NOAA Weather Radio Station WXJ-71 (Peoria)

WXJ-71 operates 24 hours a day, on a frequency of 162.475 MHz. WXJ-71 transmits at 1,000 watts of power, from the WTVP-TV tower located in East Peoria.

WXJ-71 serves 8 counties in central Illinois:

Fulton (017057), Knox (017095), Marshall (017123), Mason (017125), Peoria (017143), Stark (017175), Tazewell (017179), Woodford (017203).

Numbers in parentheses are used for the Specific Area Message Encoder (SAME), utilized by some NOAA Weather Radio 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 Knox County can also receive severe weather warnings on stations KZZ-66 in Galesburg, and WXJ-92 in Macomb. Fulton County is also covered by WXJ-92. Stark and Marshall Counties are also covered by WXL-22 in Princeton. Marshall and Woodford Counties are also covered by WXK-24 in Odell, and Mason County is also covered by WXJ-75 in Springfield and WXJ-92.

Routine Programming:

Peoria and Vicinity Forecast: A forecast for central Illinois for the next 7 days. It airs continuously, and is routinely updated at 4 AM and 3:30 PM. Updates in between these times occur as necessary.
Hourly Weather Roundup: Detailed hourly observations for Peoria, 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 as conditions warrant.
Climate Summaries: Daily summaries for observed conditions at the Peoria International Airport air periodically from 5 to 9 AM, and 6 to 8 PM. Monthly summaries air on the first day of each month, periodically between 11 AM and midnight.
Morning River Stages: From 8 to 11 AM daily, observed river stages along the Illinois, Spoon, Mackinaw and LaMoine Rivers are broadcast.
River Flood Statements: When flooding affects the Illinois, Spoon, Mackinaw, LaMoine or Sangamon Rivers, or Salt Creek, statements will list current and forecast stages for several points along the affected rivers. These are updated at 3 AM, 11 AM, 3 PM, and 9 PM, and play every 15 minutes.

Non-Routine Programming:

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, Morning River Stages. In addition, hourly weather reports will be limited to nearby 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 Roundup (local sites 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 and upward. Click here for more information on weather radio receivers.

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
AMBER Alerts (SAME codes only)
Non-Weather Emergency Messages

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.