Weather Alert Radios

The NOAA Weather Radio System

NOAA Weather Radio is a public service provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Its basically a nationwide network of radio stations, broadcasting continuous weather information, from your nearby National Weather Service office. You will hear local weather forecasts, conditions, advisories, watches, warnings, and other hazard information around the clock.

You need a special receiver, or even scanning radio (police scanner), to pick up the signal. You can monitor for continuous coverage, or you can set the "alarm," to warn you of a potential threat.

There should be a station near you, as there are 850 transmitters, covering all 50 states, adjacent coastal waters, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as the U.S. Pacific Territories.

Seven frequencies are utilized (these are in MHZ):

162.400
162.425
162.450
162.475
162.500
162.525
162.550

The radio device you purchase, should have a feature that automatically detects the closest broadcast for your area. There are many specialized "alert units" on the market, with a wide variety of bells and whistles, that provide audible and visual warning signals, when trouble is imminent.
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