View source for NOAA Weather Radio

{{Short description|Weather radio network in the United States}}
{{use American English|date=January 2020}}
{{use mdy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox broadcasting network
| name          = NOAA Weather Radio
| logo          = Noaa all hazards.svg
| logo_size     = 200px
| type          = [[Weather radio|Weather radio/civil emergency]] services
| branding      = NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards
| country       = {{USA}}
| available     = National (through radio transmitters, some commercial radio and television outlets, and [[Internet]] availability via [[streaming media|streaming audio]] from other organizations)
| founded       = {{plainlist|
* 1954 ([[aviation]] weather) first station KWO35 New York City, NY.
* 1958 (general/[[Marine (ocean)|marine]] weather)
}}
| founder       = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| radiostations = 5-1,000W [[very high frequency|VHF]]-[[Frequency modulation|FM]] transmitters
| owner         = [[NOAA]]/[[National Weather Service]]
| parent        = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| key_people    =
| launch_date   = {{plainlist|
* 1950s (in selected cities)
* 1967 (nationwide)
}}
| dissolved     = 
| replaced      = 
| replaced_by   = 
| former_names  = 
| affiliates    = 
| website       = {{URL|http://www.weather.gov/nwr/}}
| footnotes     =  
}}

'''NOAA Weather Radio''' ('''NWR'''), also  known as '''NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards''', is an automated 24-hour network of [[Very high frequency|VHF]] [[Frequency modulation|FM]] [[weather radio]] stations in the United States which broadcast weather information directly from a nearby [[National Weather Service]] office. Its routine programming cycle includes local or regional weather forecasts, synopsis, climate summaries or zone/lake/coastal waters forecasts, and can be shortened to specifically include hazardous weather outlooks, short-term forecasts, special weather statements or tropical weather summaries during hazardous weather events. It occasionally broadcasts other non-weather related events such as national security statements, natural disaster information, environmental and public safety statements such as [[AMBER Alert|AMBER Alerts]], civil emergencies, fires, evacuation orders, and other hazards sourced from the [[Federal Communications Commission]]'s (FCC) [[Emergency Alert System]]. NOAA Weather Radio uses automated broadcast technology that allows for the recycling of segments featured in one broadcast cycle into another and for consistent regular updating of segments to each of the transmitters.

Weather radios are widely sold online and in retail stores that specialize in consumer electronics in Canada and the US. They are available in many supermarkets and drugstores in the southern and midwestern US, which are particularly susceptible to severe weather—large portions of these regions are commonly referred to as "[[Tornado Alley]]".

[[File:NOAA-WR120EZ Weather Radio.jpg|thumb|NOAA WR-120 EZ Weather Radio]]
[[File:NOAA Radio Station in Robinson, TX (November 23, 2021).wav|thumb|NOAA Radio Station in [[Robinson, Texas|Robinson, TX]] (November 23, 2021)]]

== History ==
The U.S. Weather Bureau first began broadcasting [[Marine weather forecasting|marine weather]] information in Chicago and New York City on two VHF radio stations in 1960 as an experiment.<ref name="wrdirect">{{cite web|url=http://weatherradios.com/blog/the-history-of-noaa-weather-radio|title=The History of NOAA Weather Radio|publisher=Weather Radios Direct|access-date=13 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402093323/http://weatherradios.com/blog/the-history-of-noaa-weather-radio|archive-date=2015-04-02}}</ref><ref name="noaa">{{cite news|url=http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dvn/?n=nwrhistory|title=History of NOAA Weather Radio|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)}}</ref> Proving to be successful, the broadcasts expanded to serve the general public in coastal regions in the 1960s and early 1970s.<ref name="nelson">{{cite news|url=http://cliffedits.com/thesis/thesis.html|title=American Warning Dissemination and NOAA Weather Radio|author=Nelson, W.C.|year=2002}}</ref> By early 1970, [[Environmental Science Services Administration|ESSA]] listed 20 U.S. cities using 162.55&nbsp;MHz and one using 163.275 "ESSA VHF Radio Weather."<ref name=PI680033>{{cite web|type=Brochure|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=O8gHZbsIc04C|date=1970|title=Marine Weather Services, ESSA/PI 68003|publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce, Environmental Science Services Administration}}</ref> Later, the U.S. Weather Bureau adopted its current name, [[National Weather Service]] (NWS), and was operating 29 VHF-FM weather-radio transmitters under the [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] (NOAA) which replaced ESSA in 1970.<ref name="wrdirect" /> The service was designed with boaters, fishermen, travelers and more in mind, allowing listeners to quickly receive a "life-saving" weather bulletin from their local weather forecast office (WFO), along with routinely updated forecasts and other climatological data in a condensed format at any time of the day or night. The general public could have the latest weather updates when they needed them, and the benefit of more lead-time to prepare during severe conditions. In 1974, NOAA Weather Radio (NWR), as it was now called, reached about 44 percent of the U.S. population over 66 nationwide transmitters.<ref name="nelson" /> NWR grew to over 300 stations by the late 1970s.<ref name="noaa" />

Local NWS staff were the voices heard on NWR stations from its inception until the late 1990s when "Paul" was introduced.<ref name="Voices Used on NOAA Weather Radio">{{cite web|url=http://nws.noaa.gov/nwr/newvoice.htm|title=Voices Used on NOAA Weather Radio|work=National Weather Service|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206061120/http://nws.noaa.gov/nwr/newvoice.htm|archive-date=2008-02-06}}</ref><ref name="nws">{{cite news|url=http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/VIPstatus.htm|title=Voice Improvement Processor|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)}}</ref> The messages were recorded on tape, and later by digital means, then placed in the broadcast cycle. This technology limited the programming variability and locked it into a repetitive sequential order. It also slowed down the speed of warning messages when severe weather happened, because each NWS office could have up to eight transmitters.<ref name="Voices Used on NOAA Weather Radio" /> "Paul" was a computerized voice using the [[DECtalk]] text-to-speech system.<ref name="Voices Used on NOAA Weather Radio" /> "Paul's" voice was dissatisfactory and difficult to understand; thus "Craig", "Tom," "Donna" and later "Javier" were introduced in 2002 using the Speechify text-to-speech system from [[SpeechWorks]] (not to be confused with the [[Speechify|iOS app of the same name]]).<ref name="Voices Used on NOAA Weather Radio" /><ref name="nws" /> A completely new voice from the VoiceText text-to-speech system, also named "Paul", was introduced in 2016 and implemented nationwide by late in the year. Live human voices are still used occasionally for weekly tests of the [[Specific Area Message Encoding]] (SAME) and 1,050&nbsp;Hz tone alerting systems, [[Station identification|station IDs]], and in the event of system failure or computer upgrades. They will also be used on some stations for updates on the time and radio frequency.

In the 1990s, the National Weather Service adopted plans to implement SAME technology nationwide; the roll-out moved slowly until 1995, when the U.S. government provided the budget needed to develop the SAME technology across the entire radio network. Nationwide implementation occurred in 1997 when the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) adopted the SAME standard as part of its new [[Emergency Alert System]] (EAS).<ref name="wrdirect" /> NOAA Weather Radio's public alerting responsibilities expanded from hazardous weather-only events to "all hazards" being broadcast.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Kupec, R. J.|date=July–August 2008|title=Tuning in: Weather radios for those most at risk|volume=6|journal=Journal of Emergency Management|page=51|number=4|doi=10.5055/jem.2008.0029}}</ref>

