KEC94 NOAA Weather Radio

An automated 24-hour network of VHF FM weather radio stations broadcasting weather information and hazard alerts directly from National Weather Service offices. Established in 1960 as an experimental service in Chicago and New York City for maritime forecasts, the network expanded through the 1970s to serve the general public in coastal regions. By 1974, the service covered 44 percent of the U.S. population over 66 transmitters nationwide. The system evolved to include automated voice synthesis technology, replacing live human operators. In 1995, the Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) protocol was adopted nationwide, allowing targeted geographic alerting. In 1997, the service expanded its mission to broadcast all types of hazards, including natural disasters, environmental emergencies, public safety alerts, and Amber notifications. Operating on seven VHF-FM frequencies between 162.400 and 162.550 MHz, the network provides continuous programming with routine observational products, forecasts, and climate summaries. By 2020, approximately 1,032 stations achieved over 95 percent effective population coverage across all fifty states, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories. The service maintains a multi-tier concept for relaying meteorological data, with special severe weather protocols that temporarily suspend routine programming during active weather warnings.