What is NOAA Weather Radio?

NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information direct from a nearby National Weather Service office. NWR broadcasts National Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day.

Working the Federal Communications Commission's new Emergency Alert System (EAS), NWR is an "all hazards" radio network, making it the single source for the most comprehensive weather and emergency information available to the public. NWR now broadcasts warning and post-event information for all types of hazards - both natural (such as earthquake and volcano activity) and technological (such as chemical releases or oil spills).

Known as the "Voice of the National Weather Service," NWR is provided as a public service by the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The NWR network has more the 450 transmitters, covering the 50 states, adjacent coastal waters, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the U.S. Pacific Territories. NWR requires a special radio receiver or scanner capable of picking up the signal. Broadcasts are found in the public service band between 162.400 and 162.550 megahertz (MHz).

Show All Answers

1. What is NOAA Weather Radio?
2. Where can I get a NOAA Weather Radio?
3. How much does a NOAA Weather Radio cost?
4. What type of NOAA Weather Radio receivers are available?
5. What frequencies is NOAA Weather Radio broadcast on and how can I get a list of the frequencies in my state?
6. What features should I look for in a NOAA Weather Radio?
7. I just purchased a NOAA Weather Radio with the SAME feature. Where can I get the specific geographic code I need to program my receiver?
8. Can I get NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts in my car?
9. I live in an area where I can't get NOAA Weather Radio transmissions. Is there another system in place for me to get forecasts, watches and warnings directly from the National Weather Service?
10. How can I help my community get NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts?
11. My NOAA Weather Radio often turns on when the forecast office issues watches and warnings that don't impact me. What can I do about that?
12. I live in one county and work in another. Will the SAME programmable NOAA Weather Radio receivers be able to alert me for more than one county?
13. Do you have a similar program for communicating warning to the hearing/visually impaired?
14. Where can those items be purchased?