Additional NOAA Radio Warning Coverage for the Terre Haute Area

National Weather Service NEWS

Contact: John Ogren or Dave Tucek FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(317) 856-0368 December 2, 2005

Additional NOAA Radio Warning Coverage for the Terre Haute Area

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service offices in Lincoln, Illinois and Indianapolis, Indiana have teamed up to provide additional NOAA All Hazards Radio coverage to the Terre Haute area. “We have added watch and warning information to the NOAA weather radio in Paris, Illinois,” said Ernie Goetsch, Meteorologist in Charge at NOAA’s Lincoln, Illinois Weather Forecast Office. “This will enhance the National Weather Service’s ability to alert residents to life threatening weather affecting Vigo County and Terre Haute” added Goetsch.

“Our mission is to protect life and property,” said John Ogren, Meteorologist in Charge at NOAA’s Indianapolis weather forecast office. “By broadcasting Indiana warning information from the Paris, Illinois NOAA weather radio transmitter, we enhance the service of watch and warning dissemination.” 

“Existing NOAA weather radio broadcasts will continue without change from the NOAA radio transmitter in Putnamville, Indiana,” said Dave Tucek, Warning Coordination Meteorologist of NOAA’s Indianapolis Weather Forecast Office. "So NOAA All Hazards radio owners in Vigo County should listen to whichever broadcast comes in strongest while residents of other counties served by the Putnamville transmitter should continue using those broadcasts" Tucek added.

NOAA radio broadcasts from the Paris transmitter will continue with current and forecast weather data and watch and warning information for east central Illinois originating from the Lincoln, Illinois Weather Forecast Office. Added to the broadcast are all types of watches and warnings affecting Vigo County, Indiana originating from the Indianapolis Weather Forecast Office. Service also includes alarms for warnings for tornadoes, flash floods and severe thunderstorms. The alarms instantly activate NOAA radio receivers and programmed Emergency Alert System equipment used by the media.

“NOAA All Hazards radio are a great lifesaving device and would make a great Christmas gift,” said Keith Reedy, WA9DRO, amateur radio operator and Illiana Skywarn Coordinator. “Adding broadcasts of Vigo County warnings from Paris, Illinois will benefit everyone here and assist us in our volunteer storm spotter operations for the National Weather Service” added Reedy.

The Paris, Illinois NOAA radio transmitter broadcasts on a frequency of 162.525 MHz. The Putnamville, Indiana NOAA radio transmitter, broadcasts on a frequency of 162.400 MHz. All NOAA radio transmitters serve locations roughly within a 40 mile distance of the radio transmitter.

More information on NOAA All Hazards radios may be found at www.weather.gov/nwr.