NOAA Weather Radio Frequencies for Emergency Alerts and Severe Weather

The National Weather Service’s NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) network is the fastest and most reliable way to get life-saving alerts directly from the source—24/7, no internet or cell service required.

The Seven (and Only Seven) NOAA Weather Radio Frequencies

All NWR stations in the United States, Canada, and U.S. territories operate on exactly these channels:

Channel	Frequency	Historical Name	Notes
1	162.400 MHz	WX1	Most common nationwide
2	162.425 MHz	WX2	Very common
3	162.450 MHz	WX3	Common in Midwest & South
4	162.475 MHz	WX4	Common in Northeast & Great Lakes
5	162.500 MHz	WX5	Common in Plains & Mountain states
6	162.525 MHz	WX6	Common in Pacific Northwest & Rockies
7	162.550 MHz	WX7	Most common in the Southeast, Gulf Coast, and Florida

That’s it. There are no WX8–WX12 channels in normal use in the U.S.

How to Find Your Local Transmitter and Frequency

Go to: www.weather.gov/nwr/station_listing
or
https://www.weather.gov/skywarn/nwr (interactive map with coverage footprints)

Enter your county → you’ll instantly see:

• Exact frequency
• Callsign (e.g., KHB-36, WXJ-75)
• Transmitter location and power
• Six-digit SAME/FIPS code(s) for your county

Understanding SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding)

Since 1998, every alert broadcast contains a digital header with one or more SAME codes.
Your radio stays silent until it hears a code that matches what you programmed.

Common Event Codes You’ll Hear (first three letters):

• TOR = Tornado Warning
• SVR = Severe Thunderstorm Warning
• FFW = Flash Flood Warning
• EWW = Extreme Wind Warning
• SMW = Special Marine Warning
• BZW = Blizzard Warning
• TSU = Tsunami Warning
• EVA = Evacuation Immediate (used in chemical spills, dam breaks, wildfires)
• RWT = Required Weekly Test (usually Wednesday ~11 a.m. local)

How to Program Your Scanner or Weather Radio for SAME Alerts (Step-by-Step)

Dedicated NOAA Weather Radios (Midland WR-120, WR-400, etc.)

1. Power on → MENU → enter your six-digit SAME code (one code per county; add up to 25 on most models).
2. Set to “ANY” code if you want every single alert the transmitter can reach (useful for travelers).
3. Choose alert type: Voice + 1050 Hz tone (default) or Tone-only for nighttime.
4. Test: MENU → “Test” or wait for the Wednesday RWT.

HomePatrol, SDS100/200, TRX-1/2, BCD436/536HP, etc. (Uniden Scanners)

1. Turn on → Menu → Manage Favorites → New System → Conventional.
2. Create a new Department called “NOAA Weather Radio.”
3. Add each frequency (usually just one or two for your area).
4. Set Service Type = “Weather.”
5. Press Avoid on all but your primary frequency to prevent constant weather chatter.
6. Enable Alert → SAME Alert → enter your county FIPS code(s).
7. Set Alert Light or Tone to your preference (9 levels on SDS series).
8. Optional: Set Alert Channel to “Yes” so it jumps straight to the NWR frequency when an alert fires.

Whistler TRX-1 / TRX-2 / WS1080 / WS1095 Series

1. EZ Scan → Weather → select your frequency → enter SAME code(s).
2. Priority = ON (checks every 5 seconds even while scanning).

AnyTone 878/878-II, TYT, Baofeng, etc. (DMR/Analog HTs with NOAA channels)

Most newer Chinese dual-banders now have 162 MHz receive:

1. VFO mode → enter 162.XXX → Menu → Squelch = 0 or 1.
2. Save to a memory channel named “NWS 162.400” etc.
   → These radios cannot decode SAME codes natively. You will hear every broadcast and every 1050 Hz tone 24/7.
   → Use only as a backup or while mobile.

Pro Tips That Save Lives

• Program at least two adjacent counties — warnings are often issued for the county next door first.
• Use an external antenna (even a $12 mag-mount on a filing cabinet) if you live in a basement or metal building.
• Enable “SAME ANY” when traveling or during widespread severe weather outbreaks.
• Keep fresh batteries or a small power bank — NWR is useless if your radio dies when the grid does.

When tornado sirens are silent because the power is out, NOAA Weather Radio with SAME is still screaming the warning directly to your nightstand.

Program it once, sleep better forever.

My History with NOAA

In the late 1970’s, I would venture to a local hilltop in my town so that I might pick up the Buffalo NOAA broadcast. I was in Burlington, Ontario, and I could pickup up Buffalo, NY. Canada did not have a service like this for a few more years. They used real human voice segments in those days. I wish I had recorded it. It would be valuable evidence. At the time, I was not a licensed ham, but I was a dedicated SWL.

UPDATE:

The situation regarding weather radio frequencies is currently a tale of two different directions, depending on which side of the border you are on.

Canada: Discontinuation of Service

As of March 16, 2026, Environment and Climate Change Canada has permanently discontinued the Weatheradio Canada service.

• Status: The Seven VHF frequencies (162.400, 162.425, 162.450, 162.475, 162.500, 162.525, and 162.550 MHz) are no longer broadcasting weather data in Canada.
• Replacement: The government is directing citizens to use the WeatherCAN app or the official website for alerts.
• Impact: This has been a significant point of discussion among radio hobbyists, as it removes a critical “off-grid” safety net for those in remote areas without cellular coverage.

United States: Modernization and Expansion

In contrast, the U.S. is moving to strengthen its network. The NOAA Weather Radio Modernization Act (H.R. 7813) recently passed through the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology in March 2026.

• Frequencies: There are no new frequencies being added to the standard seven-channel lineup. The system will continue to operate on the existing VHF band (162.400–162.550 MHz).
• Infrastructure Upgrades: The legislation authorizes $100 million for FY 2026 to:
  • Replace aging transmitters and antennas.
  • Transition away from unreliable copper-wire transmissions to fiber and IP-based protocols.
  • Expand coverage to reach 98–99% of the U.S. population, particularly in rural and “dead zone” areas.
• New Technologies: NOAA is investigating the use of satellite backups and internet-protocol (IP) dissemination to ensure the “Voice of NOAA” stays on the air even if a local forecast office or landline fails.

If you are using a scanner or a programmable radio in the U.S., these remain the active channels:

While the frequencies aren’t changing, the reliability of the transmitters behind them is expected to improve significantly over the next year as the modernization funding kicks in.

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