NOAA Weather Radio Station WXM-90 (Jacksonville)

WXM-90 operates 24 hours a day at a frequency of 162.525 MHz. WXM-90 transmits at 300 watts of power, from the Clear Talk Communications tower, located about 5 miles west southwest of Jacksonville.

WXM-90 serves 7 counties in west central Illinois:

Brown (017009)
Calhoun (017013)
Cass (017017)
Greene (017061)
Morgan (017137)
Pike (017149)
Scott (017171).

Numbers in parentheses are used for the Specific Area Message Encoder (SAME), utilized by some NOAA Weather Radio receivers.

The approximate coverage area is shown at left. This is based on computer projections, and may vary due to placement of your radio, direction of the transmitting antenna on the broadcast tower, and environmental issues. Click here for more details.

Listeners in Brown and Pike Counties can also receive severe weather warnings on station WXK-82 in Hannibal, MO. Cass County is also covered by WXJ-92 in Macomb and WXJ-75 in Springfield. Morgan County is also covered by WXJ-75, and Calhoun and Greene Counties are also covered by KXI-70 in Jerseyville.

Routine Programming:

Jacksonville and Vicinity Forecast: A forecast for central Illinois for the next 7 days. It airs continuously, and is routinely updated at 4 AM and 3:30 PM. Updates in between these times occur as necessary.
Hourly Weather Roundup: Detailed hourly observations for the Jacksonville Airport, as well as temperature and observed weather at many locations around the Midwest, are updated at 2 minutes past each hour.
Hazardous Weather Outlook This product gives a summary of expected weather hazards over the next 7 days, and information on when storm spotters may need to be activated. It airs from 6 to 10 AM, and 3 to 7 PM daily. It is also updated around 11:30 AM as conditions warrant.
Climate Summaries: Daily summaries for observed conditions at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield air periodically from 5 to 9 am, and 6 to 8 pm.
River Flood Statement: If the Illinois or Sangamon Rivers are above flood stage, a listing of current and forecast stages for selected points will be broadcast. These air every 15 minutes, and are updated at 3 AM, 11 AM, 3 PM and 9 PM.

Non-Routine Programming:

During adverse weather conditions, some normal programming is suspended. This is done to broadcast more important information frequently.

During severe thunderstorm and tornado watches, and flood warnings, the following will NOT air: Climate Summary, Morning River Stages. In addition, the hourly weather roundup will include local stations only.
Most normal programming is eliminated during severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings. Broadcast cycles are limited to severe weather watches and warnings, flood warnings, and Hourly Weather Roundup (local sites only).

When a severe weather watch or warning is issued, it is preceded by special alarm signals, which activate specially designed weather radios. These radios will alert you to the warning broadcast, through use of a siren or other means of notification. Radios that have the alarm feature and a battery backup are highly recommended. The cost of these radios range around $20 and upward. Click here for more information about weather radio receivers.

In west central Illinois, the alarm features will be used for the following messages:

Tornado Watches and Warnings
Severe Thunderstorm Watches and Warnings
Flash Flood Warnings
Blizzard Warnings
Non-Weather Emergency Messages
AMBER Alerts (SAME only)

This alarm feature is tested on Wednesdays between 10 AM and 1 PM. If severe weather is a threat, the test will be held the first available good-weather day.