=== Expansion ===
In the wake of the [[1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak]], one of the key recommendations from the [[National Weather Service|U.S. Weather Bureau's]] storm survey team, was the establishment of a nationwide radio network that could be used to broadcast weather warnings to the general public, hospitals, key institutions, news media, schools, and the public safety community. Starting in 1966, the [[Environmental Science Services Administration]] (ESSA) started a nationwide program known as "ESSA [[Very high frequency|VHF]] Weather Radio Network." In the early 1970s, this was changed to NOAA Weather Radio.<ref name="BirthNWR">{{cite web |title=Birth of NOAA Weather Radio |url=https://vlab.ncep.noaa.gov/web/nws-heritage/explore-nws-history#event-birth-of-noaa-weather-radio |website=National Weather Service Heritage |access-date=23 January 2020}}</ref><ref name=PI680033/> The service was expanded to coastal locations during the 1970s in the wake of [[Hurricane Camille]] based upon recommendations made by the Department of Commerce after the storm in September 1969.<ref name="CamilleReport">{{cite book|url= ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/noaa_documents.lib/NWS/Assessments/Hurricane-Camille.pdf|title=Hurricane Camille: A Report to the Administrator |date= September 1969|publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce, Environmental Science Services Administration  |access-date=January 18, 2020 |quote= "it is further recommended that the VHF-FM Weather Broadcasts, an extremely effective means of communication with the general public and responsible authority, be installed as planned on the Gulf and Atlantic coasts"}}</ref>

Since then, a proliferation of stations have been installed and activated to ensure near-complete geographical coverage and "weather-readiness", many of which have been funded by state [[emergency management]] agencies in cooperation with the NOAA to expand the network, or state public broadcasting networks. To avoid interference and allow for more specific area coverage, the number of frequencies in use by multiple stations grew to two with the addition of 162.400&nbsp;MHz in 1970 followed by the third (162.475) in 1975 with the remaining four (162.425, 162.450, 162.500 & 162.525) coming into use by 1981.<ref name=PI70035/><ref name="162.475MHz">{{cite book|url= https://archive.org/details/federalplanf00unit/page/21|title=The Federal Plan for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research, Fiscal Year 1976|last=Jenson|first=Clayton E.|display-authors=etal|date=April 1975|publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |pages= 21 & 62|access-date=January 18, 2020|quote=The NOAA Weather Radio, operating at 162.4, 162.475, or 162.55 MHz provides continuous radio broadcasts" & "These broadcasts, transmitted on frequencies of 162.40 MHZ, 162.475 MHz, and 162.55 MHz, provide continuous weather forecasts and warnings}}</ref><ref name=IEEEpaper>{{cite book |title= Conference record of papers presented at the thirty-first annual conference, Washington, DC, April 6, 7, 8, 1981, "Status of NOAA Weather Radio Program" |last= Carnegie |first= Samuel |date= April 1981 |department= National Weather Service |publisher= Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 1981|location= Washington, DC |page= 109 |quote= "FREQUENCY ADDITIONS: In addition to 162.40, 162.475 and 162.55 MHz, NWS has received 4 additional frequencies for use in NWR. These additional frequencies are 162.425, 162.45, 162.5 and 162.525MHz. With these additional frequencies, we are hopeful that Co-channel interference can be eliminated and expansion of NWR can result, but the net effect will be tighter specifications for NWR receiver selectivity." |doi= 10.1109/VTC.1981.1622917 |s2cid= 39769334 |url= https://zenodo.org/record/1282717 }}</ref><ref name=WVbluebook>{{cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=jf3vAAAAMAAJ |title= "West Virginia Blue Book", Volume 67|year= 1981 |publisher= Tribune Company |location= Original from Pennsylvania State University |page= 535 |access-date= January 20, 2020 |quote= "Hinton 162.425 MHz" "Sutton 162.45 MHz" "Flat Top 162.50 MHz" "Gilbert 162.525 MHz"}}</ref>

In the 1950s, the Weather Bureau started with KWO35 in New York City and later added KWO39 in Chicago.<ref name="BirthNWR"/> By 1965 it had added KID77 in Kansas City, home to the [[Storm Prediction Center|Severe Local Storms Center]], as the third continuous VHF radio transmitter with the fourth, KBA99 in Honolulu, operating by January 1967.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TLN8bCSGnrwC |title = A Proposed Nationwide Natural Disaster Warning System (NADWARN): Report with Background Information|year = 1965}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.weather.gov/media/publications/assessments/palmsunday65.pdf|title=Report of Palm Sunday Tornadoes of 1965|date=1965-04-11|access-date=2023-08-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite FTP |url=ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/docs.lib/htdocs/rescue/journals/essa_world/QC851U461967jan.pdf |server=ftp.library.noaa.gov |url-status=dead |title=FTP link }}</ref>

Denver became the 60th NWR station in September 1972 and by December 1976 there were roughly 100 stations transmitting on three channels in December 1976.<ref>{{cite magazine |title= VHF Weather Radio Broadcasts Dedicated at Denver, Sacramento |url= ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/docs.lib/htdocs/rescue/journals/noaa_week/GC1N581972v3no43.pdf |access-date= January 17, 2020 |magazine= NOAA Week |publisher= National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |date= October 20, 1972 |volume= 3|issue= 43|quote= "The sixtieth National Weather Service continuous transmission weather radio station was dedicated at Denver, Colo., Sept 28" }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1= Mogil |first1= H. Michael |last2= Groper |first2= Herbert S. |date= April 1977 |title= "NWS's Servere Local Storm Warning and Disaster Preparedness Programs" National Weather Service Headquarters, NOAA |journal= Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society |volume=58 |issue=4 |pages=318–329 |doi= 10.1175/1520-0477(1977)058<0318:NSLSWA>2.0.CO;2 |doi-access= free }}</ref>
Growth accelerated in the mid-1970s with NWR reaching 200 radio stations in May 1978 with WXK49 in Memphis, Tennessee; 300 in September 1979 with WXL45 in Columbia, Missouri; and by 1988, the NWS operated about 380 stations covering approximately 90 percent of the nation's population.<ref>{{cite magazine |title= Weather Radio Network Passes 200 Goal Is 340 |url= ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/docs.lib/htdocs/rescue/journals/noaa/QC851U461978jul.pdf |magazine= NOAA Magazine |publisher= National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |date= July 1978 |volume= 8|issue= 3|page= 59|access-date=2020-01-18 |quote= "On 2 May 1978, the WXK84 in Memphis, TN became the 200th NOAA Weather Radio station to go into service followed by WXK47 in Bristol, TN three days later as part of a goal of 340 stations reaching 90 percent of the nation's population by 1979." }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title= 300th Station on the Air |url= ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/docs.lib/htdocs/rescue/journals/noaa/QC851U461979oct.pdf |magazine= NOAA Magazine |publisher= National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |date= October 1979 |volume= 9|issue= 4|page= 63 |access-date=2020-01-19 |quote= "The Nation's 300th NOAA Weather Radio station (WXL-S7[invalid station#, is WXL45]) went on the air in September in Columbia, Mo., ... the latest in a 350-station network of NOAA Weather Radios slated to be in operation by the end of the year" }}</ref><ref name="PA76015rev1988">{{citation |mode=cs1 |type=Brochure|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pwU_Ce7B8KwC|title=NOAA Weather Radio, NOAA/PA 76015|date=1988|publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service |via=Google Books}}</ref> This grew to over 500 radio stations by May 1999, and over 800 by the end of 2001.<ref name=PA96070>{{cite web |type=Brochure |date=May 1999|title=NOAA Weather Radio – The Voice of NOAA's National Weather Service, NOAA/PA 96070, Rev May 1999 |publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service|url=http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/resources/nwr.pdf|access-date=2020-01-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928035828/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/resources/nwr.pdf|archive-date=September 28, 2012}}</ref><ref name="wrdirect" /> As of January 2020, there were about 1,032 stations in operation in fifty states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and Saipan, with over 95% effective coverage.<ref name=PA94062>{{cite web|type=Brochure|date=January 2020|title=NOAA Weather Radio – The Voice of NOAA's National Weather Service, NOAA/PA 94062, Rev January 2020 |publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service|url=https://www.weather.gov/media/nwr/NWR_Brochure_NOAA_PA_94062.pdf|access-date=2020-01-15}}</ref>

==Operations==
The NOAA Weather Radio network is provided as a public service by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA also provides secondary weather information, usually limited to marine [[storm warning]]s for sea vessels navigating the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] and [[Pacific Ocean]]s, to [[high frequency|HF]] band "time stations" [[WWV (radio station)|WWV]] and [[WWVH]]. These [[shortwave radio]] stations continuously broadcast [[time signal]]s and disseminate the "official" U.S. Government time, and are operated by the [[Department of Commerce]]'s [[National Institute of Standards and Technology]].

