Here’s the latest I can share based on up-to-date public information.
- NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) uses seven VHF frequencies for national broadcasts: 162.400, 162.425, 162.450, 162.475, 162.500, 162.525, and 162.550 MHz. These are the standard frequencies you’ll find for NWR transmitters nationwide.
- NWR is a nationwide network of over 1,000 transmitters that provide continuous weather information, watches, warnings, and forecasts for the U.S. and territories.
- In 2025, NOAA and partner broadcasters conducted rolling updates and maintenance across many stations, which could cause temporary outages or periods of offline status while updates are completed. If you’re relying on NWR during severe weather, it’s wise to have a backup alerting method during maintenance windows.
- For a quick reference, many local NWR brochures list the seven frequencies above and note that you’ll need a dedicated NWR weather radio or scanner to receive alerts. This is standard nationwide guidance.
Illustrative example: If you want to program a weather radio for a typical U.S. location, set it to the seven NWR channels (162.400, 162.425, 162.450, 162.475, 162.500, 162.525, 162.550 MHz). It will broadcast alerts from NOAA’s National Weather Service for your county or nearby areas.
If you’d like, I can pull current local transmitters and their frequencies for your exact area (Los Angeles, CA) and provide a short, plain-language guide to programming a device.
Sources
NOAA Weather Radio currently broadcasts from over 425 FM transmitters in fifty states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and Saipan on seven frequencies in the VHF band, ranging from 162.400 to 162.550 megahertz (MHz). These frequencies are outside the normal AM or FM broadcast bands.
www.aoml.noaa.govNational Weather Service < Over 1000 Transmitters > Broadcasting Continuous Weather Information on the Following Frequencies: 162.400 MHz 162.425 MHz 162.450 MHz 162.475 MHz 162.500 MHz 162.525 MHz 162.550 MHz U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service http://www.weather.gov/nwr/ NOAA/PA 94062 Rev January 2015
www.mnasa.orgNational Weather Services (NWS) offices across the country are managing a series of required updates for their radio stations.
www.radioworld.comNational Weather Service < Over 1000 Transmitters > Broadcasting Continuous Weather Information on the Following Frequencies: 162.400 MHz 162.425 MHz 162.450 MHz 162.475 MHz 162.500 MHz 162.525 MHz 162.550 MHz U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service http://www.weather.gov/nwr/ NOAA/PA 94062 Rev October 2019
www.harfordcountymd.govNOAA National Weather Service NOAA Weather Radio
noaa-mirror.orgNWS PHI NOAA Weather Radio
www.weather.govIn an era where connectivity is crucial, NOAA weather radios stand out as a vital tool for safety, providing round-the-clock alerts and updates from the National Weather Service (NWS), even in the most remote areas.
www.ksat.com