASTERN PACIFIC...TOWARD SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA/NORTHERN BAJA.
    MODELS SUGGEST LOW/UPPER TROUGH WILL SLOWLY DEVELOP INLAND ACROSS
   THE CALIFORNIA COAST BY THE FIRST PART OF THE WEEKEND. THIS IS
   FORECAST TO OCCUR AS ANOTHER SHORT WAVE TROUGH DIGS OUT OF THE
   NORTHEAST PACIFIC.  NORTHERN FEATURE IS PROGGED THROUGH SOUTHERN
   BRITISH COLUMBIA/ALBERTA BY 12Z SATURDAY...BEFORE LIFTING
   NORTHEASTWARD. BUT...TROUGHING WILL CONTINUE TO SHARPEN
   UPSTREAM...AS STRONG UPPER JET NOSES AROUND PERIPHERY OF NORTHEAST
   PACIFIC RIDGE...TOWARD THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST.

   TO THE EAST...MODELS SUGGEST RIDGING WILL AMPLIFY ALONG THE CENTRAL
   CANADIAN/U.S. BORDER...WHILE VIGOROUS DOWNSTREAM SHORT WAVE TROUGH
   PROGRESSES ACROSS EASTERN QUEBEC AND THE CANADIAN MARITIMES.
   ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT SURFACE FRONT WILL ADVANCE THROUGH PARTS OF THE
   ST. LAWRENCE VALLEY AND NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND...BUT NOT MUCH FARTHER
   AS UPPER RIDGING REMAINS FIRM ALONG AN EAST-WEST AXIS FROM THE MID
   MISSISSIPPI VALLEY THROUGH NORTHERN MID ATLANTIC COASTAL AREAS.  IN
   EASTERLIES TO THE SOUTH...A SIGNIFICANT WAVE IS FORECAST TO SLOWLY
   PROGRESS WESTWARD ACROSS FLORIDA AND PARTS OF THE SOUTHEAST.

     ...LOWER GREAT LAKES INTO NEW ENGLAND...
   STRONGER MID/UPPER FORCING WILL REMAIN WELL TO THE NORTH OF THIS
   REGION.  HOWEVER...IT SEEMS CAPPING MAY BECOME SUFFICIENTLY WEAK TO
   ALLOW SCATTERED CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT ALONG TRAILING LOW-LEVEL
   CONFLUENCE AXIS ACROSS NEW ENGLAND INTO THE LEE OF THE LOWER GREAT
   LAKES. THIS SHOULD MOSTLY OCCUR LATE SATURDAY AFTERNOON/EARLY
   SATURDAY EVENING...WHEN MIXED LAYER CAPE OF 1000 TO 2000 J/KG WILL
   CONTRIBUTE TO FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR VIGOROUS STORMS.  LOCALIZED
   WIND/HAIL EVENTS ARE POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY FROM THE HUDSON/CHAMPLAIN
   VALLEY INTO NEW ENGLAND...WHERE FLOW/SHEAR WILL BE A BIT BETTER.

     ..KERR.. 06/23/2005

   ...NOTICE...
   THE STATION RELATIVE POINTS IN THIS PRODUCT ARE NOW AVAILABLE
   SEPARATELY UNDER THE WMO HEADINGS WUUS01 PTSDY1...
   WUUS02 PTSDY2...WUUS03 PTSDY3.  THE INCLUSION OF POINTS
   IN THIS DISCUSSION WILL BE DISCONTINUED AFTER THE 2005
   CONVECTIVE SEASON.  A PUBLIC NOTIFICATION STATEMENT (PNS)
   WILL PROVIDE DETAILS ON THE TRANSITION.

   NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 3 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 1100Z

NOUS41 KBOX 221712
PNSBOX

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
110 PM EDT WED JUN 22 2005

...NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY PREPAREDNESS WEEK...
...PART THREE - MEDICAL ASPECTS OF LIGHTNING...

