NOAA Weather Radio

Weather Safety » Weather Radio

NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts the latest weather information from your local National Weather Service (NWS) office through 400 FM transmitters on seven frequencies in the VHF band, ranging from 162.400 to 162.550 megahertz (MHz) in fifty states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and Saipan. These frequencies are outside the normal AM or FM broadcast bands.

Weather messages are repeated every 4 to 6 minutes and are routinely updated every 1 to 3 hours or more frequently when severe weather strikes. During severe weather, NWS forecasters can interrupt the routine weather broadcasts and insert special warning messages concerning imminent threats to life and property. The forecaster can also add special signals to warnings that trigger "alerting" features of specially equipped receivers. In the simplest case, this signal activates audible or visual alarms, indicating that an emergency condition exists within the radio listening area and alerts the listener to turn up the volume and stay tuned for more information. More sophisticated receivers can be programmed for individual counties and are automatically turned on when an alert is received.

County	SAME ID	NOAA Weather Radio Stations
Broward	012011	Miami, Palm Beach, and Spanish Station
Collier	012021	Naples and Ft Myers
Glades	012043	Ft Myers and Belle Glade
Hendry	012051	Naples, Ft Myers, and Belle Glade
Miami-Dade	012086	Miami, Princeton, and Spanish Station
Monroe	012087	Naples, Tea Table Key, Princeton, and Key West
Palm Beach	012099	Palm Beach and Belle Glade

On June 2012, a new Spanish NOAA Weather Radio station began broadcasting off a transmitter in Hialeah. This Spanish language transmitter serves Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

Here are the NOAA Weather Radio stations across South Florida along with their frequencies:

Transmitter	Station I.D.	Frequency
Miami	KHB34	162.55
Spanish	WZ2531	162.500
Princeton	WNG663	162.425
West Palm Beach	KEC50	162.475
Naples	WWG92	162.525
Belle Glade	WXM58	162.400

Since 1975, NOAA Weather Radio has been the sole Government-operated radio system providing direct warnings for both natural disasters and nuclear attack. This concept has recently been expanded to include warnings for all hazardous conditions that pose a threat to life and safety, both at the local and national level.

Special radios that receive only NOAA Weather Radio, both with and without special alerting features, are available from several manufacturers. In addition, other manufacturers are including NOAA Weather Radio as special features on an increasing variety of receivers. NOAA Weather Radio capability is currently available on some automobile, aircraft, marine, citizens band, and standard AM/FM radios as well as communications receivers, transceivers, scanners, and cable TV.

By nature and design, NOAA Weather Radio coverage is limited to an area within about 40 miles of the transmitter. Reception of this broadcast depends on the distance from the transmitter, local terrain, and the quality and location of the receiver. In general, those on flat terrain or at sea, using a high quality receiver, can expect reliable reception far beyond 40 miles. Those living in cities surrounded by large buildings and those in mountain valleys with standard receivers may experience little or no reception at considerably less than 40 miles. If possible, a receiver should be tested in the location where it will be used prior to purchase.

If you have additional questions, please email Chuck Caracozza.