NWS Weather Radio

NOAA Weather Radio

Basic Information
Programming Your Radio (SAME/FIPS Codes)
NOAA Weather Radio on Lake Superior

Basic Information

NOAA Weather Radio

Click on image for a larger view

How to Program Your Weather Radio

Wisconsin SAME Codes

Minnesota SAME Codes

More SAME Information

What is NOAA Weather Radio?

NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) is a radio system designed to broadcast continuous weather information, forecasts and warnings with no commercial interruptions. Weather messages repeat about every 6 minutes, but may be slightly longer during highly active weather events. During severe weather, messages may repeat as often as every 3 minutes. Most radio stations are maintained continuously.
The primary objective for NOAA Weather Radio is to broadcast warnings immediately to the public. All other information is considered secondary and may be suspended from the broadcasts during times of severe weather or warning events.
Some radios are equipped with special message encoders that activate an audible alarm. This alarm feature signifies that some warning or special emergency information has been broadcast. The listener can then listen to the emergency message.
Most NOAA weather radios can be purchased at discount, electronics, and mariner supply stores. The average cost is around $40, but more elaborate radios may cost more.

What is NOAA Weather Radio SAME?

The Emergency Broadcast System (EBS) was replaced by the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on January 1, 1997. The EAS provides a digital burst of information that includes exact locations and the type of emergency. EAS information is carried over the NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) network.

The special encoding of location and type is decoded by special receivers called SPECIFIC AREA MESSAGE ENCODER, or SAME. NOAA Weather Radios can be purchased that have SAME, and will alarm only if the emergency is in your county and is of the type that you have programmed to be received.

If you are in the Northland and want to have the EAS alert on your NOAA weather radio, click here for the Northland SAME codes.

*When is the SAME* system activated?**
The NWR SAME system WILL BE ACTIVATED for WARNINGS of the following type: TOR - Tornado Warning SVR - Severe Thunderstorm Warning FFW - Flash Flood Warning FFW - Small Stream and Urban Flood Warning FLW - Flood Warning SMW - Special Marine Warning	Depending on the severity of the event, the NWR SAME system MAY BE ACTIVATED for the following: NPW - Non-Precipitation Weather: High Wind Warning, Frost/Freeze Warnings, Wind Chill Warnings WCN - Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado Watches FFA - Flood and Flash Flood Watches FLS - Flood and Flash Flood Statements WSW - Winter Storm Warning

Where do I go for more information about NOAA Weather Radio and SAME?

National NOAA Weather Radio Homepage
NOAA Weather Radio General Information
Nat'l List of NOAA Weather Radio Stations

Programming Your NOAA Weather Radio

How to find the SAME (FIPS) Code for your location:

Find you location on the list below, using the maps above as a reference if you live in a county which is sub-divided into smaller areas. Use the SAME code listed below or on the map above when programming your radio. If you see multiple transmitters listed, click on the links to see which transmitter is best for your area. (Some radios may tune to the strongest signal automatically, others may require you to choose the frequency or channel number - listen to the broadcast and choose the one that sounds the clearest.)

County	SAME Code	Transmitters
Aitkin, MN, North	227001	GPZ - Grand Rapids, MN	AIT - Aitkin, MN
Aitkin, MN, South	827001	AIT - Aitkin, MN	PCY - Pine City, MN
Carlton, MN	027017	DLH - Duluth, MN	AIT - Aitkin, MN
Cass, MN, North	227021	GPZ - Grand Rapids, MN	LDR - Leader, MN	BJI - Bemidji, MN
Cass, MN, South	827021	LDR - Leader, MN	LPR - Long Prarie, MN
Cook, MN	027031	GNA - Grand Marais, MN	FIN - Finland, MN	GFT - Gunflint Lake, MN (GNA)
Crow Wing, MN	027035	LDR - Leader, MN	AIT - Aitkin, MN	LPR - Long Prarie, MN
Itasca, MN, Northwest	127061	GPZ - Grand Rapids, MN	BJI - Bemidji, MN
Itasca, MN, Northeast	327061	GPZ - Grand Rapids, MN
Itasca, MN, South	827061	GPZ - Grand Rapids, MN
Koochiching, MN	027071	INL - International Falls, MN	ELE - Orr/Elephant Lake, MN (INL)
Lake, MN	027075	ELO - Ely, MN	DLH - Duluth, MN	GNA - Grand Marais, MN	FIN - Finland, MN
Pine, MN	027115	DLH - Duluth, MN	SPO - Spooner, WI	AIT - Aitkin, MN	PCY - Pine City, MN
St. Louis, MN, Northwest	127137	INL - International Falls, MN	ELE - Orr/Elephant Lake, MN (INL)
St. Louis, MN, Northeast	327137	ELO - Ely, MN
St. Louis, MN, West Central	427137	GPZ - Grand Rapids, MN	VIR - Virginia, MN
St. Louis, MN, East Central	627137	VIR - Virginia, MN
St. Louis, MN, Southwest	727137	DLH - Duluth, MN
St. Louis, MN, Southeast	927137	DLH - Duluth, MN
Ashland, WI	055003	ASX - Ashland, WI	PKF - Park Falls, WI
Bayfield, WI	055007	DLH - Duluth, MN	SPO - Spooner, WI	ASX - Ashland, WI
Burnett, WI	055013	SPO - Spooner, WI	PCY - Pine City, MN
Douglas, WI	055031	DLH - Duluth, MN	SPO - Spooner, WI
Iron, WI	055051	ASX - Ashland, WI	PKF - Park Falls, WI	MAR - Marenisco, MI
Price, WI	055059	PKF - Park Falls, WI	LDY - Ladysmith, WI	RHI - Rhinelander, WI
Sawyer, WI	055113	PKF - Park Falls, WI	SPO - Spooner, WI	LDY - Ladysmith, WI
Washburn, WI	055129	SPO - Spooner, WI	LDY - Ladysmith, WI

Marine Notes

When it comes to getting weather alerts, you have a number of options:

If you are using a Marine Radio or NOAA Weather Radio that does not have SAME capability, just tune to the nearest transmitter. Many marine radios, even without SAME capability, have a "Weather Alert" feature which can scan the weather channel periodically for weather alerts. Note that without SAME you will get ALL weather alerts for the transmitter's coverage area, so the radio will alert for something like a flood warning on the adjacent land areas. To find the nearest transmitter, consult the maps on this page or simply scan and listen to the broadcast that comes in the clearest. Note that there may be more than one radio covering your location.
If you are using a Marine Radio or NOAA Weather Radio with SAME capability, you may choose to program the associated zone SAME code into the radio, and this way you will only be alerted if a warning is issued that covers that specific geographic area. Use the maps above to program your radio's SAME code.
For more information on the marine broadcasts on NOAA Weather Radio, visit https://www.weather.gov/marine/wxradio