NOAA Weather Radio WXK79

A VHF FM weather radio station operating as part of the NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards network, administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service. The network broadcasts automated weather information continuously, 24 hours a day, drawing content directly from the local National Weather Service office. Standard programming cycles include local and regional weather forecasts, climate summaries, zone forecasts, and coastal or lake water conditions where applicable. During hazardous weather events, the cycle is modified to prioritize short-term forecasts, hazardous weather outlooks, special weather statements, and tropical weather summaries. Beyond meteorological content, the network is integrated with the Federal Communications Commission's Emergency Alert System and may carry non-weather emergency notifications including national security statements, natural disaster information, Amber alerts, civil emergency messages, evacuation orders, and public safety notices. Broadcast technology allows individual segments to be updated and recycled across transmission cycles, enabling consistent information delivery across transmitters. The NOAA Weather Radio network traces its origins to 1960, when the U.S. Weather Bureau began experimental VHF weather broadcasts in Chicago and New York City. The service expanded through the 1960s and early 1970s to serve coastal and general populations before becoming a nationwide system. Weather radios compatible with the network are widely available at consumer electronics retailers and in stores throughout regions with frequent severe weather activity. The WXK79 transmitter serves the Lubbock area of west Texas.