Blizzard of 2005 ARES and SKYWARN Operations

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Blizzard of 2005 ARES and SKYWARN Operations

• Rob Macedo, KD1CY
• Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency
  Coordinator
• ARES SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS Taunton,
  Massachusetts

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Blizzard of 2005 Brief Facts Figures

• Top 5 snowstorm in Boston, Massachusetts
  climatological Records with 22.5 of snow.
• Snowfall amounts of 30-38 in isolated locations
  of Southeast Coastal Massachusetts and Cape Cod
  and the Islands.
• General 20-30 snowfall across Eastern
  Massachusetts.
• Hurricane Force Wind Gusts as high as 83 MPH
  recorded across portions of Southeast Coastal
  Massachusetts.
• Moderate Coastal Flooding affected the Eastern
  Massachusetts coast along north and east facing
  beaches.
• General 15-25 snowfall across Rhode Island,
  Central Massachusetts and Southeast New
  Hampshire.
• General 8-15 snowfall across Western
  Massachusetts, Northern Connecticut and Southwest
  New Hampshire.

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Timeline of Events Prior to the Blizzard

• First signs of a pending major event was Tuesday
  Evening.
• GFS Weather Model showed the potential for around
  2 or more of liquid precipitation over Southern
  New England and the Mid Atlantic States.
• Wednesday model run of the GFS backs way off on
  the storm suggesting an offshore solution.
• Other long range European models (ECMWF and
  UKMET) suggested a major event remains likely.
• Uncertainty in the long range on a potential
  major event.
• Potential event leads to monitoring by ARES and
  SKYWARN Coordinators for further info from NWS
  Taunton.

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Timeline of Events Prior to the Blizzard

• NAM model locks on to a potent storm solution at
  84 hours for Southern New England similar to the
  European models.
• GFS model continues to imply a track much further
  south with fringe effects for Southern New
  England.
• NAM model at 48 hours continues a potent system
  and gets even more potent as we get closer to the
  event.
• Winter Storm Watches are posted for Eastern
  Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Northern
  Connecticut, Central and Southwest Massachusetts
  at 438 AM Friday January 21st, 2005.
• First Storm Coordination Message email was sent
  to the 1,000 person email list and an
  alphanumeric page sent to SKYWARN Coordinators to
  review their emails at approximately 8 AM, Friday
  January 21st, 2005.
• The Winter Storm Watch was expanded to include
  Northwest Massachusetts and Southern New
  Hampshire at 1232 PM Friday January 21st, 2005.
• An alphanumeric page was sent to update the
  Winter Storm Watch area.

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Timeline of Events Prior to the Blizzard

• Page received from NWS Taunton, Massachusetts
  Senior Forecaster Joseph Dellicarpini.
• SKYWARN Amateur Radio Operations with ops at NWS
  Taunton were to activate at 4 PM January 22nd,
  2005 and last until the storm ends.
• Preparations for a long duration blizzard
  activation were requested.
• Alphanumeric page sent to SKYWARN Coordinators
  updating the threat for a major
  noreaster/Blizzard scenario.
• Heavy Snow Warning and a rare Blizzard Watch
  issued for Rhode Island, Southeast Massachusetts
  including the Boston Metropolitan area, the North
  Shore of Massachusetts (from Boston north to Cape
  Ann, Massachusetts) as well as Cape Cod and the
  Islands.
• Heavy Snow Warnings issued for Northern
  Connecticut, interior Northeast Massachusetts,
  and the Mass. Pike region of South-Central
  Massachusetts.
• Winter Storm Watch remained in effect for
  Northwest and North-Central Massachusetts and
  Southern New Hampshire.

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Timeline of Events Prior to the Blizzard

• Informed that the Massachusetts State EOC would
  activate at 4 PM ET Saturday January 22nd, 2005
  per local Emergency Management Directors.
• Second Coordination Message sent to the 1,000
  person email list and was titled Blizzard
  Coordination Message due to the increased threat
  of the system.
• Alphanumeric page sent to highlight to all that
  the email had been sent.
• Internal ARES Coordination Message sent to the
  Eastern Massachusetts ARES staff concerning the
  threat from the potential major weather system.
• Good nights sleep obtained after the messages
  were sent. It would be the last good sleep until
  AFTER the blizzard.

