Important changes to NOAA Weather Radio

The National Weather Service on Tuesday announced some temporary changes to the configuration of two NOAA Weather Radio transmitters that may become permanent if they work.

The National Weather Service, in its statement, said the changes were made in light of some of the comments and concerns regarding the reception of the NOAA Weather Radio signal in some locations. The Weather Service said it received several comments following the tornadoes January 23rd, prompting staff to make some significant alterations to the configuration of the Anniston and Oneonta transmitters.

Effective immediately, the following changes have been made on an experimental basis through the end of the year:

1.  Anniston/Mt. Cheaha, KIH-58, 162.475 MHz

Counties warned:  ADDING Jefferson, Shelby, and Coosa counties.  

Explanation from NWS: "Jefferson County was added based on feedback regarding a "hole" in the Birmingham transmitter's coverage in the Trussville/Clay area, and reports from reliable sources that the KIH-58 signal is strong in some of those areas.  The addition of Jefferson and Shelby counties will also provide NWR listeners in western St. Clair and Talladega counties the option for additional "heads up" warning time for hazardous weather approaching from the west.  Coosa County was added based on the projected coverage area of KIH-58 providing improved coverage for NWR listeners in northeastern Coosa County, which will also provide additional "heads up" warning for listeners in Clay and Tallapoosa counties."

2.  Oneonta, WNG-606, 162.425 MHz

Counties warned:  ADDING Jefferson, Walker, and Cullman counties.

Explanation from NWS: "It is important to note that for the Oneonta transmitter, these counties were added primarily to provide additional "heads up" warning time to listeners by having the option to be warned for hazardous weather approaching the listening area from the west.  In nearly all circumstances, NWR listeners in Jefferson, Walker, and Cullman counties should NOT change to listen to the Oneonta transmitter for their warnings."

As mentioned above, the NWS said these changes are being made on an experimental basis through the end of the year.  Before the NWS makes these changes permanent, it wants to ensure the performance of the transmitters are not degraded for the listeners currently relying on them to receive their warnings.  

"As is often the case with the transmission of radio and television signals, the "theoretical" coverage maps do not always coincide with reality," the NWS said in the statement. "As a result, the configuration of NWR transmitters is not as simple as looking at a coverage map and picking counties, and can be a rather complicated task."

The NWS said it will take some time to process these changes through channels in order to provide updated coverage maps on NWS websites.  In the meantime, the weather service has produced a two-page statewide map of NWR transmitters, frequencies, and FIPS codes on one side, with a color=coded transmitter coverage map on the reverse.  It can be found here:

New Alabama NOAA Weather Radio configuration

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