THE UNITED STATES AVERAGES 73 REPORTED LIGHTNING DEATHS PER
YEAR...WHICH MAKES IT THE SECOND LARGEST STORM RELATED
KILLER...EXCEEDED ONLY BY FLASH FLOODS.  A LIGHTNING STRIKE CAN
RESULT IN CARDIAC ARREST AT THE TIME OF THE INJURY...BUT SOME DEATHS
CAN OCCUR A FEW DAYS LATER IF THE PERSON IS RESUSCITATED BUT
SUFFERED IRREVERSIBLE BRAIN DAMAGE.  BECAUSE THIS MAY OCCUR DAYS
LATER...THE NEWS STORY MAY NOT MAKE THE NEWSPAPER OR OTHER MEDIA
OUTLETS.  THUS...THERE IS AN UNDER REPORTING OF INJURIES AND DEATHS
FROM LIGHTNING.  THE FIGURES MORE REALISTICALLY ARE ABOUT 100 DEATHS
PER YEAR NATIONWIDE.

HOW DO LIGHTNING INJURIES AFFECT PEOPLE?  LIGHTNING TENDS TO BE A
NERVOUS SYSTEM INJURY AND MAY AFFECT THE BRAIN AND BOTH AUTONOMIC
AND PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEMS.  WHEN THE BRAIN IS AFFECTED...THE
PERSON OFTEN HAS DIFFICULTY WITH SHORT-TERM MEMORY...MULTI-TASKING...
AND CAN BE IRRITABLE...EASILY DISTRACTED...AND HAVE A PERSONALITY
CHANGE.  SURVIVORS INITIALLY MAY COMPLAIN OF INTENSE HEADACHES...
RINGING IN THE EARS...DIZZINESS...NAUSEA...VOMITING...OR OTHER
POST-CONCUSSION TYPES OF SYMPTOMS.  IRREGULAR SLEEP PATTERNS MAY
OCCUR.  SEIZURE-LIKE ACTIVITY MAY OCCUR WEEKS TO MONTHS AFTER THE
INJURY.

PEOPLE WHO WAKE UP AFTER THE INJURY OFTEN DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO
EXPRESS WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEM AND MAY BECOME EMBARRASSED WHEN THEY
CANNOT CARRY ON A CONVERSATION.  AS A RESULT THEY MAY ISOLATE
THEMSELVES AND BECOME EASY TO ANGER.  DEPRESSION BECOMES A BIG
PROBLEM.  SURVIVORS OFTEN BECOME EXHAUSTED AFTER ONLY A FEW HOURS OF
WORK AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETE ALL REQUIRED JOB TASKS.

ANOTHER COMMON...OFTEN DELAYED...PROBLEM FOR SOME SURVIVORS IS
INTENSE PAIN.  THE PAIN MAY NOT BE FROM HEADACHES BUT IN THE
BACK...PERHAPS FROM COMPRESSION AND DISC INJURY FROM THE INTENSE
MUSCLE CONTRACTIONS WHICH MAY THROW A PERSON SEVERAL YARDS AT THE
TIME OF THE INJURY.  THE PAIN MAY ALSO OCCUR IN AN EXTREMITY...AS
NERVES BEGIN TO SLOWLY REGENERATE.  DECREASED LIBIDO AND IMPOTENCE
OFTEN ARE REPORTED.

ANATOMIC TESTING...SUCH AS AN X-RAY...CT SCAN...MRI...OR BLOOD TEST
OFTEN SHOW UP AS NORMAL.  SOMETIMES FUNCTIONAL TESTS ORDERED ARE
TESTING THE WRONG THING.  AN ELECTROMYOGRAM...OR EMG...MEASURES ONLY
THE MOTOR FIBERS...WHICH ARE SELDOM AFFECTED BY LIGHTNING INJURY.
SMALLER PAIN CARRYING NERVE FIBERS ARE NOT TESTED BY EMG.  THUS A
NORMAL EMG RESULT CAN MEAN LITTLE FOR SOMEONE WITH PAIN.  LIKEWISE...
THE STANDARD EEG PRIMARILY MEASURES SURFACE READINGS OF THE BRAIN
AND MISSES SEIZURE ACTIVITY IN SEVERAL DEEPER REGIONS.

