NOAA Weather Radio broadcast routine
Note: The blue text in the sample text products below indicate links; the color of all text in the original alert issued was black. Conversions in the quote boxes below are not used by most NOAA Weather Radio stations and are included in this article for the purpose of disambiguation.
The NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards network has a multi-tier concept for forecasting or alerting the public to all types of weather. Actual forecasts vary by the area that the transmitter serves. During severe weather situations, Watch Information Statements for government-designated jurisdictions served by the local NWR station are typically inserted within the station's normal playlist of routine products; a special severe weather playlist temporarily suspends most regularly scheduled routine products in the event National Weather Service-issued warnings (mainly severe thunderstorm, tornado or flash flood warnings) are in effect for the station's broadcast area, which solely incorporate watch, warning and Special Weather Statements, and any active Short-Term Forecasts and Hazardous Weather Outlooks.
Routine forecast
Unless there is a significant event or test occurring, the typical broadcast cycle includes the following:
Hourly weather
A typical hourly observation report, which is updated once (or twice depending on the station or National Weather Service office, or whether severe weather conditions are ongoing) per hour at 5 or 10 and at 15 minutes past the hour, heard over NOAA Weather Radio stations features the following information:
- A complete detail of current weather conditions (current sky condition, temperature, dew point, humidity, wind speed/direction and barometric pressure) for the main reporting station in the station's city of license.
At 8 a.m. in Falls City, it was sunny. The temperature was 60 degrees, the dewpoint 59, and the relative humidity 97%. The wind was west at 6 miles (9.7 km) an hour. The pressure was 30.00 inches (1016 mb) and steady.
— Example from KWN41 in Shubert, Nebraska.
- Current observations usually limited to sky condition, temperature and wind speed/direction (although accompanied by dew point, humidity and pressure data on some NWR stations) within 50–75 miles (80–121 km) of the Weather Forecast Office and main reporting areas.
Across eastern Nebraska, southwest Iowa, and northwest Missouri, skies ranged from sunny to mostly sunny. It was 60 at Beatrice, 59 at Lincoln, 59 at Nebraska City, 57 at Omaha, 59 at Red Oak, and 62 at St. Joseph.
— Example from KWN41.
- Current sky condition and temperature observations (accompanied by wind speed/direction data on certain stations) within 250 miles (400 km) of the WFO area of responsibility.
Here are some observations from around the region. Fog was reported with a temperature of 60 at Concordia, Kansas, 57 at Grand Island, and 62 at Manhattan, Kansas. Haze was reported with a temperature of 63 at Topeka, and 61 at Kansas City. It was partly sunny with a temperature of 56 at Des Moines, and 50 at Sioux Falls.
— Example from KWN41.
Conditions for the closest observation site are typically used as a substitute in the lead of the segment if no report is available from the main reporting station, in which case the substituted station's observations will not be repeated at the end of the segment. In some locales, in the event any weather reporting station (whether the main station or a distant site) whose condition reports are regularly included in the segment had absent data, or no data available, the following message would be played in its place:
The report from Downtown Los Angeles was not available.
— Example from KWO37 in Los Angeles.
In some areas, a major city featured within the regional observations would always provide weather conditions; if a condition report is unavailable, the message "the weather conditions were not available" would precede the city. In addition, the regional portion of the segment may be condensed to a roundup format for select or all cities, if temperatures are within a 5° range and/or if sky conditions are the same or differ limitedly at each given reporting site (for example: "skies ranged from sunny to mostly sunny, and temperatures were between 57 and 62 degrees"). Sky conditions and/or temperatures for individual weather reporting stations may only be mentioned if weather conditions differ between multiple locations. Occasionally, due to technical or other issues, the previous hour's observations segment may be included in the product playlist as long as 15 minutes into the next hour, after which it is removed until updated information is available.