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Timeline of Events Prior to the Blizzard

• Wake up next morning to find a Blizzard Warning
  issued for a large portion of the NWS Taunton,
  Massachusetts County Warning Area.
• The Blizzard Warning included Northern
  Connecticut, South Central and most of Eastern
  Massachusetts and all of Rhode Island and is in
  effect through Sunday.
• Heavy Snow Warning posted for Southern New
  Hampshire and Northwest and North Central
  Massachusetts through Sunday.
• Coastal Flood Warning issued for the entire
  Eastern Massachusetts coastline for north and
  east facing beaches.
• Blizzard Coordination email and pages sent out.
  Bags packed to stay overnight at NWS Taunton for
  full operations through the night time hours.
• Left for a meeting that was scheduled at the
  Massachusetts State EOC prior to the blizzard of
  Massachusetts ARES, RACES, SKYWARN and MARS
  leadership prepared to do a briefing on the
  blizzard.

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Timeline of Events Prior to the Blizzard

• Had lunch after the meeting with the
  Massachusetts State RACES Radio Officer, Tom
  Kinahan-N1CPE and Eastern Massachusetts ARRL
  Section Manager and former ARES SEC, Mike
  Neilsen-W1MPN.
• Made one brief stop to top off fuel and headed to
  NWS Taunton for 345 PM, 15 minutes before the
  official start of SKYWARN Net Operations for the
  region.
• SKYWARN Operations begin promptly at 4 PM under
  the NWS Taunton, Massachusetts Call Sign, WX1BOX.

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Net Operations

• 18 local nets were active across the region.
  Breakdown was as follows
• Massachusetts 12 Nets
• Rhode Island 2 Nets
• Northern Connecticut 2 Nets
• Southern New Hampshire 2 Nets
• 3 Regional Command Nets were setup
• New England Network Echo-IRLP Voice Over IP
  system.
• For more information, go to http//www.new-eng.com
  
• Effective in linking anyone in the area with
  Echolink or IRLP capability.
• 53.31-Mount Wachusett, Massachusetts 6 Meter Net
• Effective for liaison to Connecticut and Southern
  New Hampshire as well as most of Massachusetts.
• 3943 KHz 75 Meter Net
• Nets utilized roll calls at different time
  intervals, semi-formal activation and other
  monitoring modes during the course of the
  blizzard.

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Net Operations

• NWS Taunton Ham Station Consists of one 2
  Meter/440 MHz Radio. One HF/6 Meter Radio, One 2
  Meter Radio dedicated to Packet, and a PC capable
  of Internet including Echolink via dial-up.
• Another HF Radio has been donated by Carl
  Aveni-N1FY but cannot be hooked into the station
  due to facility issues at NWS Taunton,
  Massachusetts.
• Limited capability means not all 18 local nets
  can be monitored. Roving of local nets is done
  based on where the most severe events are
  occurring.
• Command Net liaisons are utilized to provide the
  always on liaison monitoring capability. Only
  one that cant be monitored is HF and that will
  change once the additional HF radio is installed.
• If we cant reach the local nets and important
  data needs to reach NWS Taunton,
  liaisons/coordinators are asked to go to the
  command nets to relay information. Diagram on the
  next slide attempts to visually describe it.

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Net Operations
HF Net
New-ENG
6 Meter Net
WX1BOX
Local
Local
Local
Local
Local
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Net Operations

• The next slide shows a picture of the NWS Taunton
  station. This picture was not taken during the
  blizzard. It was taken during SKYWARN Recognition
  Day when forecaster Mike Jackson was talking to
  the New Hampshire State SKYWARN Coordinator via
  Echolink through a repeater.
• Other folks in the picture are Ron Trainor-KC8CEV
  (standing behind Mike Jackson) and Jim
  Palmer-KB1KQW (has the headphones on).

