What is an NOAA Weather Radio?
This life-saving technology broadcasts weather forecasts and travel conditions, storm warnings, and alerts affecting life and safety on a 24/7 basis – 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The system is operated by the National Weather Service which is a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; both agencies are branches of the US Commerce Department. NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts are localized using over 600 special VHF transmitters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (stations are continually being added). The NOAA frequencies are in the VHF radio spectrum ranging from 162.400 to 162.550 MHz, which is outside of the normal AM/FM radio bands and must be monitored by special receivers like the All Hazards/Weather Emergency Alert radios. These broadcasts can be received up to 40-50 miles from a NOAA transmitter.