=== Radio ===
The radio service transmits weather and marine forecasts (where applicable) and other related information, without any interruptions. In addition, NWR works in cooperation with the FCC's [[Emergency Alert System]] (EAS), providing comprehensive severe weather alerts and civil emergency information. In conjunction with federal, state and local [[emergency management|emergency managers]] and other public officials, NWR has the ability to broadcast alerts and post-event information for all types of hazards, including natural (such as [[earthquake]]s or [[avalanche]]s), human-made (such as chemical releases or [[oil spill]]s), technological (such as [[nuclear power plant]] emergencies) and other public safety (such as "[[AMBER alert]]s" or [[9-1-1]] telephone outages). Listening to a NOAA Weather Radio station requires a VHF radio receiver or [[Scanner (radio)|scanner]] capable of receiving at least one of seven specific VHF-FM channels within the [[frequency]] range of 162.400 through 162.550&nbsp;MHz, collectively known as the "Weather Band". For example, a receiver that only tunes in standard [[Amplitude modulation|AM]] or [[frequency modulation|FM]] broadcast stations will not suffice.

=== Television ===
{{Main|Emergency Alert System}}
Many [[cable television]] systems and some commercial [[television station]]s will, during [[Emergency Alert System|EAS activation]], rebroadcast the audio of a warning message first heard on their local NWR station, to alert viewers of a severe weather event or civil emergency, usually with the issuance of a [[tornado warning]] or [[tornado emergency]], especially in tornado-prone areas of the country.

==Programming==
===Broadcast schedule===
Local NOAA offices update the content broadcast over NOAA Weather Radio transmitters on a regular basis, according to the following schedule:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Local time
!Update
|-
|01:00–12:00
|Area climate summary (played in 15-minute intervals during this period)
|-
|04:30
|Regional forecast (updated)
|-
|05:00–07:00
|Regional weather synopsis (updated at least once during this period)
|-
|07:00
|Hazardous weather outlook and call for action for NWS-trained [[SKYWARN]] volunteer [[Weather spotting|weather spotters]] (if warranted)
|-
|07:00
|Regional climate summary (recorded sometime between 18:00 the previous night and 07:00 each day)
|-
|10:30
|Regional forecast (updated)
|-
|12:00
|Hazardous weather outlook and call for action for NWS-trained [[SKYWARN]] volunteer [[Weather spotting|weather spotters]] (if warranted)
|-
|13:00–15:00
|Three- to five-day extended forecast (updated twice a day during this period)
|-
|15:30
|Regional forecast (updated)
|-
|16:00–22:00
|Regional weather synopsis (updated at least once during this period)
|-
|17:00–21:00
|Area climate summary (played in 15-minute intervals during specific days of the week)
|-
|20:30
|Regional forecast (updated)
|}

Updates to routine observational products are typically recorded once per hour, and are broadcast at five or 10, and at 15 minutes past the hour.

===Broadcast routine===
<div style="float:right">{{listen|filename=NOAA Weather Radio KIH35 2023-09-08.ogg|title=New Typical National Weather Service Forecast|description=for [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]]}}</div>
{{listen|filename=NWS forecast Columbus OH 2007-06-03.ogg|title=Old Typical National Weather Service Forecast|description=for [[Columbus, Ohio]]}}
{{Listen|filename=NOAA Weather Radio WXL40.ogg|title=NOAA Weather Radio station WXL40's programming.|description=Hazardous Weather Outlook for [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania]] and vicinity. The product also includes a tropical update.}}{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2018}}

As a continuous spoken weather service, NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards maintains a multi-tier concept for relaying meteorological observations, routine forecasts and weather hazards to the general public. Actual forecasts and offered products vary by the area serviced by the transmitter. During severe weather situations, Watch Information Statements for government-designated jurisdictions served by the local NWR station are typically inserted within the station's normal [[playlist]] of routine products; a special severe weather playlist temporarily suspends most regularly scheduled routine products in the event National Weather Service-issued warnings (mainly [[Severe thunderstorm warning|severe thunderstorm]], tornado or [[flash flood warning]]s) are in effect for the station's broadcast area, which solely incorporate watch, warning and Special Weather Statements, and any active Short-Term Forecasts and Hazardous Weather Outlooks.

{{clear right}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Segment
!On-air updates
!Description
|-
|'''Hourly Weather Roundup'''
|:05/:10/:15 past the hour
|A one- to two-minute segment outlining the current weather conditions for the NWR station's service region, detailing the most recent hourly observation for the main reporting station (consisting of current sky condition, [[temperature|air temperature]], [[dew point]], [[humidity]], [[Wind|wind speed/direction]] and [[barometric pressure]], as well as [[apparent temperature]] and [[wind gust|gusts]] when applicable), current observations within 40 miles, then current observations within 80 miles of the WFO's area of responsibility, and finally an abbreviated observation summary for the main reporting station.<br />If no report is available from the main reporting station, the report from the closest observation site will be substituted. In some locales, if a regularly-reported station has no available report, the message "the report from [city] was not available" will be broadcast. The regional portion may be condensed to a roundup format if the temperatures are within a 5&nbsp;°F range or if sky conditions are the same or differ limitedly at each given reporting site.<br />Occasionally, due to technical or other problems, the previous hour's observations segment may be included in the product playlist as long as 15 minutes into the next hour, after which it is removed until updated information is available.
|-
|'''Hazardous Weather Outlook'''
|7:00&nbsp;a.m. and 12:00&nbsp;p.m. (if needed)
|This segment overviews the information about potential [[thunderstorm]] activity (including any areas forecast to be under threat of severe thunderstorms), heavy rain or [[flood]]ing, [[winter weather]], [[wildfire]], extremes of heat or cold, or other conditions that may pose a hazard or threat to travel, life or property over the next seven days. Occasionally, a NWS WFO may update the Hazardous Weather Outlook while an event is ongoing or if forecast models denote changes from previous forecasts. Depending on the NWS office, it may either state all weather hazards from Day 1–7 or Day 1 separately from Day 2–7.
|-
|'''Regional Weather Synopsis/Summary'''
|Every 5–6 hours (starting from 3:00 or 5:00&nbsp;a.m. depending on the station)
|A report that provides a brief overview of weather events from the previous or current day within the region, followed by an outlook of expected weather from the current time to the next few days.
|-
|'''Regional Climate Summary'''
|Every 15 minutes (overnights, mornings and evenings)
|A summary includes information on the minimum and maximum temperatures recorded the previous day; 30-year temperature averages and historical temperature extremes. It also includes wind speed data, sky cover data, historical humidity extremes, humidity averages, the day's recorded weather conditions and heating with(out) cooling [[degree day]] data. Depending on the areas, the sunrise and sunset times for the next two days are stated within the summary or as a separate report.<br />Some stations broadcast this first report as early as 1:00&nbsp;a.m. and the last report as late as 12:00&nbsp;p.m.
|-
|'''Regional Forecast'''
|4:00&nbsp;a.m. and 3:30&nbsp;p.m. (more if needed)
|A report that provides the forecasts for the next seven days for all the counties across the station's coverage area. In case the time for the updates on another segment has not come yet, this forecast will typically be broadcast on a looped format.
|-
|'''Short Term Forecast'''
| rowspan="3" |Randomized times
|A localized, event-driven report used to provide the public with detailed weather information during significant or rapidly changing weather conditions during the next 3–6 hours. This forecast will often mention the position of precipitation as detected by radar. In most areas, this forecast product is not included during routine programming, but will be included when severe weather threatens the listening area.
|-
|'''Special Weather Statement'''
|A regional event-driven report using to provide the public with details of the upcoming significant weather event, such as a major winter storm, a heat wave, or potential flooding. A [[significant weather advisory]] may be issued within a Special Weather Statement, often if thunderstorm activity whether severe or not is occurring in, or approaching an area.
|-
|'''Record Information Announcement'''
|A segment providing newly set records for coldest/warmest maximum or minimum temperature and maximum precipitation.
|-
|'''Zone Forecast'''
|Depending on the office
|A text forecast for local beaches issued by coastal stations, including coastal hazard information such as that pertaining to rip currents. In more coastal offices, this forecast is scheduled to play every cycle, compared to every half hour in more inland offices.
|-
|'''River Forecast'''
|If needed
|This forecast is only broadcast if there is a potential for flooding or it is occurring, which would then be included with the hazardous weather outlook. Daily river forecasts are issued by the 13 river forecast centers using hydrologic models based on variables such as rainfall, soil characteristics and precipitation forecasts. Some forecasts, especially those in mountainous regions, also provide seasonal snow pack and peak flow forecasts. A separate forecast, ''River and Small Stream Observations'', is broadcast in areas in and outside the 13 river forecast centers and is only broadcast following a significant hydrological event featuring information on crests, and present and forecasted [[flood stage]]s.
|-
|'''Lake Forecast'''
|
|A forecast that is issued by most stations in the [[Great Lakes]] region to explicitly state expected weather conditions within the marine forecast area through the next five days. The report addresses expected wave heights and [[Small craft advisory|small-craft advisories]] currently in effect.
|-
|'''Coastal Waters Forecast'''
|
|A forecast stating expected weather conditions and wave heights within the marine forecast area through the next five days.
|-
|'''Tropical Weather Summary'''
|Every three hours (only if needed)
|An event-driven report provides an information summary on any active tropical cyclones. Activity summaries for the [[Atlantic Basin]] are typically included with stations located in states near the [[Gulf of Mexico]], [[Caribbean Sea]] and [[Atlantic Ocean]], while stations along the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]] receive summaries concerning the [[Pacific Ocean]]. Depending on the station and associated Weather Forecast Office, listeners can hear this report every half hour.
|-
|'''Ultraviolet Index'''
|
|A daily exposure index played on some NOAA stations. The ultraviolet (UV) index is categorized by the maximum exposure of the sun's rays during the peak hours of sunlight. It ranges in the following numbers/categories:<br />
1-2 (Low), 3-5 (Moderate), 6-7 (High), 8-10 (Very High), and 11+ (Extreme)
|}

