NOAA Weather Radio (NWR)

NOAA Weather Radios access a nationwide network of radio stations that broadcast continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service (NWS) office. Broadcasts from official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Weather Radio’s also works with the Federal Communication Commission’s Emergency Alert System (EAS) to be an “all-hazards” radio network, making it a single source for emergency information. In conjunction with Federal, State and local public safety officials and emergency managers, NWR can broadcast warning and post-event information about all types of hazards – natural (such as winter storms or flash flood), environmental (such as a chemical spill), or public safety (such as an AMBER alert).

Where to purchase?

NOAA weather radios are available at many retail outlets, including electronics, department, and sporting goods stores, as well as many grocery stores. They can also be purchased via the Internet from online retailers or directly from manufacturers. They are available with many different features, and can cost anywhere from $20 to $200. A few of the more useful features include:

  • Tone alarm: The alarm tone will activate for watch and warning messages even if the receiver is turned off.
  • SAME technology: Specific Alert Message Encoding allows you to specify the area for which you would like to receive alerts. Without this feature, you may hear watches and warnings for several counties. With this feature, you will hear messages only about the areas you have selected. SAME information for Colorado can be found at https://www.weather.gov/nwr/county_coverage?State=CO
  • Battery backup: This feature is useful since power outages often accompany severe weather. It is recommended that you use the AC power under normal conditions, however, in order to preserve battery life.