Sample hourly weather roundup
Here is an example taken from NOAA Weather Radio station WXJ75 in Springfield Illinois, at 8:00 a.m. on September 7, 2017. The Weather Radio Audio generator interprets the Area Weather Roundup below to generate this text for the Springfield Weather Radio Transmitter:
At 8 a.m. at Springfield, skies were sunny. The temperature was 52 degrees, the dew point was 47, and the relative humidity was 83 percent. The wind was southwest at 3 miles an hour. The pressure was 30.12 inches and rising.
The product below then translates temperatures from programmed sites at the following sites: Peoria, Bloomington, Champaign, Decatur, Lincoln, Taylorville, Litchfield, Jacksonville, and Quincy. It is translated:
Elsewhere around Central Illinois, It was sunny, with a temperature of 50 at Peoria, 49 at Champaign, 55 at Decatur, and 50 at Lincoln. Under sunny skies, Taylorville reported 49, Litchfield reported 51, Jacksonville reported 50, and Quincy reported 52. At Bloomington, it was partly sunny, with a temperature of 53.
The observations for Springfield are then re-emphasized:
And once again at 8 a.m. at Springfield, under sunny skies, the temperature was 52.
Then every cycle between :05 and :59 of each hour, observations from Chicago, Indianapolis, Saint Louis, Kansas City, Des Moines, and Milwaukee are provided as interpreted from the Area Weather Roundup product shown below:
Looking elsewhere around the Midwest at 8 a.m., Chicago was partly sunny, and 55. Indianapolis was partly sunny, and 49. Saint Louis was mostly sunny, and 56. Kansas City was cloudy, and 54. Des Moines was mostly sunny, and 51. Milwaukee was partly sunny, and 56.
Generation of this segment usually takes longer, as the Kansas City report requires the product to interpret another Area Weather Roundup product issued by the National Weather Service office in Springfield, MO.
000
NZUS43 KILX 071310
HWRILX
Area Weather Roundup
National Weather Service Lincoln IL
800 AM CDT THU SEP 07 2017
NOTE: "FAIR" indicates few or no clouds below 12,000 feet, with
no significant weather and/or obstructions to visibility.
CITY SKY/WX TMP DP RH WIND PRES REMARKS
Bloomington PTSUNNY 53 47 79 W9 30.11R
Champaign SUNNY 49 46 90 SW7 30.11R
Danville SUNNY 52 47 84 W7 30.07R
Decatur SUNNY 55 47 74 W8 30.12R
Effingham SUNNY 51 49 93 CALM 30.15R
Flora SUNNY 54 49 82 SW3 30.15R
Galesburg PTSUNNY 49 47 94 CALM 30.10S
Jacksonville SUNNY 50 47 89 CALM 30.13R
Lacon SUNNY 52 49 90 CALM 30.08S
Lawrenceville SUNNY 51 46 83 CALM 30.13S
Litchfield SUNNY 51 48 91 SW3 30.13R
$
CITY SKY/WX TMP DP RH WIND PRES REMARKS
Lincoln SUNNY 50 48 93 CALM 30.12S
Macomb MOSUNNY 47 46 99 W3 30.13S
Mattoon SUNNY 52 48 86 W3 30.12R
Mt Carmel AP SUNNY 49 46 92 CALM 30.14R
Olney-Noble AP SUNNY 51 49 93 CALM 30.15R
Paris AP SUNNY 50 47 89 W5 30.12R
Peoria SUNNY 50 46 86 SW3 30.10S
Pontiac MOSUNNY 50 49 98 CALM 30.10S
Rantoul SUNNY 53 49 83 W6 30.10R
Robinson SUNNY 49 47 92 CALM 30.14S
Springfield SUNNY 52 47 83 SW3 30.12R
Taylorville SUNNY 49 46 91 CALM 30.13R
$
... REGIONAL REPORTS ...