These are additional products that are included in the broadcast cycle occasionally (but are broadcast at randomized times, depending on the individual transmitter[s]):
* Air Quality Index Statement
* Agricultural Forecast
* Area Forecast Discussion
* Area Weather Update
* Daily/Monthly Hydrometeorological Products
* Heat Index Forecast
* High Seas Forecast
* Hydro-Met Data Report
* Miscellaneous Hydrologic Data
* Miscellaneous Local Product
* Miscellaneous River Product
* Public Information Statement
* Offshore Forecast
* Quantitative Precipitation Forecast
* State Forecast
* Suppression Forecast
* Tabular State Forecast
* Terminal Aerodrome Forecast
* Travellers Forecast

== Weather radio receivers ==
{{multiple image|perrow = 1/2/2|total_width=300
| image1 = Weatheradio.gif
| image2 = SAMEWXRadio.jpg
| image3 = Sangean DT-400W (10711375244).jpg
| image4 = Sony ICF-36 portable radio - overview.JPG
| image5 = Clockwork Radio.JPG
| footer = Clockwise from top: rack-mountable Gorman-Redlich CRW-S, yellow handheld Sangean DT-400W*, hand-crank BayGen Freeplay, portable Sony ICF-36, and white Midland WR100* base station weather radios<br/>
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Public Alert-certified
}}
There are a variety of different types of weather radio receivers available in the U.S., including:
* Professional-grade receivers, typically rack-mounted, for use by broadcast radio and television stations and public agencies who are responsible for acting on or retransmitting weather and emergency alert broadcasts.
* Base-station consumer radios powered by commercial AC power (often with a battery backup).
* Hand-held battery powered radios, suitable for use by hikers, boaters, and in emergency preparedness kits.
* Hand-crank portable radios that do not require AC or battery power, especially designed for use in emergency preparedness kits.
* Weather radio receivers integrated as an auxiliary function into other devices, such as [[General Mobile Radio Service|GMRS]] radios, portable televisions, FM radios, etc.
* Radio receiver modules, such as the [[:File:Si4707 weather band receiver breakout.jpg|Si4707]] from [[Silicon Labs]], designed for electronics experimenters and project builders have in the past been available.
Historically, it was not uncommon to sell portable radios that featured AM, FM, and TV audio (VHF channels 2–13), with the weather band included some distance down the dial from TV channel 7 (after the [[DTV transition in the United States|U.S. digital TV conversion]], the television sound function of these radios became obsolete).

One of the early consumer weather alert radios (model KH6TY) was designed and manufactured by Howard (Skip) Teller, who was issued a patent on the alerting mechanism<ref>{{cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US4158148|title=Latching detector circuit US 4158148 A|last1=Teller|first1=Howard|access-date=5 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qsl.net/kh6ty/|access-date=5 July 2015|title=Howard (Skip) Teller|website=Qsl.net}}</ref> and was instrumental in the design of the [[PSK31]] Digipan software and hardware,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qsl.net/kh6ty/digipan.pdf|author=Howard "Skip" Teller|author2=Dave Benson|name-list-style=amp|date=June 2000|title=A Panoramic Transceiving System for PSK31|access-date=5 July 2015|via=Qsl.net}}</ref> and the [[Amateur radio]] NBEMS emergency communications system.

Since April 2004, radio models marketed as "Public Alert-certified" must include these features and meet certain performance criteria, as specified in electronics industry standard CEA-2009.<ref>{{cite report|title=PUBLIC ALERT: Delivers Emergency All-Hazard Warnings, Everywhere, All the Time|publisher=Consumer Electronics Association® (CEA)|url=https://www.ce.org/CorporateSite/media/Standards-Media/PA_Whitepaper_9-3-08.pdf|access-date=2015-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130830084020/http://ce.org/CorporateSite/media/Standards-Media/PA_Whitepaper_9-3-08.pdf|archive-date=2013-08-30}}</ref>

The price of a consumer-grade weather radio varies depending on the model and its extra features.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.erh.noaa.gov/okx/pdf/NWRfactsheet0307.pdf|title=NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards: On Alert For All Emergencies|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151020124416/http://www.erh.noaa.gov/okx/pdf/NWRfactsheet0307.pdf|archive-date=2015-10-20|publisher=NOAA|type=Fact Sheet}}</ref>
{{clear right}}

==Radio frequencies used==
{| class="wikitable sortable floatright" style="text-align: center"
|+National Weather Radio frequencies<br />for U.S., Canada, and Mexico (et al.)
|+style="caption-side:bottom;"|''{{small|# WX8-WX12 frequency order and inclusion varies}}''
!Frequency
!WX <ref name=mtvhf>{{cite web|url=https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/us-vhf-channel-information|title=U.S. VHF CHANNEL INFORMATION|publisher=U.S. Coast Guard, Navigation Center|access-date= November 21, 2022}}</ref><br />Channel
!Marine<br />channel
!Radio<br />preset
|-
|'''162.400&nbsp;MHz'''
|WX2
|36B
|1
|-
|'''162.425&nbsp;MHz'''
|WX4
|96B
|2
|-
|'''162.450&nbsp;MHz'''
|WX5
|37B
|3
|-
|'''162.475&nbsp;MHz'''
|WX3
|97B
|4
|-
|'''162.500&nbsp;MHz'''
|WX6
|38B
|5
|-
|'''162.525&nbsp;MHz'''
|WX7
|98B
|6
|-
|'''162.550&nbsp;MHz'''
|WX1
|39B
|7
|-
|161.650&nbsp;MHz
|''WX8''
|21B
|style="color: white" | blank
|-
|161.750&nbsp;MHz
|''WX#''
|23B
|style="color: white" | blank
|-
|161.775&nbsp;MHz
|''WX9''
|83B
|style="color: white" | blank
|-
|162.000&nbsp;MHz
|''WX#''
|28B
|ASM 2
|-
|163.275&nbsp;MHz
|''WX#''
|113B
|style="color: white" | blank
|}
The United States' [[National Weather Service|NWS]], Canada's [[Weatheradio Canada|Weatheradio]], Mexico's [[Weather radio#Mexico|SARMEX]] and Bermuda operate their government weather [[radio station]]s on the same [[marine VHF radio]] [[Band (radio)|band]], using [[Frequency modulation|FM]] transmitters, and the same seven frequencies (162.400 – 162.550&nbsp;MHz) as NOAA Weather Radio (NWR).<ref name=WeatheradioCE>{{cite web|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/weatheradio/find-your-network.html|access-date=2020-01-19|title=Weatheradio: find your network|date=January 28, 2010 |publisher=Government of Canada}}</ref><ref name=SARMEX>{{cite web|title=Sistema de Alerta de Riesgos Mexicano|language=es|trans-title=Mexican Risk Alert System|publisher=Centro de Instrumentación y Registro Sísmico, A.C.|url=http://www.cires.org.mx/sarmex_es.php|access-date=2020-01-19}}</ref> Bermuda only uses 162.550 (land) and 162.400 (marine).<ref>{{cite web|title=Bermuda Radio/ZBR Broadcast Schedule|publisher=Bermuda Marine and Ports Department|url=http://www.rccbermuda.bm/Documents/BMOC/broadcast.schedule.pdf|access-date=2020-01-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Radio stations in Hamilton|website=World Radio Map|url=http://worldradiomap.com/bm/hamilton|access-date=2020-01-19}}</ref>