MORE USEFUL IS A FUNCTIONAL TEST OF HOW A PERSON/S BRAIN IS
WORKING...NEUROCOGNITIVE OR NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING.  THESE TESTS
ARE ADMINISTERED BY A NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST FAMILIAR WITH LITERATURE IN
THIS AREA...NOT BY A PSYCHIATRIST.  THESE ARE PEN AND PAPER TESTS
LASTING 6 TO 8 HOURS AND TEST MEMORY...IQ...ORGANIZATIONAL ABILITY...
ETC.  LIGHTNING STRIKE SURVIVORS USUALLY HAVE A CHARACTERISTIC
PATTERN OF DEFICITS.

HELP DOES EXIST FOR LIGHTNING STRIKE SURVIVORS AND PHYSICIANS
ALIKE.  FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE WEB...GO TO
WWW.LIGHTNING-STRIKE.ORG OR CALL 1-910-346-4708.

$$
FIELD

NOUS41 KBOX 211540
PNSBOX

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1140 AM EDT TUE JUN 21 2005

...NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY PREPAREDNESS WEEK...
...PART TWO - THE SCIENCE OF A LIGHTNING STRIKE...

AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT THERE ARE 1800 THUNDERSTORMS IN PROGRESS
SOMEHWERE ON THE EARTH...WHICH AMOUNTS TO 16 MILLION THUNDERSTORMS
EACH YEAR!  LIGHTNING RESEARCHERS HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING TODAY
OF THE PROCESS THAT PRODUCES LIGHTNING...BUT THERE IS STILL MUCH TO
LEARN ABOUT THE ROLE OF SOLAR FLARES IN THE UPPER ATMOSPHERE...THE
EARTH/S ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD...AND ICE IN STORMS.  WE KNOW THE
CLOUD CONDITIONS NEEDED TO PRODUCE LIGHTNING BUT CANNOT FORECAST THE
LOCATION OR TIME OF THE NEXT STROKE OF LIGHTNING.

LIGHTNING OCCURS IN VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS...INTENSE FOREST FIRES...
SURFACE NUCLEAR DETONATIONS...HEAVY SNOWSTORMS...AND LARGE
HURRICANES...BUT IT IS MOST OFTEN SEEN IN THUNDERSTORMS.
THUNDERSTORMS FORM IN AIR THAT IS MOIST...UNSTABLE...AND HAS A
TRIGGER THAT CAUSES THE AIR TO RISE...SUCH AS A COLD FRONT.  RISING
MOTIONS IN THE STORM BUILD THE CLOUD TO AS HIGH AS 6 TO 10 MILES
ABOVE SEA LEVEL.  ICE FORMS IN THE HIGHER PARTS OF THE CLOUD.

THE ICE PARTICLES VARY FROM SMALL ICE CRYSTALS TO LARGE HAILSTONES.
THERE ARE A LOT OF COLLISIONS BETWEEN THE PARTICLES WHICH CAUSES A
SEPARATION OF ELECTRICAL CHARGES.  POSITIVELY CHARGED ICE CRYSTALS
RISE TO THE TOP OF THE STORM AND NEGATIVELY CHARGED PARTICLES AND
HAILSTONES DROP TO THE MIDDLE AND LOWER PARTS OF THE STORM.
ENORMOUS CHARGE DIFFERENCES DEVELOP.

A MOVING THUNDERSTORM GATHERS ANOTHER POOL OF POSITIVELY CHARGED
PARTICLES ALONG THE GROUND THAT TRAVEL WITH THE STORM.  POSITIVELY
CHARGED PARTICLES RISE UP TALLER OBJECTS SUCH AS TREES...HOUSES...
AND TELEPHONE POLES.  THE PARTICLES CAN EVEN MOVE UP YOU...HAVE YOU
EVER BEEN UNDER A THUNDERSTORM AND HAD YOUR HAIR STAND UP? IF SO...
YOU MAY BE THE LIGHTNING TARGET.