CITY SKY/WX TMP DP RH WIND PRES REMARKS
Chicago O`Hare PTSUNNY 55 47 74 W6 30.03S
Kankakee CLOUDY 51 48 89 CALM 30.08S
Moline SUNNY 52 48 86 CALM 30.08S
Mount Sterling SUNNY 51 48 89 W6 30.12R
Mount Vernon N/A 48 46 93 CALM 30.15S
Pittsfield SUNNY 53 49 86 W3 30.14R
Quincy SUNNY 52 49 89 SW5 30.12R
Rockford CLOUDY 50 47 89 W3 30.08R
$
CITY SKY/WX TMP DP RH WIND PRES REMARKS
Burlington SUNNY 50 49 96 CALM 30.10R
Cedar Rapids PTSUNNY 49 48 97 W3 30.08R
Des Moines MOSUNNY 51 45 79 SW3 30.10S
Kirksville SUNNY 54 47 77 W5 30.13R
Ottumwa SUNNY 50 46 86 W7 30.10S
St Louis MOSUNNY 56 52 86 W5 30.14S
$
CITY SKY/WX TMP DP RH WIND PRES REMARKS
Terre Haute SUNNY 51 47 86 SW3 30.11R
Evansville SUNNY 53 48 83 SW3 30.14R
Indianapolis PTSUNNY 49 46 90 SW5 30.09R
Lafayette SUNNY 49 49 100 W5 30.08R
Madison CLOUDY 53 49 86 CALM 30.03S
Milwaukee PTSUNNY 56 52 86 NW8 30.02S
$
Hazardous weather outlook
When conditions warrant, a hazardous weather outlook is issued (usually twice each day at around 7:00 a.m. and noon local time) by a local weather forecast office addressing potentially hazardous weather affecting the next seven days. The outlook will include information about potential thunderstorm activity (including any areas forecast to be under threat of severe thunderstorms), heavy rain or flooding, winter weather, wildfire, extremes of heat or cold, or other conditions that may pose a hazard or threat to travel, life and/or property. It is intended to provide information to those who need considerable lead time to prepare for the event, along with a call for action for NWS-trained SKYWARN volunteer weather spotters to be prepared to report their local weather conditions and/or damage reports back to the local NWS office. Other outlooks are issued on an event-driven basis, such as the Flood Potential Outlook and Public Severe Weather Outlook. Occasionally, a NWS WFO may update the Hazardous Weather Outlook while an event is ongoing or if forecast models denote changes from previous forecasts. Depending on the Weather Forecast Office, the Hazardous Weather Outlook may either state all weather hazards for the seven-day period or may separate them by the current day and the succeeding six days (days two through seven) of the forecast period.
Sample hazardous weather outlook
The following example of a Hazardous Weather Outlook was issued by the National Weather Service in North Little Rock, Arkansas, on February 24, 2011:
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LITTLE ROCK AR 445 AM CST THU FEB 24 2011 ARZ003>007-012>016-021>025-030>034-037>047-052>057-062>069-251045-ARKANSAS-BAXTER-BOONE-BRADLEY-CALHOUN-CLARK-CLEBURNE-CLEVELAND- CONWAY-DALLAS-DESHA-DREW-FAULKNER-FULTON-GARLAND-GRANT-HOT SPRING- INDEPENDENCE-IZARD-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-JOHNSON-LINCOLN-LOGAN-LONOKE- MARION-MONROE-MONTGOMERY-NEWTON-OUACHITA-PERRY-PIKE-POLK-POPE- PRAIRIE-PULASKI-SALINE-SCOTT-SEARCY-SHARP-STONE-VAN BUREN-WHITE- WOODRUFF-YELL- 445 AM CST THU FEB 24 2011 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR A LARGE PART OF ARKANSAS. .DAY ONE ... TODAY AND TONIGHT SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY ACROSS MUCH OF ARKANSAS TODAY. A STORM SYSTEM WILL APPROACH ARKANSAS FROM THE WEST ... BRINGING NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO THE STATE AS IT MOVES THROUGH. SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE MOST LIKELY ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE STATE ... ROUGHLY SOUTH AND EAST OF LOCATIONS SUCH AS MENA ... MORRILTON AND NEWPORT. TEMPERATURES WILL WARM WELL INTO THE 60S AND 70S IN THESE AREAS ... CREATING AN UNSTABLE AIR MASS. FARTHER NORTH CLOUDS AND MORE WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION WILL LIMIT WARMING AND INSTABILITY. WHILE CHANCES OF SEVERE STORMS WILL BE LESS IN THE NORTH ... THUNDERSTORMS WILL STILL BE PRESENT THERE. WINDS FROM JUST ABOVE THE SURFACE THROUGH THE MID LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE WILL BE QUITE STRONG WITH THIS SYSTEM. THERE IS ENOUGH CHANGE IN BOTH WIND SPEED ... AND WIND DIRECTION WITH HEIGHT TO SUPPORT MULTIPLE TYPES OF SEVERE WEATHER TODAY. DAMAGING WINDS ... TORNADOES AND LARGE HAIL WILL ALL BE POSSIBLE. IN ADDITION TO THE SEVERE STORMS ... HEAVY RAINS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE. AREAS IN NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST ARKANSAS RECEIVED UPWARDS OF TWO INCHES OF RAIN OVERNIGHT. MORE HEAVY RAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE TODAY AS STORMS MOVE THROUGH THE AREA ... WITH THE GREATEST AMOUNTS EXPECTED IN THE NORTH. WITH REGARD TO TIMING ... STORMS SHOULD MOVE FROM TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA INTO WESTERN ARKANSAS BETWEEN NOON AND 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON. STORMS WILL MOVE TOWARD CENTRAL ARKANSAS BETWEEN 3 PM AND 6 PM ... MAKING IT INTO THE EAST BETWEEN 6 PM AND 9 PM. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN ... FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING WILL BE CALM AS HIGH PRESSURE DOMINATES THE WEATHER IN ARKANSAS. HOWEVER ... LATE SUNDAY WILL BRING ANOTHER ROUND OF SEVERE WEATHER AS ANOTHER STRONG SYSTEM APPROACHES FROM THE SOUTHWEST. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT ... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NECESSARY THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA. && $
Source:[1]
Regional weather synopsis
The regional weather synopsis, also known as the "regional weather summary" (the terminology varies depending on the local National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office), is a report that provides a brief overview of weather events from the previous or current day within the region, followed by an outlook of expected weather from the current time to the next few days. The synopsis is usually broadcast in the main program cycle and updated at least twice per day from 5:00 to 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 to 10:00 p.m. local time.
Sample regional weather synopsis
The following example of a Regional Weather Synopsis was issued by the NWS Fort Worth office, on April 2, 2010:
NORTH TEXAS WEATHER SUMMARY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 1050 AM CDT FRI APR 02 2010 SKIES WERE OVERCAST ACROSS NORTH TEXAS EARLY THIS MORNING AS A COLD FRONT BOUNDARY BEGAN TO APPROACH THE REGION FROM THE WEST. A LINE OF STORMS DEVELOPED ALONG THIS BOUNDARY THROUGHOUT THE MORNING. TEMPERATURES JUST BEFORE DAYBREAK WERE IN THE UPPER 60S AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND THE UPPER 50S BEHIND THE FRONT. WINDS WERE GENERLLY FROM THE SOUTH AT 10 TO 20 MPH SWITCHING TO THE WEST BEHIND THE FRONT. BY LATE MORNING ... THE LINE OF STORMS ARE LOCATED ALONG A SHERMAN ... TO FORT WORTH ... TO HAMILTON LINE. THE MAIN THREAT EXPECTED FROM THESE STORMS IS LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. AFTERNOON HIGHS ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE UPPER 70S THROUGHOUT NORTH TEXAS. RAIN CHANCES WILL DECREASE EASTWARD AS THE BOUNDARY EXITS THE REGION THIS EVENING. SKIES ARE EXPECTED TO CLEAR OVERNIGHT WITH LOW TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 40S ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA. THE WEEKEND WILL BE PLEASANT AND WARM WITH MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES AND TEMPERATURES NEAR 80.
