Alabama NWR Changes

Note the changes below to National Weather Service radio… this information is from John DeBlock of the Birmingham NWS office…

In light of some of the comments and concerns regarding the reception of the NOAA Weather Radio signal in some locations we’ve received following the January 23rd event, and reviewing NWR coverage in Central Alabama, we have made some significant alterations to the configuration of the Anniston and Oneonta transmitters. We will be issuing a Public Information Statement later this afternoon that highlights these changes, but we wanted to get them to you as soon as possible.

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.

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.

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, these changes are being made on an experimental basis through the end of the year. Before we make these changes permanent, we want to ensure that the performance of the transmitter is 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, most of you are probably aware that the “theoretical” coverage maps do not always coincide with reality. 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.

Tags: NWR

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