Weather Emergency Scanners & Storm Chasing: Complete Frequency Guide
From NOAA weather radio to storm spotter networks, scanners provide critical weather information that can save lives. Whether you're a storm chaser, emergency manager, or just want to stay informed during severe weather, here's your complete guide.
Why Monitor Weather Frequencies
During severe weather, scanner monitoring provides information you won't get from any app or TV broadcast:
Real-Time Reports
Hear actual spotter reports—tornado on the ground, hail size, flooding depths—as they're called in to the NWS.
Hyperlocal Data
Apps give you county-wide warnings. Scanners tell you exactly where the storm is and which direction it's moving.
Ahead of Warnings
Trained spotters often see tornadoes before radar confirms them. Their reports trigger warnings—hear them first.
Damage Reports
Know immediately about downed power lines, blocked roads, and damaged structures in your area.
Rescue Coordination
Monitor fire, EMS, and police response to understand the full scope of storm damage.
Power Outage Info
Utility crews coordinate on radio. Know when help is coming and which areas are priorities.
NOAA Weather Radio
The National Weather Service broadcasts continuous weather information on dedicated frequencies. These are your primary weather monitoring channels.
All NOAA Weather Radio Frequencies
| Frequency (MHz) | Channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 162.400 | WX1 | Common in many areas |
| 162.425 | WX6 | Secondary frequency |
| 162.450 | WX2 | Common in many areas |
| 162.475 | WX7 | Secondary frequency |
| 162.500 | WX3 | Common in many areas |
| 162.525 | WX4 | Less common |
| 162.550 | WX5 | Less common |
SAME Weather Alerts
SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding) alerts let you filter warnings for your county only. Scanners with SAME capability can sound an alarm for your specific area while ignoring distant warnings.
Finding Your SAME Code
SAME codes are 6-digit FIPS county codes. Find yours at NWS SAME Code Lookup. Program multiple codes if you want alerts for neighboring counties.
What You'll Hear
- Current conditions and forecasts (updated hourly)
- Hazardous weather outlooks
- Watch and warning announcements
- Severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings (with alert tone)
- Flash flood warnings
- Winter storm warnings
- Non-weather emergencies (AMBER alerts, civil emergencies)
SKYWARN Spotter Networks
SKYWARN is a volunteer program where trained weather spotters report severe weather to the National Weather Service. These reports provide ground-truth data that complements radar.
How SKYWARN Works
- NWS activates spotters when severe weather threatens
- Spotters take positions in the warning area
- Reports are called in via amateur radio to a net control station
- Net control relays information to NWS
- NWS uses reports to issue and update warnings
Monitoring SKYWARN
SKYWARN nets typically operate on amateur (HAM) radio frequencies. Common band plans:
2 Meter (VHF)
144-148 MHz
Most common for local SKYWARN nets. Look for repeaters in the 145-147 MHz range.
70 cm (UHF)
420-450 MHz
Used in some areas, especially metropolitan regions with many repeaters.
HF (Long Range)
3.9-4.0 MHz, 7.2-7.3 MHz
Regional coordination during major outbreaks. Requires HF-capable scanner or receiver.
Finding Local SKYWARN Frequencies
- Contact your local NWS office—they know which repeaters are used
- Check your local amateur radio club websites
- Search RepeaterBook for "SKYWARN" in your area
- Monitor during active weather to identify the nets
Becoming a SKYWARN Spotter
SKYWARN training is free and open to anyone. You don't need a HAM license to take the training—only to transmit reports. Visit weather.gov/SKYWARN to find classes in your area.
Emergency Management Frequencies
Beyond weather-specific channels, monitoring emergency management and public safety provides critical storm response information.
Key Agencies to Monitor
County Emergency Management
Coordinates response, issues evacuation orders, manages shelters. Usually on VHF or county trunked system.
Fire/EMS Dispatch
Responds to storm damage, rescues, and medical emergencies. First to know about injuries and structural damage.
Police/Sheriff
Road closures, traffic control, damage assessment, and security. Critical for knowing which routes are passable.
State Emergency Management
Coordinates multi-county response. Manages state resources during major events.
Utility Companies
Power and gas crews coordinate restoration. Knowing their priorities helps estimate recovery time.
DOT/Highway Department
Road clearing, bridge inspections, and route reopening. Essential for evacuation and travel.
Encryption Blocks Emergency Info
Many police and fire departments have encrypted their communications. When this happens, you lose access to real-time damage reports, road closures, and rescue operations during storms. Weather radio alone can't replace this local response information.
Storm Chasing Setup
Storm chasers need mobile scanner setups that work reliably in the field.
