A comfortable handle, lightweight design, and durable materials add up to a radio that can survive rough treatment. If you opt for an outdoor weather radio, you should consider how easy it is to carry.
This feature is typically found only on AC-powered indoor weather radios. NOAA alerts tend to cover a broader region. This function allows you to program your radio to alert you to weather events only your area. SAME technology: One of the best features a weather radio can have is Specific Alert Message Encoding (SAME) technology. There’s no need to get flood alerts if you’re in a location that doesn’t experience floods. This is a quick way to tell whether a radio will provide reliable alerts pertinent to your region.Īudible alarms: Radios with audible alarms notify you when an alert is being broadcast even if you have the volume turned down.Īlert blocking: This feature can turn specific alerts on or off, which can keep you notified of only the alerts pertinent to your situation and location. Public alert certification: Some radios are public alert certified by the National Weather Service. These event- and area-specific alerts are convenient as well as safe because they may prevent you from turning off your potentially lifesaving device when you go to sleep. Finding a radio with customizable alerts and alarms can be useful. You may not want to receive every NOAA alert for your region because a radio with a loud alarm could wake you up in the middle of the night for a non-dangerous weather event. The types of alerts a radio receives and its alarm system vary from one model to the next. Let’s break down the key functions of a weather radio. Weather radio featuresĪ weather radio is a tool that can provide invaluable aid before or during a disaster, so it’s important to plan ahead and know what you need. The primary differences between indoor and outdoor radios are power source and portability.
Others are designed to be taken with you during an emergency, and some models may be designed for both indoor and outdoor use. These are sometimes called desktop weather radios.
Some weather alert radios are designed to be kept indoors to notify you of NOAA alerts. Where will you use your weather radio?Ĭonsider where you will use your weather radio and what situations you expect to need it for. These are often used by people who don’t live in disaster-prone areas who want to get regular weather updates rather than emergency alerts. Weather band radios must be tuned to weather alert stations and won’t automatically alert you to hazardous conditions. These radios are region based and often kept in the home or office. They automatically alert you of NOAA announcements and can sometimes be programmed for specific alert types. These serve primarily to warn you of incoming storms or emergencies. Weather alert radios are the more popular option. There are two main types of weather radios: weather alert radios and weather band radios. Weather radios should not be confused with emergency radios, which have similar designs and features but aren’t specifically designed to provide alerts for your area. Key considerations What is a weather radio?Ī weather radio is a device that alerts you to severe weather warnings from NOAA or a network of weather alert radio stations called the NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) that broadcast continuously. When the power is out and the cell phone network is down, a weather radio can be the most valuable tool you carry.