THE NEGATIVELY CHARGED AREA IN THE STORM SENDS OUT A CHARGE TOWARD
THE GROUND CALLED A STEPPED LEADER.  IT IS INVISIBLE TO THE HUMAN
EYE.  WHEN IT GETS CLOSE TO THE GROUND...IT IS ATTRACTED BY ALL OF
THESE POSITIVELY CHARGED OBJECTS AND A CHANNEL DEVELOPS.  YOU SEE
THE ELECTRICAL TRANSFER IN THIS CHANNEL AS LIGHTNING.  THERE MAY BE
SEVERAL RETURN STROKES OF ELECTRICITY WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED CHANNEL
THAT YOU WILL SEE AS FLICKERING LIGHTNING.  THE LIGHTNING CHANNEL
HEATS RAPIDLY TO 30,000 DEGREES OR MORE AND THE RAPID EXPANSION OF
HEATED AIR CAUSES THE THUNDER.  SINCE LIGHT TRAVELS FASTER THAN
SOUND IN THE ATMOSPHERE...THE SOUND IS HEARD AFTER THE LIGHTNING.
IF YOU SEE LIGHTNING AND HEAR THUNDER AT ALMOST THE SAME TIME...THE
LIGHTNING IS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!

NOT ALL LIGHTNING FORMS IN THE NEGATIVELY CHARGED AREA LOW IN THE
THUNDERSTORM CLOUD.  SOME ORIGINATES IN THE CIRRUS ANVIL AT THE TOP
OF THE STORM WHERE THERE IS A LARGE POSITIVE CHARGE.  A STRIKE
ORIGINATING IN THIS AREA IS CALLED A POSITIVE FLASH.  IT IS
PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS FOR SEVERAL REASONS.  IT FREQUENTLY STRIKES
AHEAD OF OR BEHIND A THUNDERSTORM...AWAY FROM THE RAIN AREA...THUS
CATCHING PEOPLE BY SURPRISE...LIKE A BOLT FROM THE BLUE.  POSITIVE
STRIKES TYPICALLY LAST LONGER...SO FIRES ARE MORE EASILY IGNITED.
ALSO...THEY USUALLY CARRY A HIGH PEAK ELECTRICAL CURRENT WHICH
INCREASES THE LIGHTNING RISK TO AN INDIVIDUAL.

$$
FIELD

NOUS41 KBOX 201402
PNSBOX

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1000 AM EDT MON JUN 20 2005

...NATIONAL LIGHTNING SAFETY PREPAREDNESS WEEK...
...PART ONE - LIGHTNING SAFETY OUTDOORS...

EACH YEAR...ABOUT 400 CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING WHILE WORKING OUTSIDE...AT SPORTS EVENTS...ON
THE BEACH...MOUNTAIN CLIMBING...MOWING THE LAWN...OR DURING OTHER
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES.  ABOUT 80 PEOPLE ARE KILLED AND SEVERAL HUNDRED
MORE ARE LEFT TO COPE WITH PERMANENT DISABILITIES.  MANY OF THESE
TRAGEDIES CAN BE AVOIDED.  FINISHING THE GAME...GETTING A TAN...OR
COMPLETING A WORK SHIFT ARE NOT WORTH DEATH OR CRIPPLING INJURY.

LIGHTNING OFTEN STRIKES AS MUCH AS 20 MILES AWAY FROM ANY RAINFALL.
THERE HAS EVEN BEEN A DOCUMENTED CASE OF LIGHTNING STRIKING 34 MILES
AWAY FROM THE RAIN IN THE THUNDERSTORM.  AT LEAST 10 PERCENT OF
LIGHTNING OCCURS WITHOUT ANY VISIBLE CLOUDS IN THE SKY...JUST BLUE
SKY.  MANY OF LIGHTNING FATALITIES OCCUR AHEAD OF THE STORM BECAUSE
PEOPLE TRY AND WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE BEFORE SEEKING SHELTER.
YOU ARE IN DANGER IF YOU CAN HEAR THUNDER.  THAT MEANS LIGHTNING IS
CLOSE ENOUGH THAT IT COULD STRIKE YOUR LOCATION AT ANY MOMENT.