NWR transmitters operate VHF-FM between 5–1,000 watts. NWR channels operating in the range of 162.3625–162.5875&nbsp;MHz (162.4–.55 ± 37.5&nbsp;kHz) have a band spacing of 25&nbsp;kHz and may have bandwidths up to 16&nbsp;kHz.<ref>{{Cite report|pages=4–180|title=Manual Of Regulations And Procedures For Federal Radio Frequency Management – January 2008 Edition, September 2009 Revision|section-url=https://www.ntia.doc.gov/legacy/osmhome/redbook/4d_5_10.pdf|section= 4.3.7 Channeling Plan for Assignments in the Band 162–174 MHz – CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS – 2. Wideband Operations|url=https://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/manual_sept_2009.pdf|access-date=2020-01-19|publisher=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE – National Telecommunications and Information Administration}}</ref> The original "weather" frequency used by multiple stations was 162.550&nbsp;MHz, followed by 162.400 in 1970, 162.475 in 1975, and the last four (162.425, 162.450, 162.500 & 162.525&nbsp;MHz) in 1981.<ref name=PI70035>{{Cite FTP |type=Brochure|url= ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/noaa_documents.lib/NOAA_historic_documents/NOAA_historical_brochures/Weather/NWS-WeatherRadio1970.pdf|title=NOAA VHF Radio Weather, NOAA/PI 70035 1970|year=1970|server=U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service|url-status=dead|access-date=January 17, 2019}}</ref><ref name="162.475MHz"/><ref name=IEEEpaper/><ref name=WVbluebook/>

163.275&nbsp;MHz was used by KHB47 in New London, Connecticut initially in 1969 until switching to 162.400 in 1970 to avoid overlapping with KWO35 in New York, and internally by NWS in case of power outage, but is no longer in active use.<ref>{{cite magazine|url= ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/docs.lib/htdocs/rescue/journals/essa_news/QC801E71969v5no48.pdf|magazine=ESSA News|volume=5|number=48|date= November 28, 1969|title=21st VHF-FM System Dedicated in Conn.|publisher= U.S. Department of Commerce, Environmental Science Services Administration}}</ref><ref name=PI680033/><ref name=PI70035/><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/wxradio.htm|title= National Weather Service Marine Products Via NOAA Weather Radio|website=NOAA's National Weather Service Marine Forecasts|access-date=January 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111004852/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/wxradio.htm|archive-date=January 11, 2019|quote= "Many NOAA Weather Radio receivers are also programmed for three additional frequencies; 161.650 MHz (marine VHF Ch 21B), 161.775 MHz (marine VHF Ch 83B) and 163.275 MHz. The first two frequencies are used by Canada for marine weather broadcasts. 163.275 MHz was used by the National Weather Service for earlier weather broadcasts and later for internal coordination in the event of a power outage but is no longer in active use."}}</ref> 169.075&nbsp;MHz was initially used by WWG75 transmitting from Mt. Haleakala on Maui in 1970 before also switching to 162.400 by 1972.<ref name=PI70035/><ref name=PA70029rev1972>{{cite web|type=Brochure|url= ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/noaa_documents.lib/NOAA_historic_documents/NOAA_historical_brochures/Weather/NWS-MarineWeather-1972.pdf|title=Marine Weather Services, NOAA/PA 70029 (Rev. 1972)
|year=1972|access-date=January 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921054843/ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/noaa_documents.lib/NOAA_historic_documents/NOAA_historical_brochures/Weather/NWS-MarineWeather-1972.pdf|archive-date=2020-09-21|url-status=dead|publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service}}</ref><ref name=PA70035rev1972>{{cite web|type=Brochure|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=xvljJyX4J-sC|title=NOAA VHF Radio Weather, NOAA/PA 70035 (Rev.) 1972|year=1972|publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service|access-date=January 17, 2019}}</ref>

===Channel designations===
NOAA Weather Radio, [[Weatheradio Canada]] and [[Weather radio#Mexico|SARMEX]] all refer to the seven stations by their frequencies (MHz):<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.weather.gov/nwr/|title=NOAA Weather Radio |website=National Weather Service|publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service|date= January 16, 2020|access-date=2020-01-16}}</ref><ref name=PA94062/><ref name=WeatheradioCE/><ref name=SARMEX/>
{|class="wikitable"
|-
|162.400||162.425||162.450||162.475||162.500||162.525||162.550
|}

Other channel designations such as WX1 through WX7 "have no special significance but are often designated this way in consumer equipment" and "other channel numbering schemes are also prevalent/possible" according to NOAA and [[United States Coast Guard|USCG]].<ref name=mtvhf/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weather.gov/marine/nws_dissemination|title=Dissemination of Marine Weather by the NWS|website=www.weather.gov}}</ref> Ordering channels by when they were established (WX1, WX2, ...) is "becoming less 'popular' over time than a numerical ordering of channels."<ref name=mtvhf/> Weather radios may list stations in the order of their WX#, or by a "Preset Channel" number 1 through 7 in ascending frequency order.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weather.gov/media/ind/nwr/NOAA_Weather_Radio.pdf|title=All Hazards NOAA Weather Radio, Page 11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.weather.gov/ohx/nwrhelp|title=NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio Help|website=www.weather.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://midlandusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/GXT1000-Owners-Manual1.pdf|title=Midland X-Tra Talk GXT1000//1050 Series GMRS/FRS Radio Owner's Manual, Page 21}}</ref>

The "WX#" format is continued from WX8 up to WX12 on some lists and radios to include 163.275&nbsp;MHz and or one or more of the Canadian [[continuous marine broadcast]] (CMB) frequencies 161.650, 161.775, 161.750, 162.000. Unlike WX1-WX7 typically ordered by frequency adoption by NWS, there is no consistent frequency inclusion nor assignment for WX8-WX12.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.motorolasolutions.com/content/dam/msi/docs/products/two-way-radios/consumer/user-guides/sx-series/sx700_userguide.pdf|title=Two-Way Radio User's Guide, Model SX700 series, "WX8-WX12" |date=2005 |website= Motorola Solutions|access-date=2020-01-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://transition.fcc.gov/oet/ea/presentations/files/may05/PT_80_VHF_Transmitters.pdf |title=Part 80 VHF Transceivers and Marine Radars, Andy Leimer, Equipment Authorization Branch Equipment, Federal Communications Commission Office of Engineering and Technology Laboratory Division, page 10 "WX 10 163.725" |last=Leimer |first=Andy |date=May 2005 |website=Federal Communications Commission |access-date=January 16, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.motorolasolutions.com/content/dam/msi/docs/products/two-way-radios/consumer/T480/T480-User-Guide.pdf |title=Talkabout Emergency Preparedness Two-Way Radio T480 MN001399A01-AA "WX10 161.750"|date=May 26, 2015 |website=Motorola Solutions |access-date=January 16, 2020}}</ref> Effective January 1, 2019, channels 2027 (161.950&nbsp;MHz, 27B) and 2028 (162.000&nbsp;MHz, 28B) are designated as ASM 1 and ASM 2 respectively for application specific messages (ASM) as described in Recommendation ITU-R M.2092.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/international-vhf-marine-radio-channels-freq |title=International VHF Marine Radio Channels and Frequencies |publisher=United States Coast Guard, Navigation Center |access-date= 2025-01-16}}</ref>