Daily climate summary
In most cases, this information is included in the above regional weather synopsis. climate summaries comprise three separate general information products illustrating recently observed weather conditions:
- Area climate summary – In most areas, this summary is played in 15-minute intervals each program cycle (generally mornings from 4:00 to 10:00 a.m. local time). The summary includes information on the minimum and maximum temperatures recorded the previous day; 30-year temperature averages and historical temperature extremes. It may also include the previous day's recorded precipitation, and monthly and annual total precipitation in comparison to their respective 30-year averages; and heating and/or cooling degree day data. In many areas, the sunrise and sunset times for the next two days are stated, whereas in other areas, the sunrise and sunset times are featured as a separate report.
- Regional climate summary – Generally broadcast in the cycle from the mid-morning to early afternoon. This summary includes actual high and low temperatures and precipitation amounts for regional sections of the area recorded between 7:00 a.m. local time the previous day and 7:00 a.m. the present day.
- Afternoon climate summary – In most areas this report is replaced by the area climate summary, however it may be included on specific days of the week (sometime between 5:00 and 9:00 p.m.). The summary provides information on minimum and maximum temperatures, and total precipitation recorded since 12:00 a.m. local time. Reports from other stations around the listening area are also included into local report for a more comprehensive record. The afternoon climate summary states the average and extreme temperatures and average and current monthly/annual precipitation totals for the date. The summary is subject to updates due to changes in maximum and/or minimum temperature or measured precipitation recorded during the broadcast period.
Regional forecast
This product offers weather summaries for all the counties across the listening area. It is updated four times daily at 4:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. (but more during severe or changeable weather).
A regional weather roundup is updated hourly. Regional weather conditions are summarised at predetermined times.
There is also a three- to five-day extended forecast product, which is updated twice per day at sometime between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.
Specialty forecasts
The following are not included during most broadcast cycles or are only played as needed depending on local weather.
Short term forecast
A short term forecast is a localized, event-driven report used to provide the public with detailed weather information during significant and/or rapidly changing weather conditions during the next six hours. This forecast will often mention the position of precipitation as detected by radar. In most areas, this is the only forecast product that is permitted to air both during active severe weather warnings affecting the listening area and during routine forecast program cycles.
Special weather statement
A special weather statement is a regional event-driven and is used to provide the public with details of the upcoming significant weather event, such as a major winter storm, a heat wave, or potential flooding. A significant weather advisory may be issued within a Special Weather Statement, often if thunderstorm activity whether severe or not is occurring in, or approaching an area.
Sample special weather statement
The following example of a special weather statement was issued by the National Weather Service office in San Angelo, Texas, on September 6, 2010 regarding that year's Tropical Storm Hermine:
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN ANGELO TX 532 AM CDT MON SEP 6 2010 TXZ049-054-064>066-071>073-076>078-098-099-113-114-127-128-139- 140-154-155-168>170-061715- FISHER-NOLAN-STERLING-COKE-RUNNELS-IRION-TOM GREEN-CONCHO- CROCKETT-SCHLEICHER-SUTTON-HASKELL-THROCKMORTON-JONES-SHACKELFORD- TAYLOR-CALLAHAN-COLEMAN-BROWN-MCCULLOCH-SAN SABA-MENARD-KIMBLE- MASON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF ... ROTAN ... ROBY ... SWEETWATER ... STERLING CITY ... ROBERT LEE ... BRONTE ... BALLINGER ... WINTERS ... MERTZON ... SAN ANGELO ... EDEN ... OZONA ... ELDORADO ... SONORA ... HASKELL ... THROCKMORTON ... WOODSON ... STAMFORD ... ANSON ... HAMLIN ... ALBANY ... ABILENE ... CLYDE ... BAIRD ... CROSS PLAINS ... COLEMAN ... BROWNWOOD ... BRADY ... SAN SABA ... MENARD ... JUNCTION ... MASON 532 AM CDT MON SEP 6 2010 ... TROPICAL STORM HERMINE FORMS IN THE WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO AT 4 AM CDT ON THIS LABOR DAY MORNING ... THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER IS ISSUING ADVISORIES ON TROPICAL STORM HERMINE. THE HURRICANE CENTER FORECAST`S TROPICAL STORM HERMINE TO MAKE LANDFALL ALONG THE NORTHEAST MEXICAN COASTLINE SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. HERMINE IS FORECAST TO TRACK NORTHWEST TOWARDS WEST CENTRAL TEXAS AS A TROPICAL DEPRESSION. IT SHOULD IMPACT THE AREA TUESDAY NIGHT ... WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THE OUTER RAIN BANDS OF THIS DEPRESSION COULD IMPACT THE NORTHWEST HILL COUNTRY AS EARLY AS TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. REMEMBER THAT ISOLATED TORNADOES CAN FORM IN THE OUTER BANDS OF THESE SYSTEMS WITH LITTLE OR NO WARNING. TROPICAL DEPRESSIONS ARE ALSO KNOWN FOR PRODUCING CONCENTRATED FLOODING RAINFALL AT NIGHT. THEREFORE ... IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO MONITOR THE TRACK OF HERMINE AS IT MOVES INLAND OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS SINCE THERE STILL IS SOME UNCERTAINTY WITH THE FUTURE TRACK AND SPEED OF HERMINE. BASED ON THE LATEST FORECAST TRACK ... WIDESPREAD 2 TO 4 INCHES WITH ISOLATED 4 TO 8 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE ACROSS WEST CENTRAL TEXAS TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT.
Record information announcement
A record information announcement announces information on newly set records for coldest/warmest maximum and/or minimum temperature and maximum precipitation. This forecast is only included in the broadcast when such events occur.
Surf zone forecast
A Surf zone forecast is a text forecast for local beaches issued by coastal stations, including coastal hazard information such as that pertaining to rip currents. These products are issued year-round at the Los Angeles/Oxnard, San Diego and New York City offices, and seasonally at most other coastal offices.
River forecast
This forecast is not usually included in many reports unless there is a potential for flooding or flooding is occurring, which would then be included with the hazardous weather outlook Daily river forecasts are issued by the 13 river forecast centers using hydrologic models based on variables such as rainfall, soil characteristics and precipitation forecasts. Some forecasts, especially those in mountainous regions, also provide seasonal snow pack and peak flow forecasts. A separate forecast, River and Small Stream Observations, is broadcast in areas in and outside the 13 river forecast centers and is only broadcast following a significant hydrological event featuring information on crests, and present and forecasted flood stages.
Lake forecast
Lake forecasts (sometimes referred to as "nearshore marine forecasts" and "open waters forecast"; depending on the station and area) are issued by most stations in the Great Lakes region to explicitly state expected weather conditions within the marine forecast area through the next five days. The report addresses expected wave heights and small-craft advisories currently in effect.
Coastal waters forecast
A Coastal Waters Forecast states expected weather conditions and wave heights within the marine forecast area through the next five days.
Offshore waters forecast
An offshore waters forecast is issued by the Ocean Prediction Center and provides a five-day forecast and warning information intended for mariners travelling on oceanic waters adjacent to the U.S. coastline.
Tropical weather summary
Tropical weather summaries are an event-driven report updated every three hours, which provides an information summary on any active tropical cyclones. Activity summaries for the Atlantic Basin are typically included with stations located in states near the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, while stations along the West Coast receive summaries concerning the Pacific Ocean. Depending on the station and associated Weather Forecast Office, listeners can hear this report at the top and bottom of every hour.
- "Most of Arkansas Hazardous Weather Outlook". National Weather Service, Little Rock, Arkansas. April 21, 2011. Retrieved April 21, 2011.