NOAA ALL Hazards Weather Radio (NWR) provides listeners with continuous broadcasts
of the latest weather information from your local National Weather
Service office. Broadcasts are specifically tailored to weather
information needs within the listening area of the transmitter. The
transmitter listening area is usually within 40 miles of a transmitter
but can vary depending on surrounding terrain and atmospheric
conditions. Regular broadcast
programming includes local forecasts, climate data, hourly weather
conditions, extended forecasts and more. These products are
continuously updated throughout the day or as need is dictated by
change in the weather. Broadcast cycles are generally 4 to 7 minutes
long but are shortened during severe weather to provide the listener
with active weather watches or warnings that pose a threat to life or
property. NOAA Weather Radio
utilizes seven frequencies in the VHF band between 162.400 and 162.550
megahetz (MHz) to broadcast across the country on over 800 transmitters
nationwide. These frequencies are outside the normal AM or FM broadcast
range thus requiring a special receiver or weather radio. These radio's
can be bought at electronic stores starting at around $20.
Most receivers can be remotely activated
by a tone alert transmitted by the National Weather Service preceding
a warning. However, some receivers are equipped with a special feature,
Weather Radio Specific Area Message Encoding (NWR SAME), that allows
for pin point warnings within a county.
Learn about NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio
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