The "WX" arose from the [[Prosigns for Morse code|Morse code prosign]] shorthand for weather reports (WX) combined with the order number that the seven frequencies were adopted for use nationally. More frequencies helped prevent [[RF interference|interference]] from other nearby transmitters, growing in use in the 1990s in less populated [[rural]], areas and as fill-in [[broadcast translator]]s relaying an existing station or sending a separate, more localized broadcast into remote or [[mountain]]ous areas, or those areas with reception trouble.{{Citation needed|date=February 2018}}

As with conventional broadcast television and radio signals, it may be possible to receive more than one of the seven weather channels at a given location, dependent on factors such as the location, transmitter power, [[broadcast range|range]] and designated coverage area of each station. The NWS suggests that users determine which frequency (as opposed to channel) is intended for their specific location so that they are assured of receiving correct and timely information.{{Citation needed|date=February 2018}}

===Present day===
[[File:Mark Trail NOAA Weather Radio.JPG|left|thumb|upright=0.85|Public service announcement featuring comic strip character [[Mark Trail]] promoting NOAA Weather Radio]]
[[File:NOAA weather radio map.jpg|thumb|Example NOAA weather radio coverage for eastern Michigan]]

All seven NWR channels are available on stand-alone weather radio receivers that are sold online and in retail stores (available for prices ranging from US$20 and up), as well as on most [[marine VHF radio]] [[transceiver]]s, [[amateur radio]]s and digital scanners. In addition, more mainstream consumer electronics, such as [[clock radio]]s, portable multi-band receivers and two-way radios (such as [[Family Radio Service|FRS]], [[GMRS]] and [[Citizens band radio|CB radio]]), now feature the ability to also receive NWR channels. Many of the aforementioned devices also incorporate automatic alerting capabilities. Many American television stations offer discounted pricing for radios to viewers as a public courtesy (especially in highly tornado-prone areas), where they are often marketed as an essential safety device on par with a [[smoke detector|smoke alarm]] for home fires.

===Coverage===
According to NOAA, reliable signal reception typically extends in about 40 miles radius from a full-power (1,000 W) transmitter, depending on level terrain.<ref>{{Cite web |last=US Department of Commerce |first=NOAA |title=NWR radio |url=https://www.weather.gov/dtx/nwr_faq |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.weather.gov |language=EN-US}}</ref> However, signal blockages can occur, especially in mountainous areas. As of 2016, there are over a thousand NWR transmitters across the U.S., covering 95% of the population.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/info/shhh.html|website=NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards|title=Emergency Warnings For People With Hearing Loss|publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service|access-date=2017-09-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704021423/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/info/shhh.html|archive-date=2015-07-04}}</ref> Because each transmitter can cover several counties, typically a person will program their weather radio to receive only the alerts for their county or nearby surrounding counties where weather systems are most likely to move in from.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/info/usingsame.html|website=NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards|title=Using NWR SAME|publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service|access-date=January 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512173810/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/info/usingsame.html|archive-date=2015-05-12}}</ref>

==Alerting==
[[File:Avalanche Warning.ogg|thumb|Audio from NOAA Weather Radio and the Forest Service Sawtooth Avalanche Center broadcasting of a Backcountry Avalanche Warning issued for [[Elmore County, Idaho|Elmore]], [[Boise County, Idaho|Boise]], and [[Valley County, Idaho|Valley, Idaho]] on January 11, 2024. Weather Radio stations will carry alerts when dangerous weather threatens a location within their listening area.]]
Whenever a weather or civil emergency alert is issued for any part of a NWR station's coverage area, many radios with an alert feature will sound an alarm or turn on upon detection of a {{Audio|1050Hz Tone.ogg|1,050 Hz attention tone}} that sounds just before the voice portion of an alert message. The specification calls for the NWS transmitter to sound the alert [[pitch (music)|tone]] for ten [[second]]s and for the receiver to react to it within five seconds. This system simply triggers the alarm or turns on the radio of every muted receiver within reception range of that NWR station (in other words, any receiver located ''anywhere'' within the transmitter's broadcast area). Generally, receivers with this functionality are either older or basic models.

Many newer or more sophisticated alerting receivers can detect, decode and react to a digital signal called [[Specific Area Message Encoding]] (SAME), which allows users to program their radios to receive alerts only for specific geographical areas of interest and concern, rather than for an entire broadcast area. These advanced models may also have colored [[light emitting diode|LED]] status lights which indicate the level of the alert as an "advisory"/"statement", "watch" or "warning" (either amber or green for advisories and statements, orange or yellow for watches, red for warnings).

When an alert is transmitted, the {{Audio|Same.wav|SAME header/data signal}} is broadcast first (heard as three repeated audio "bursts"), followed by the 1,050&nbsp;Hz attention tone, then the voice message, then the end-of-message (EOM) data signal (repeated quickly three times). This encoding/decoding technology has the advantage of avoiding "false alarms" triggered by the 1,050&nbsp;Hz tone itself in locations outside the intended warning area. Broadcast areas are generally divided into SAME locations by county or marine zone using the standard U.S. Government [[FIPS county code]]s.

NOAA's SAME alert protocol was later adopted and put into use by the [[Emergency Alert System]] (EAS) in 1997 – the replacement for the earlier [[Emergency Broadcast System]] (EBS) and even earlier [[CONELRAD]] – now required by the FCC for standard broadcast TV and radio stations. [[Environment Canada]] eventually integrated SAME alerting capability into its [[Weatheradio Canada]] network in 2004.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Weatheradio Network|date=7 January 2004|url=http://www.ec.gc.ca/media_archive/press/2004/040107_b_e.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427142851/http://www.ec.gc.ca/media_archive/press/2004/040107_b_e.htm|archive-date=2015-04-27}}</ref> Organizations are able to disseminate and coordinate emergency alerts and warning messages through NOAA Weather Radio and other public systems by means of the [[Integrated Public Alert and Warning System]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fema.gov/integrated-public-alert-warning-system |title=Integrated Public Alert & Warning System |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=September 18, 2018 |website=fema.gov |publisher=Federal Emergency Management Agency |access-date=September 22, 2018 |quote=IPAWS provides public safety officials with an effective way to alert and warn the public about serious emergencies using the Emergency Alert System (EAS), Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio, and other public alerting systems from a single interface.}}</ref>

In September 2008, [[Walgreens]] announced that it would utilize SAME technology to deliver local weather alerts via a system of LED [[billboard]]s located outside its drugstore locations to provide an additional avenue of weather information.<ref>{{cite web|title=Walgreens Electronic Outdoor Signs Now Deliver Vital Weather Messages at More Than 3,000 Corner Locations Across America |url=http://news.walgreens.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=5055 |website=[[Walgreens]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927033326/http://news.walgreens.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=5055 |archive-date=September 27, 2008 }}</ref> Many national billboard companies (such as [[Outfront Media]], [[Clear Channel Outdoor]] and [[Lamar Advertising Company|Lamar]], among others) also use their color LED billboard networks to display weather warnings to drivers, while state-owned [[Variable-message sign|freeway notification boards]], which utilize the EAS/NOAA infrastructure for AMBER Alerts, also display weather warnings.

