Weather Service encourages use of weather radios

The National Weather Service is encouraging citizens to buy receivers to hear its weather radio service after deadly tornadoes raced across Johnston and Wilson counties this past weekend in the middle of the night.

Local weather service officials say its National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio provided an average warning lead time of 29 minutes in advance of the tornadoes touching the ground, according to a media release.

NOAA weather radio is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office, the release said.

NOAA weather radio broadcasts official weather service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. NOAA Weather Radio will alert listeners to tornadoes, thunderstorms, flash floods and winter storms.

The weather radio is provided as a public service by the NOAA, the release said.

In North Carolina nearly 30 NOAA weather radio broadcast stations provide weather forecast and warning for all 100 counties.

NWR requires a special radio receiver or scanner to pick up the signal. Broadcasts are found in the VHF public service band at these frequencies (MHz): 162.400; 162.425; 162.450; 162.475; 162.500; 162.525; 162.550

These receivers range from $20 to $65.

For information on NOAA weather radio including where to buy and how to program visit www.weather.gov/nwr/

For details about NOAA weather radio in North Carolina, visit http://www.erh.noaa.gov/rah/ncnwr/