ON AVERAGE...20 PERCENT OF LIGHTNING STRIKE VICTIMS DIE...80 PERCENT
SURVIVE BUT 70 PERCENT OF THEM SUFFER SERIOUS LONG-TERM EFFECTS.

HERE ARE SOME LIGHTNING SAFETY RULES.

1. POSTPONE ACTIVITIES PROMPTLY AND DO NOT WAIT FOR THE RAIN.  GO
QUICKLY INSIDE A COMPLETELY ENCLOSED BUILDING...NOT A CARPORT...OPEN
GARAGE...OR COVERED PATIO.  IF NO ENCLOSED BUILDING IS AVAILABLE...
GET INSIDE A HARD-TOPPED METAL VEHICLE.  THE STEEL FRAME OF THE
VEHICLE PROVIDES PROTECTION IF YOU ARE NOT TOUCHING METAL.

2. BE THE LOWEST POINT.  LIGHTNING LIKES TO STRIKE THE TALLEST
OBJECTS.  IF HIKING IN THE MOUNTAINS AND ABOVE THE TREE LINE...YOU
ARE THE TALLEST OBJECT.  QUICKLY GET BELOW TREE LINE AND GET INTO A
GROVE OF SMALL TREES.  ASIDE FROM THIS SITUATION HOWEVER...YOU
SHOULD AVOID TREES.  IF YOU ARE IN AN OPEN FIELD...LIKE A FARM OR A
BASEBALL OR SOCCER FIELD...YOU ARE THE TALLEST OBJECT.  DUGOUTS OR
GAZEBOS AFFORD LITTLE PROTECTION.  IF YOU CANNOT GET TO AN ENCLOSED
BUILDING OR VEHICLE...CROUCH DOWN ON THE BALLS OF YOUR FEET.

3. KEEP AN EYE TO THE SKY FOR DARKENING CLOUDS AND LISTEN FOR
THUNDER. IF YOU CAN HEAR IT...GO TO A SAFE SHELTER IMMEDIATELY.

4. GET OFF OF BICYCLES AND MOTORCYCLES.  DO NOT LEAN ON VEHICLES.

5. WATER IS A GREAT CONDUCTOR OF ELECTRICITY.  GET OUT OF THE WATER
IF BOATING OR SWIMMING.  GET OFF THE BEACH.  DO NOT STAND IN
PUDDLES...EVEN IF WEARING RUBBER BOOTS.

6. AVOID METAL. DO NOT HOLD GOLF CLUBS...FISHING RODS...TENNIS
RACQUETS...OR TOOLS.  LARGE METAL OBJECTS CAN CONDUCT LIGHTNING.
SMALL METAL OBJECTS...SUCH AS BELT BUCKLES...CAN CAUSE BURNS.

7. STAY SEVERAL YARDS AWAY FROM OTHER PEOPLE.  DO NOT SHARE A
BLEACHER OR BENCH OR HUDDLE IN A GROUP.

8. LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO.  FIRST TO FIND OUT IF THUNDERSTORMS
ARE IN THE FORECAST.  NEXT...LISTEN TO HEAR ANY SHORT TERM FORECASTS
ABOUT THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY.  ALSO...LISTEN TO HEAR IF THE WARNING
ALARM TONE HAS BEEN ACTIVATED FOR SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN YOUR
AREA...WHICH PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS AND LARGE HAIL IN ADDITION TO
LIGHTNING STRIKES.

MORE DETAILED INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT
WWW.LIGHTNINGSAFETY.NOAA.GOV .

$$

GAF

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Macedo (KD1CY)
ARES SKYWARN Coordinator
Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator
Pager #: (508) 354-3142
Home Phone #: (508) 994-1875 (After 6 PM)
Home/Data #: (508) 997-4503 (After 6 PM)
Work Phone #: 508-346-2929 (8 AM-5 PM)
Email Address: rmacedo at rcn.com
http://users.rcn.com/rmacedo