==Emergency alert test procedure==

{{Listen
|filename    = Required Weekly Test NOAA.ogg
|title       = Modern-day NOAA Weather Radio WXM99 Required Weekly Test voiced by current Paul
|description = The required weekly test issued by the National Weather Service in Grand Forks, ND on May 17, 2023 at 10:00 AM. This alert is conducted every Wednesday between 10 AM and noon.
}}
{{Listen
| filename     = NOAA Weather Radio MKE-KEC60 Weekly Test.ogg
| title        = NOAA Weather Radio MKE-KEC60 Required Weekly Test voiced by former "Perfect Paul"
| description  = The weekly alert system test, usually conducted between 10:00 a.m. and noon local time every Wednesday, as heard on [[Milwaukee]]'s [[KEC60]] on November 24, 2010.
}}

Every local National Weather Service weather forecast office is required to conduct a scheduled weekly test of the NOAA Weather Radio public alert system, generally occurring every Wednesday between 10:00&nbsp;a.m. and 12:00&nbsp;p.m. (noon). Certain Weather Forecast Offices conduct this twice a week, usually testing two time on Wednesday, usually between 10:00&nbsp;a.m. and 12:00&nbsp;p.m. (noon) and then again between 6:00&nbsp;p.m. and 8:00&nbsp;p.m. Other offices test once on Wednesday, and then again on Saturday. Some NOAA Weather Radio stations also broadcast tests of the [[Emergency Alert System]] on predetermined days and times.

If there is a threat of severe weather that day in a NWR station's listening area, the weekly test is postponed until the next available fair-weather day (sometimes, a short message stating the reason for the test's cancellation is broadcast). The required weekly test (SAME event code "RWT") interrupts regular NWR programming — during the test, a SAME data header is sent, followed by a 1050&nbsp;Hz attention tone, the voice test message, then a SAME end-of-message (EOM) signal. The text of the test message used by most NWS offices, with variations depending on the office, is typically as follows:

{{blockquote|"This is the National Weather Service office in [city]. The preceding signal was a test of the NOAA Weather Radio warning alarm system on station [call sign of radio station] in [location]. During potential or actual dangerous weather situations, specially built receivers are automatically activated by this signal to warn of the impending hazard. Tests of this signal and receivers' performance are usually conducted by this National Weather Service office on Wednesdays at [time of day]. When there is a threat of severe weather, or existing severe weather is in the area on Wednesday, the test will be postponed until the next available good-weather day. Reception of this broadcast, and especially the warning alarm signal, will vary at any given location. The variability, normally more noticeable at greater distances from the transmitter, will occur even though you are using a good quality receiver in perfect working order. To provide the most consistent warning service possible, the warning alarm will be activated only for selected watches and warnings affecting the following counties: [list of counties]. This concludes the test of the warning alarm system on NOAA Weather Radio station [call sign]. We now return to normal programming."<ref name="NOAA Weather Radio Alarm Test Procedures">{{cite web|title=NOAA Weather Radio Alarm Test Procedures|url=http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/info/nwrtest.html|website=National Weather Service|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration}}</ref>}}

Or, for other offices which test on Wednesday:

{{blockquote|"This is the National Weather Service forecast office in [City, State]. The preceding signal was a test of the public warning alarm system for NOAA All Hazards Radio Station [NWR Transmitter Callsign]. During potentially dangerous weather situations, specially built receivers can be automatically activated by this signal to warn of the impending hazard. Tests of this signal and receivers' performance are normally conducted each Wednesday between the hours of 11 AM and 1 PM. If there is a threat of severe weather the test will be postponed until the next available good-weather day. Reception of this broadcast, and especially the warning alarm, will vary at any given location. The variability, normally noticeable at greater distances from the transmitter, can occur even though you are using a good quality receiver in good working order. To provide the most consistent and dependable warning service possible, the warning alarm will be activated for watches and warnings affecting the following counties: [list of counties]. This concludes the test of NOAA Weather Radio station [NWR Transmitter Callsign]. We now return to the normal broadcast."<ref>{{cite web|title=Required Weekly Test for 7/22/20 on KEC 63|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZjLla5FwJg|website=Youtube| date=July 22, 2020 |publisher=SPC Ponti Dawg}}</ref>}}

==Voices==
From the introduction of NOAA Weather Radio until the late 1990s, nearly all the voices heard in the broadcasts were those of the staff at local [[National Weather Service]] (NWS) offices. The messages were manually recorded, first on tape cartridges and later digitally, and then placed in the broadcast cycle. As the NWS added more transmitters to provide broader radio coverage, the staff had difficulty keeping broadcast cycles updated in a timely fashion, especially during major severe weather outbreaks.<ref name=":0" />

=== System upgrades ===
==== 1990s Console Replacement System ====
To manage the increasing number of transmitters for each office and to speed the overall delivery of warning messages to the public, the Console Replacement System (CRS) was deployed at NWS weather forecast offices in 1997.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Voices Used on NOAA Weather Radio|url=http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/info/newvoice.html|website=NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards|publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service|access-date=2017-09-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703220101/https://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/info/newvoice.html|archive-date=2015-07-03}}</ref> CRS introduced a computerized voice nicknamed "Paul", using a [[Speech synthesis|text-to-speech]] system which was based on the [[DECtalk]] technology. This system was chosen over more readily available [[concatenative synthesis]] because each forecast, watch and warning requires unique wording to relay the most accurate and relevant information. Concatenation is typically used by telephone companies, banks and other service businesses where a limited vocabulary of recorded words can easily take the place of specific, repetitive phrases and sentences. NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts contain a wide variety of information which changes with the weather. Forecasters need to have many words to choose from when writing their forecasts and warnings for the public.<ref name="Voices Used on NOAA Weather Radio" /> Although CRS greatly enhanced the delivery speed and scheduling of Weather Radio messages, some listeners disliked Paul's voice, as it was very monotone and did not resemble a normal speaking voice due to CRS not having the technological advances at the time to resemble human speech patterns.<ref name=":0" />
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Voice
!Type of weather message
!File size
|-
|CRS Paul
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20170126025101/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/audio/Paul_SYN.wav Weather Synopsis]
|191 KB
|}

==== 2002 Voice Improvement Program ====
In 2002, the National Weather Service contracted with [[Siemens|Siemens Information and Communication]] and [[SpeechWorks]] to introduce improved, more natural voices. The Voice Improvement Plan (VIP) was implemented, involving a separate computer processor linked into CRS that fed digitized sound files to the broadcast suite. The improvements involved one male voice ("Craig"), and one female voice ("Donna"). Additional upgrades in 2003 improved "Donna" and introduced an improved male voice nicknamed "Tom", which had variable intonation based on the urgency of the report. As part of this upgrade, a Spanish voice, "Javier", was added at a few sites.<ref name=":0" />  Due to the superior quality of the "Tom" voice, most NWS offices used it for the majority of broadcasts and announcements.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Voice
!Type of weather message
!File size
|-
|VIP Tom
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20120925001634/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/audio/Tom_CWF.mp3 Coastal Waters Forecast]
|481 KB
|-
|VIP Tom
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20120510120704/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/audio/Tom_LFP.mp3 Local Forecast]
|498 KB
|-
|VIP Tom
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20120925001629/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/audio/Tom_SYN.mp3 Weather Synopsis]
|125 KB
|-
|VIP Donna
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20120510120704/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/audio/Donna_GLF.mp3 Great Lakes Marine Forecast]
|220 KB
|-
|VIP Donna
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20120510120704/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/audio/Donna_HWO.mp3 Hazardous Weather Outlook]
|127 KB
|-
|VIP Donna
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20120510120704/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/audio/Donna_HWR.mp3 Hourly Weather Observation]
|268 KB
|-
|VIP Javier
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20120510120704/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/audio/Javier_CLI.mp3 Climate Summary]
|112 KB
|-
|VIP Javier
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20120510120704/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/audio/Javier_HWR.mp3 Hourly Weather Observation]
|292 KB
|-
|VIP Javier
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20120510120704/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/audio/Javier_LFP.mp3 Local Forecast]
|285 KB
|}