Essential Capabilities
- NOAA weather bands - All 7 frequencies with SAME alerts
- Amateur radio coverage - VHF (2m) and UHF (70cm) for SKYWARN
- Public safety - Police, fire, EMS for the areas you chase
- Digital modes - P25 for modern public safety systems
- External antenna port - Mobile antennas dramatically improve reception
- 12V power - Direct vehicle power connection
Recommended Chase Kit
Primary Scanner
Uniden SDS100/SDS200 or Whistler TRX-1/TRX-2. Digital capable, weather alert, wide coverage.
Dedicated Weather Receiver
Midland WR400 or similar SAME weather radio. Always on, dedicated weather alerts.
Mobile Antenna
Wideband discone or scanner antenna. Magnetic mount for easy setup.
Power System
12V adapter for scanner, plus battery backup for when vehicle is off.
HAM Radio (Optional)
If licensed, a 2m/70cm mobile radio lets you participate in SKYWARN nets, not just listen.
Programming for Chase
Create region-specific "chase" profiles in your scanner:
- Pre-program counties you frequently chase
- Include all NOAA weather frequencies
- Add known SKYWARN repeaters for the region
- Include major city police and fire for damage assessment
- Add highway patrol for road condition info
- Use GPS-enabled scanners to auto-switch by location
Recommended Equipment
Scanners for Weather Monitoring
Uniden SDS100
Premium handheld with weather alert, P25, and excellent receive performance. GPS for location-based programming. Best all-around chase scanner.
Whistler TRX-1
Strong digital performance at lower price. Weather alert included. Good chase option on a budget.
Uniden BCD436HP
Previous generation but still capable. HomePatrol-style programming. Good for weather and public safety.
Dedicated Weather Radios
For home or office, a dedicated SAME weather radio provides constant monitoring without tying up your scanner:
- Midland WR400 - Popular, reliable, programmable SAME codes
- Midland WR120 - Budget option with essential features
- Reecom R-1630 - Commercial-grade reliability
Antennas for Storm Chasing
- Tram 1411 - Popular scanner magnet mount, wideband coverage
- Comet SBB-5 - Dual-band VHF/UHF for HAM + scanner
- Diamond NR770HA - 2m/70cm mobile for HAM operators
Weather Monitoring & Encryption
While NOAA Weather Radio and amateur SKYWARN frequencies remain unencrypted, police and fire encryption significantly impacts weather emergency monitoring.
What Encryption Blocks
Damage Assessment
First responder reports of damage—collapsed buildings, injuries, road conditions—are often the first ground-truth data during storms.
Road Closures
Police dispatch knows which roads are impassable. Without access, you're driving blind during evacuations.
Rescue Operations
Knowing where rescues are underway helps you understand storm severity and identify dangerous areas.
Power Restoration
Utility coordination often happens on public safety channels. Encryption blocks this information.
Why It Matters
Weather radio gives you the big picture—warnings for your county or region. But local public safety tells you what's happening on your street:
- Is that tree down on Main Street blocking your evacuation route?
- Are there injuries in your neighborhood that EMS is responding to?
- Which shelter locations have capacity?
- When will power crews reach your area?
Encryption blocks all of this local response information—exactly when you need it most.
The Information Gap
"During a tornado outbreak, I could hear the NWS issue the warning and SKYWARN spotters tracking rotation. But my local police was encrypted—so when it actually hit my town, I had no idea which streets were blocked, where the damage was worst, or if help was on the way to my neighborhood."
— Weather enthusiast, Oklahoma
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the NOAA weather radio frequencies?
NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts on seven frequencies: 162.400, 162.425, 162.450, 162.475, 162.500, 162.525, and 162.550 MHz. Most areas use two or three of these frequencies. Your scanner will pick up the strongest signal for your location.
What is SKYWARN and how do I monitor it?
SKYWARN is a volunteer network of trained severe weather spotters who report conditions to the National Weather Service. SKYWARN nets typically operate on amateur radio (HAM) frequencies. You'll need a scanner capable of VHF/UHF amateur bands (144-148 MHz and 420-450 MHz) to monitor local SKYWARN activity.
Do I need a license to listen to storm spotter frequencies?
No license is required to listen to any radio frequency. You only need an amateur radio license to transmit. Storm chasers and weather enthusiasts can legally monitor all SKYWARN, NWS, and public safety frequencies without any license.
How does police encryption affect weather monitoring?
When police and emergency management encrypt their communications, you lose access to real-time storm damage reports, road closure information, and rescue coordination. While weather radio remains unencrypted, the local response information—which is often more specific to your area—becomes unavailable.
What's the best scanner for storm chasing?
For storm chasing, look for a portable scanner with weather alert (SAME), wide frequency coverage (25-1300 MHz), amateur radio bands, and digital P25 for public safety. The Uniden SDS100 or Whistler TRX-1 are popular choices. External antenna capability is important for vehicle mounting.
Take Action for Transparency
Your voice matters. Here are concrete ways to advocate for open police communications in your community.
Contact Your Representatives
Use our templates to email your local officials about police radio encryption policies.
Get StartedRead Case Studies
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Public Testimony
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