NOAA Weather Radio Station KZZ-65 (Bloomington)

KZZ-65 operates 24 hours a day at a frequency of 162.525 MHz. KZZ-65 operates at 300 watts of power, from a transmitter located near the I-55/Market St. interchange in Bloomington.

KZZ-65 serves 4 counties in central Illinois:

De Witt (017039)
McLean (017113)
Tazewell (017179)
Woodford (017203)

Numbers in parentheses are used for the Specific Area Message Encoder (SAME), utilized by many NOAA Weather Radio All-Hazards receivers.

The approximate coverage area is shown at left. This is based on computer projections, and may vary due to placement of your radio, direction of the transmitting antenna on the broadcast tower, and environmental issues. Click here for more details.

Listeners in Tazewell and Woodford Counties can also receive severe weather information on station WXJ-71 in Peoria, and Woodford County is also covered by station WXK-24 in Odell. De Witt County is also covered by stations WXJ-75 in Springfield, and WXJ-76 in Champaign.

Routine Programming:

Bloomington and Vicinity Forecast: A forecast for the next 7 days. It airs continuously, and is routinely updated around 4 AM and 3:30 PM. Updates in between these times occur as necessary.
Hourly Weather Roundup: Detailed hourly observations for the Bloomington Airport, as well as temperature and observed weather at many locations around the Midwest, are updated at 2 minutes past each hour.
Hazardous Weather Outlook: This product gives a summary of expected weather hazards over the next 7 days, and information on when storm spotters may need to be activated. It airs from 6 to 10 AM, and 3 to 7 PM daily. It is also updated around 11:30 AM if conditions warrant.
Climate Summaries: Daily summaries for observed conditions at the Bloomington Airport periodically airs from 5 to 9 AM, and 6 to 8 PM.
River Flood Statement: If the Mackinaw River at Congerville, or Illinois River at Peoria, are above flood stage, a listing of current and forecast stages will be broadcast. These will air about every 15 minutes, and are updated at 3 AM, 11 AM, 3 PM and 9 PM.

During adverse weather conditions, some normal programming is suspended. This is done to broadcast more important information frequently.

During severe thunderstorm and tornado watches, and flood warnings, the following will NOT air: Climate Summary. In addition, the hourly weather roundup will include local stations only.
Most normal programming is eliminated during severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings. Broadcast cycles are limited to severe weather watches and warnings, flood warnings, and Hourly Weather Roundups (local observations only).

When a severe weather watch or warning is issued, it is preceded by special alarm signals, which activate specially designed weather radios. These radios will alert you to the warning broadcast, through use of a siren or other means of notification. Radios that have the alarm feature and a battery backup are highly recommended. The cost of these radios range around $20 upward, depending on the model. Click here for more information on what to look for in a receiver.

In central Illinois, the alarm features will be used for the following messages:

Tornado Watches and Warnings
Severe Thunderstorm Watches and Warnings
Flash Flood Warnings
Blizzard Warnings
Non-Weather Emergency Messages
AMBER Alerts (SAME feature only)

This alarm feature is tested on Wednesdays between 10 AM and 1 PM. If severe weather is a threat, the test will be held the first available good-weather day.