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Stage One of the Blizzard 4 PM-12 AM Saturday
1/22/05

• Storm begins with snowfall rates of 1 per hour
  common.
• Northern Connecticut the first area hit.
• SKYWARN Active on the 146.790-Vernon, CT
  Repeater.
• Contact made via IRLP node to node connection to
  that repeater to pick up reports.
• Arrangements made to have Northern Connecticut
  liaison into the 6 Meter Command Net for the
  duration of the event.
• Rhode Island SKYWARN contacted directly. Reports
  forwarded from their net meeting the 2 snowfall
  criteria.
• Snowfall rates intensify across Eastern
  Massachusetts with 1-2 per hour rates common and
  isolated 3-4 per hour rates occurring.
• The governors of Massachusetts and Rhode Island
  declare a State of Emergency due to the blizzard.

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Stage One of the Blizzard 4 PM-12 AM Saturday
1/22/05

• Reports from Southern New Hampshire came in
  through the 53.31 6-Meter Mount Wachusett
  Repeater.
• Liaison to the Massachusetts State EOC and
  Regional Massachusetts Emergency Management
  Agency HQ also maintained via 6 Meters.
• Reports from North Shore Mass. SKYWARN, South
  Coast Mass. SKYWARN, Rhode Island, Central Mass.
  and other areas came in via the New England
  Network.
• Roving of the various SKYWARN Nets on various
  repeaters also obtained many reports.
• Numerous city and town EOCs were on the air and
  active in addition to the State EOC. (There is no
  county government throughout much of Southern New
  England).
• Reports were all snowfall reports. Winds did not
  intensify during this stage.
• Highest snowfall reports of 8-12 were in
  Northeast/North Central Massachusetts Southeast
  New Hampshire with 4-8 across the rest of the
  region.

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Stage Two of the Blizzard 12 AM-5 AM Sunday
1/22/05

• Despite the overnight hours reports trickled in
  from the region as winds picked up across the
  region and snowfall accumulated rapidly.
• Amounts rapidly increased across Cape Cod and the
  Islands and the South Coast of Massachusetts.
• Snowfall rates as high as 8 in 75 minutes
  occurred!!
• Thunderstorms with heavy snow occurred.
• Amounts went from 4-8 to 12-18 in stage two of
  this event.
• Winds gusted as high as 72 MPH in Barnstable,
  Massachusetts during this timeframe.
• Additional wind gusts of 46-54 MPH occurred
  during this timeframe.

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Stage Three of the Blizzard 5 AM-4 PM Sunday
1/22/05

• The final significant impact from the blizzard.
• Hurricane force wind gusts.
• Significant snowfall rates of 2-3 per hour with
  isolated areas having snowfall amounts of 6-7
  per hour.
• Amounts adjusted to 28-38 across Eastern
  Massachusetts, 20-30 in Rhode Island, 12-22 for
  Nantucket Island and 12 or more across the
  remainder of the area.
• Moderate Coastal Flooding pounds the north and
  east facing shoreline.
• Power Outages grip Southeast Coastal
  Massachusetts and Nantucket Island. 30,000 people
  are without power at the height of the blizzard.
• Snow drifts up to 7 Feet occur across much of
  Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

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Stage Three of the Blizzard 5 AM-4 PM Sunday
1/22/05

• Storm to Hurricane Force Wind Gusts as measured
  by spotters.
• Barnstable, Massachusetts 83 MPH Gust at 150
  Feet Above Sea Level.
• Nantucket, Massachusetts 75 MPH Gust at 905 AM.
• Plymouth, Massachusetts 72 MPH Gust at 945 AM.
• Walpole, Massachusetts 70 MPH Gust at 600 AM.
• New Bedford, Massachusetts 66 MPH Gust at 700
  AM.
• West Island (Fairhaven), Massachusetts 63 MPH
  Gust at 712 AM.
• East Falmouth, Massachusetts Sustained 45 MPH
  with gust to 62 MPH at 905 AM.
• Block Island, Rhode Island 62 MPH Gust at 938
  AM.
• North Kingstown, Rhode Island 60 MPH Gust at
  814 AM.
• Attleboro, Massachusetts 60 MPH Gust at 130 PM.
• Exeter, Rhode Island 59 MPH Gust at 748 AM.
• Lawrence, Massachusetts 57 MPH Gust 515 AM.