====Broadcast Message Handler====
In 2016, the NWS replaced almost all of the CRS systems in operation at its Weather Forecast Offices—which had been in use for over 20 years and were approaching the end of the system's expected service life—with the Broadcast Message Handler (BMH). The new system is more closely integrated with the [[AWIPS]] software and intended to be more reliable.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.gov/ddc/BMHDDC|title=New NOAA Weather Radio Management Platform is Coming Soon|location=Dodge City, KS|publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service|website=National Weather Service|access-date=2017-09-04}}</ref> The BMH units replaced "Donna" and "Tom" with an improved "Paul" voice (its classification from new voice partner [[NeoSpeech]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.gov/mkx/bmh|title=New All Hazards NOAA Weather Radio Now Operational|date=24 May 2016|website=National Weather Service|location=Milwaukee/Sullivan, WI|publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service|access-date=1 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.mprnews.org/updraft/2016/06/noaa-weather-radio-has-a-new-voice-and-his-name-is-paul/|title=NOAA Weather Radio has a new voice, and his name is Paul|last=Huttner|first=Paul|date=15 June 2016|access-date=18 June 2016|publisher=[[Minnesota Public Radio]]}}</ref>). Many stations have dubbed him "Paul II" or "Paul Jr" to avoid confusion with CRS "Perfect Paul". For the NWS offices that incorporate Spanish programming into the NWR broadcast cycle, VIP "Javier" was replaced with a much improved female voice named "Violetta" (another voice from NeoSpeech). The upgrade initially began at six offices: [[Greenville, South Carolina|Greenville]]-[[Spartanburg, South Carolina]]; [[Brownsville, Texas]]; [[Omaha, Nebraska]]; [[Portland, Oregon]]; [[Anchorage|Anchorage, Alaska]]; and [[Tiyan, Guam]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.gov/gsp/new-nwr-voice|title=A New Voice for NOAA Weather Radio|location=Greenville-Spartanburg, SC|publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service|website=National Weather Service|access-date=2017-09-04}}</ref> Many of the stations saw an initial negative reaction primarily due to many mispronunciations.{{Citation needed|date=April 2019}} Most local NWS Offices provide a method of reporting these problems, and have the ability to reprogram the voices accordingly.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Voice
!Type of weather message
!File size
|-
|BMH Paul
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20120510120704/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/audio/BMH_Paul.mp3 Local Forecast]
|280 KB
|-
|BMH Violetta
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20120510120704/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/audio/BMH_Violetta.mp3 Marine Forecast]
|1,196 KB
|}

=== Human voices ===
Human voices are still heard on occasion, but sparingly, mainly during station identifications, public forecasts, [[National Marine Fisheries Service]] messages, public information statements, [[public service announcement]]s, required weekly tests, and severe weather events. The capability exists for a meteorologist to broadcast live on any transmitter if computer problems occur or added emphasis is desired, or to notify listeners who are concerned about a [[silent (broadcasting)|silent]] station on another frequency whether that station is dark due to technical errors, prolonged [[power outage]], or a weather event has forced it off the air.{{Citation needed|date=February 2018}}

=== Broadcasting in Spanish ===
Some weather forecast offices will issue a secondary report in [[Spanish language|Spanish]] during severe weather events or warnings. Few NWR stations broadcast weather information in Spanish.<ref>{{cite web|title=NOAA Weather Spanish Voice|url=https://www.weather.gov/nwr/spanish}}</ref> Four offices use dedicated stations which broadcast in the Spanish language, separate from their corresponding English-language channels: [[San Diego]] (WNG712 in [[Coachella, California|Coachella]]/[[Riverside, California|Riverside]]), [[El Paso, Texas|El Paso]] (WNG652), [[Miami]] (WZ2531 in [[Hialeah, Florida|Hialeah]], since 2012), and [[Brownsville, Texas|Brownsville]] (WZ2541 in [[Pharr, Texas|Pharr]] and WZ2542 in [[Harlingen, Texas|Harlingen]], since 2014). These stations originally used a synthesized Spanish male voice named "Javier" for all broadcasts, but have since been upgraded with the BMH female voice "Violetta". The [[Albuquerque]] WFO often repeats weather alerts in Spanish after their initial dissemination in English. Station [[WXJ69]] in [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]] broadcasts all information, including forecasts, in the same manner.

==Live streaming==
Several websites provide internet audio streaming of a subset of the NOAA Weather radio stations. The most prominent of these, the Wunderadio section of weather information website [[Weather Underground (weather service)|Weather Underground]], discontinued live streams of NWR broadcasts in April 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://help.wunderground.com/knowledgebase/articles/1143553-wu-feature-and-product-updates|title=WU feature and product updates – Customer Feedback for Weather Underground|website=help.wunderground.com|access-date=2017-09-21}}</ref>
As the Wunderadio internet streaming service dissolved, many other sources developed, allowing previous users of the service to continue monitoring live streams from Wunderadio, as well as newer broadcasts from different locations. 
==See also==
{{Commons category|NOAA Weather Radio}}
* [[NAVTEX]]
* [[Severe weather terminology (United States)]]
* [[Weather radio]]
* [[Weatheradio Canada]]

==References==
{{reflist|25em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.weather.gov/organization NWS Organization] (shows all NOAA offices)
* [https://www.weather.gov/nwr/ U.S. NOAA Weather Radio page]
* [http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/info/nwrrcvr.html NWR Receiver Consumer Information]
* [http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/coverage/county_coverage.html NOAA county-by-county coverage]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20200921054831/ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/docs.lib/htdocs/rescue/journals/essa_news/QC801E71970v6no38.pdf ESSA News September 11, 1970]

===NOAA Weather Radio brochure evolution===
{{div col}}
* [https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00431672.1969.9932865 "ESSA VHF Weather Radio Stations" Weatherwise magazine, August 1969]
* [ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/noaa_documents.lib/NOAA_historic_documents/ESSA/ESSA_PI/PI_680033.pdf Marine Weather Services: ESSA VHF Radio Weather, ESSA/PI 680033  1969]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=O8gHZbsIc04C Marine Weather Services: ESSA VHF Radio Weather, ESSA/PI 680033  1970]
* [ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/noaa_documents.lib/NOAA_historic_documents/NOAA_historical_brochures/Weather/NWS-WeatherRadio1970.pdf NOAA VHF Radio Weather, NOAA/PI 70035, 1970]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=xvljJyX4J-sC NOAA VHF Radio Weather, NOAA/PA 70035, Rev. 1972]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20200921054843/ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/noaa_documents.lib/NOAA_historic_documents/NOAA_historical_brochures/Weather/NWS-MarineWeather-1972.pdf Marine Weather Services: NOAA VHF Radio Weather, NOAA/PA 70029, Rev. 1972]
* [ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/noaa_documents.lib/NOAA_historic_documents/NOAA_historical_brochures/Weather/NWS-MarineWeatherServices-1974.pdf Marine Weather Services: NOAA VHF Radio Weather, NOAA/PA 70029, Rev. 1974]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
* [ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/noaa_documents.lib/NOAA_historic_documents/NOAA_historical_brochures/Weather/NWS-WeatherRadio-1975.pdf NOAA Weather Radio NOAA/PA 74035, 1975]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20200921054903/ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/noaa_documents.lib/NOAA_historic_documents/NOAA_historical_brochures/Weather/NWS-MarineWeatherServices-1976.pdf Marine Weather Services: NOAA Weather Radio, NOAA/PA 74034, Rev. 1976]
* [ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/noaa_documents.lib/NOAA_historic_documents/NOAA_historical_brochures/Weather/NWS-WeatherRadio-1976.pdf NOAA Weather Radio, NOAA/PA 76015, 1976]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=pwU_Ce7B8KwC NOAA Weather Radio, NOAA/PA 76015, Rev. July 1988]
* [ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/noaa_documents.lib/NWS/Brochures/NOAA_weather_radio_May_1999.pdf NOAA Weather Radio, NOAA/PA 96070 (station list), May 1999]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
* [https://permanent.access.gpo.gov/gpo1660/NwrBrochure.pdf NOAA Weather Radio, NOAA/PA 200356 (maps), October 2002]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20200921054815/ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/noaa_documents.lib/NWS/Brochures/NWR_all_hazards_Oct_2007.pdf All Hazards NOAA Weather Radio (NWR), NOAA/PA 96070 (no list), October 2007]
* [ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/noaa_documents.lib/NWS/Brochures/NOAA_weather_radio_April_2014.pdf, NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR), NOAA/PA 200352 Poster, April 2014]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
* [https://www.weather.gov/media/nwr/NWR_Brochure_NOAA_PA_94062.pdf All Hazards NOAA Weather Radio, NOAA/PA 94062, Rev. January 2020] 
{{colend}}

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