As Hurricane Kyle brushed its way across Eastern New England region on its way to the Canadian Maritimes, hams in the area were prepared for impact. Heavy rain associated with a stalled out boundary, as well as some influence from Kyle, caused heavy rainfall and flooding in the region.

"We were lucky to have a 12-18 hour lull in rainfall between the rain on Friday and what came on Saturday," said Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net and SKYWARN Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY. "We were also lucky that most of the direct influence from Kyle remained offshore, or this situation would've been much worse." Over the 3 day period, 3 to 6 inches of rain fell over much of Eastern New England, Connecticut and parts of Central Massachusetts and Eastern New Hampshire. Some areas, Macedo said, received more than 8 inches, resulting in pockets of flooding with a few brooks going out of their banks.

The Amateur Radio station at the National Weather Service in Taunton, Massachusetts, WX1BOX, coordinated SKYWARN operations Friday afternoon through Sunday. According to Macedo, this station covers much of Southern New England. Farther north, the National Weather Service's office in Gray, Maine's station, WX1GYX, coordinated SKYWARN efforts in that area. Macedo said that amateurs at theses stations mostly received reports of rainfall amounts and flooding.

The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) also provided reports to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). HWN Net Manager Dave Lefavour, W7GOX, said, "Propagation was tough. We think most hams in Kyle's path were making preparations for this rare Canadian hurricane, but we were able to pick up and relay some actual ground observations to the National Hurricane Center. The NHC is always looking for first-hand ground observations of weather conditions to help them understand what the storm is doing below radar and satellite visibility." The HWN relays information obtained on 14.325 MHz to hams at the National Hurricane Center operating WX4NHC.

District Emergency Coordinator for Maine District 3 Phil Roberts, K1PAR, activated ARES® Nets in his region -- Knox, Waldo, Hancock and Washington Counties -- on Saturday night. All ARES members in the affected counties were on standby. In Southwestern Maine, all ARES members were also on standby for possible activation by their respective served agencies.

Maine Section Emergency Coordinator, Bryce Rumery, K1GAX, provided reports all day Sunday to ARRL Headquarters. On Sunday evening, Rumery advised all District Emergency Coordinator and local Emergency Coordinators to "stand down their ARES members no later than 0500 Monday morning or earlier if possible at the discretion of the DEC or EC."

According to e-mail reports, New Hampshire hams were also on alert throughout the day, Macedo said.

Hurricane Kyle's winds stayed offshore, sparing most of Eastern New England from strong winds or wind damage, but due to the stalled out cold frontal boundary, there was heavy rainfall and flooding. Unsettled weather is expected throughout the next few days before dry and cooler weather settles in for the weekend.