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Stage Three of the Blizzard 5 AM-4 PM Sunday
1/22/05

• Storm to Hurricane Force Wind Gusts as measured
  by spotters.
• Wellfleet, Massachusetts 55 MPH gust at 915 AM.
• Manchester-By-The-Sea, Mass. 54 MPH gust at 900
  AM
• Providence, Rhode Island 52 MPH gust at 715 AM.
• Dartmouth, Massachusetts 53 MPH gust at 800 AM.
• Brewster, Massachusetts 52 MPH gust at 700 AM.
• Westerly, Rhode Island 52 MPH gust at 747 AM.
• Mansfield, Massachusetts 50 MPH gust at 736 AM.
• Brockton, Massachusetts 50 MPH gust at 832 AM.

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Stage Three of the Blizzard 5 AM-4 PM Sunday
1/22/05

• Moderate Coastal flooding reported
• Marshfield, Mass. at 8 AM 2 feet of ocean water
  floods the esplanade in the Brant Rock section of
  Marshfield per Amateur Radio report from the town
  EOC.
• Hull, Mass at 840 AM The Gunrock section of
  Atlantic Avenue is closed due to coastal
  flooding. 3-4 feet of water in the road per the
  Metro Boston ARES DEC who is the Hingham Deputy
  Fire Chief and EMA Director.
• Scituate Mass. at 855 AM National Guard
  evacuates homes in the Blaes Road Section of
  Scituate.
• Marshfield, Mass at 955 AM per Amateur Radio
  relayed EOC report Brant Rock area continues
  coastal flooding and Green Harbor areas are now
  into coastal flooding.
• Scituate, Mass. at 10 AM per Amateur Radio
  report.Coastal Flooding of numerous shore roads
  in the Sand Hills Section. Water spread 400-500
  feet inland and was 1-2 feet deep. Evacuations
  continued in the Blaes Road Section of Scituate.

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Stage Three of the Blizzard 5 AM-4 PM Sunday
1/22/05

• Wind/Snow Damage Reports
• Trees and Wires Down reported at 745 and 905 AM
  on Nantucket Island. Entire island of 6,000
  residents lose power, roads impassable.
• Power Outages reported on Cape Cod in the towns
  of Mashpee, South Dennis, East Falmouth,
  Centerville and Osterville, Massachusetts.
• Marshfield, Mass at 945 AM, several poles blown
  down.
• Scituate, Mass. at 1000 AM, Wires Down and a
  tree blown down into a house.
• More damage occurred but Public Safety could not
  even reach the areas of damage.
• There were actually more wind measurement reports
  than damage reports which was very unusual.
• Route 3A in the town of Hingham was closed by
  Mark Duff-KB1EKN as people ventured out into the
  storm and numerous accidents occurred due to
  impassable roads and whiteout conditions. Report
  made CNN News.

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Stage Three of the Blizzard 5 AM-4 PM Sunday
1/22/05

• A sampling of the Highest Snowfall Totals
• Plymouth, Mass. 38
• Sagamore Beach 36
• Eastham on Cape Cod 32
• Beverly, Mass. 32
• Yarmouth on Cape Cod 30
• New Bedford, Mass. 30
• Peabody, Mass. 30
• Saugus, Mass. 30
• Cambridge, Mass. 30
• Weymouth, Mass. 28.5
• Wareham, Mass. 26
• Smithfield, RI 21
• Hollis, NH 19
• Nashua, NH 18.5

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Now for Some Pictures of the Blizzard of 2005

• Youve read the damage reports.
• Youve gone through the presentation.
• But Pictures are worth a thousand words!!
• On to the Pictures!!!

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Final Summary

• Several shelters were open on Cape Cod and the
  Islands and remained open for 3 days after the
  blizzard passed.
• Roughly 6 Amateurs from Cape Cod ARES deployed at
  the shelters and at the Red Cross in Hyannis.
• Amateurs provided communications for Red Cross on
  Cape Cod for close to 48 hours.
• Operations at NWS Taunton, Massachusetts lasted
  24 hours.
• 64 log pages of reports were handled. Each log
  sheet takes 19 reports per sheet so 1,219
  crtiteria related reports were handled via
  Amateur Radio.
• An additional 500 reports were handled via the
  NWS Spotter line and the Internet Web Form.

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For More Information

• Here are a couple of good links to data, pictures
  etc. from the Blizzard of 2005.
• http//www.boston.com/news/weather/blizzard05/
• http//www.erh.noaa.gov/box/snowstormJan22-24.html