What Is S.A.M.E.?

Specific Area Message Encoding can be used so your radio only alerts you to warnings in your specific area. There are approximately 600 radio stations across the country that transmit the NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) signal. The National Weather Service uses this signal to broadcast weather conditions, forecasts or alerts. Each transmitter is set to one of seven specific frequencies designated by NOAA for the NWR system. Most radios can monitor any of the seven channels which could include alerts for multiple counties. Many people would like to only hear alerts specific to their immediate vicinity. There is a code that is sent out in the broadcast by the National Weather Service which identifies which county the alert is for. If your radio has S.A.M.E. you can program your radio to only sound the alert if it affects your county or the counties closest to you.

What is "NOAA Weather Radio"?

NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) is a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information direct from a nearby National Weather Service office. NWR broadcasts National Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day. For more information visit: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/

Where can I get my County Codes?

For County Codes information please go to http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/indexnw.htm#sametabl.

What alerts are broadcasted?

Only the most imminent life and property threatening hazards are broadcasted with the SAME signal and 1050 Hertz warning alarm tone, where the public has to take immediate action to protect themselves and their property. An operational guideline is that messages are alerted only for hazards urgent enough to warrant waking people up in the "middle of the night" or otherwise interrupting someone's activities at any time.

How close to the broadcast tower do I need to be?

Broadcast range from the weather radio transmitter is approximately 40 miles. The effective range depends on terrain, quality of the receiver, and indoor/outdoor antennas. Before you buy a receiver, make sure your area is covered by one of the transmitters. The goal of the National Weather Service and emergency preparedness agencies is to expand the reach of weather radio broadcasts to cover 95 percent of the U.S. population. Innovative partnerships between the NWS, private industry, and state and local governments are fueling this expansion. You can help foster such partnerships in your community. For more information concerning developing a partnership with the NWS, contact your local weather service office.

How many broadcast towers are there?

There are over 600 broadcast towers covering more than 90% of the United States.

What Is Atmospheric Pressure?

Atmospheric pressure is sometimes defined as the force per unit area exerted against a surface by the weight of air above that surface at any given point in the Earth's atmosphere

What Is a tornado?

A tornado is a violent, rotating column of air which is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud. Tornadoes come in many sizes but are typically in the form of a visible condensation funnel, whose narrow end touches the earth and is often encircled by a cloud of debris.

What does a barometer do?

A barometer is an instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure. It can measure the pressure exerted by the atmosphere by using water, air or mercury. Pressure tendency can forecast short term changes in the weather. Numerous measurements of air pressure are used within surface weather analysis to help find surface troughs, high pressure systems, and frontal boundaries.