NOAA Weather Radio

Vessels operating along the North American coast have excellent safety, weather and communication resources available via VHF radio, medium-frequency SSB radio and AM/FM stations including NOAA weather radio.

NOAA weather radio is a service that is available nationwide through a network of radio stations. Each station broadcasts continuous weather information obtained from the local National Weather Service office. NOAA weather radio broadcasts contain weather warnings, storm watches, forecasts and potential hazard information 24x7.

NOAA, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, operates 400 VHF coastal radio transmitters in the United States, each with a range of 40 miles. These NOAA weather radio transmitters broadcast continuously, providing recorded weather analyses and forecasts (projected from six to 24 hours) for coastal waters. Seven NOAA weather radio frequencies from 162.400 to 162.550 MHz allow for overlapping coverage. These forecasts are updated every few hours, more frequently if necessary, and are intentionally kept brief (about four to six minutes). Long-term weather features are not normally included, although significant features outside the forecast area, such as hurricanes often will be highlighted by NOAA weather radio.

NOAA weather radio operates VHF-FM radio stations 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

These NOAA weather radio stations provide continuous weather broadcasts, including both regional and local weather. NOAA weather radio broadcast tapes are generally updated every three hours during the day and generally include the following information:

1. Marine forecasts and warnings for coastal waters out to 60 miles.
2. Offshore waters forecast for waters 60 to 250 miles from land.
3. State forecasts and local forecasts.
4. Selected weather observations from the Coast Guard, buoys, and other stations.

Whenever severe weather warnings are necessary, the NOAA weather radio tape is updated and the transmission is devoted to "up-to-the-minute" information on storm dangers.

NOAA weather radio requires a special radio receiver or scanner capable of picking up the signal. Broadcast found in the public service band are avalable from the seven frequencies mentioned above.

If you would like more information about NOAA Weather Radio, please visit the official National Weather Service NOAA Weather Radio Web site. This site contains valuable information including station listings, coverage maps and frequently asked questions about NOAA Weather Radio.

For NOAA weather radio information pertaining to the Atlantic coast, please consult Reed’s Nautical Almanac North American East Coast Edition. This edition covers points from Nova Scotia proceeding South along the Atlantic coast, through Florida and then North and West along the Gulf of Mexico.

 North American East Coast Edition

For NOAA weather radio information pertaining to the Pacific coast, please consult Reed’s Nautical Almanac North American West Coast Edition. This edition covers points from Kodiak, Alaska South through the Baja peninsula in Mexico. This edition also features coverage for Puget Sound, British Columbia inside passage and the Hawaiian Islands.

 North American West Coast Edition

For NOAA weather radio information pertaining to the Caribbean, please consult Reed’s Nautical Almanac Caribbean Edition. This edition covers points from South Florida through the Gulf Coast of Mexico.

 Caribbean Edition

If you would like more information about NOAA weather radio and other navigation aids, consider purchasing one of our publications. Reed's Nautical Almanac East Coast, West Coast and Caribbean editions are available for online purchase and make great gifts.

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