What NOAA Weather Radio is and Why You Need It
Free Service Offers USA Residents Weather Information 24 Hours a Day
Dec 12, 2008
This is where NOAA Weather Radio comes in. A service of NOAA in conjunction with the National Weather Service, over 1,000 transmitters are placed around the United States broadcasting local weather data 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Broadcasts can be received via a special radio, or a scanner that is programmed to receive NOAA's special frequencies. In addition, these stations broadcast warnings that are non-weather related, thus why the program is now referred to as "all hazards radio."
What is NOAA Weather or All Hazards Radio?
While the program originally started out as a method for disseminating weather forecasts and warnings for the area it served, public safety officials saw its value to inform the public of other potential events. Information on national disasters such as earthquakes and avalanches, as well as environmental disasters and public safety information is now carried by these transmitters.
Seven frequencies are in use for these broadcasts within the United States. They are:
- 162.400MHz;
- 162.425MHz;
- 162.450MHz;
- 162.475MHz;
- 162.500MHz;
- 162.525MHz; and
- 162.550MHz.
These broadcasts are received by a special radio designed to only receive these frequencies called a "weather radio." These devices are available from just about any electronics retailer and cost anywhere from $35 to $70 USD generally depending on the features.
When a time-sensitive warning is received by these devices, even when they are turned off, an alarm will sound followed by a voice reading aloud the warning. In some models, a text message also accompanies the broadcast, which is called a SAME alert, short for Specific Area Message Encoding.
Types of Weather Information Broadcast on NOAA Weather Radio
The types of information broadcast over this service vary from location to location. Generally, all stations regularly broadcast current conditions, forecasts, and climatology reports, as well as regional weather advisories. During the growing season, some stations may broadcast agricultural data, and in areas near bodies of water marine forecasts are regularly heard.
What is SAME, And Why Do I Need It?
SAME was developed to allow compatible receivers to only be activated when an alert is broadcast for a particular area. Previous to this, an weather radio with alert functionality would sound an alarm for any alert regardless of its intended recipient.
In order to receive a SAME alert, the receiver must generally be within 40 miles of the transmitter. At the beginning of a weather alert broadcast, a brief burst of static is heard. This is actually a digital transmission, which includes data on the type of alert, what location it is for, and an expiration date.
Following the static burst, an audible alert sounds, followed by an audio broadcast of the alert, then another static tone which signifies the end of the message. If the weather radio was in "standby" mode, it will automatically shut itself off.
The beauty of SAME receivers is that even after the message ends, a text description of the alert remains. This will stay on the display of the device until it either expires or cancels, which means the user does not necessarily need to hear it to know that an alert is in effect.
Programming SAME weather radios for region-specific advisories is rather simple, and only requires a 6-digit location code be entered.
Weather Radio in Canada
Environment Canada also provides a similar service to Canadian residents, which can be heard on the same frequencies as in the US. Over 190 transmitters are located across all of the country's provinces and territories, and 92 percent of Canadians can receive at least one broadcast, according to the agency.
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