Best NOAA weather radios
The National Weather Service says every home and business should have a NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards, because it can wake you when a warning is issued for your area. The NWS recommends a receiver with the Public Alert logo or SAME, with battery backup, programmed with your county's 6-digit SAME code.
The National Weather Service says outdoor sirens are designed only to alert people who are outside, so asleep indoors with the windows shut you may not hear one.
Our picks at a glance
| Product | Best for | Key specs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midland WR400 Deluxe | Best overall | SAME, Public Alert, 25 counties, 4 AA backup (not included), AM/FM, alarm clock | Check price |
| Midland WR120 | Best value | SAME, Public Alert, 25 programmable locations, 3 AA backup (not included), siren alert | Check price |
| Sangean CL-100 | Deaf or hard of hearing | SAME, Public Alert, external alert output, 4 AA backup, AM/FM, clock | Check price |
| Midland ER50 | Go-bag crank radio | NOAA weather alert, hand crank, solar, 2,600 mAh battery (up to 25 hr), LED flashlight with SOS | Check price |
| Sangean MMR-99 | Crank radio with Bluetooth | 7 NOAA channels, hand crank, solar, USB-C, 2,600 mAh battery, USB-A out, flashlight, Bluetooth | Check price |
Midland WR400 Deluxe
Midland lists it as Public Alert certified with SAME, programmable for up to 25 counties, with siren, voice or flashing light alerts.
Key specs: SAME, Public Alert, 25 counties, 4 AA backup (not included), AM/FM, alarm clock
Watch out for: Midland's page does not say whether it has an external antenna jack. It sells a window antenna as an add-on.
Check price on AmazonMidland WR120
The basic bedside radio, Public Alert certified with SAME, covering over 60 weather and emergency alert types.
Key specs: SAME, Public Alert, 25 programmable locations, 3 AA backup (not included), siren alert
Watch out for: No AM/FM, so it is for alerts only.
Check price on AmazonSangean CL-100
Listed as Public Alert certified with SAME, with an alert output jack for add-ons like strobe lights. The NWS says those jacks help people with special needs.
Key specs: SAME, Public Alert, external alert output, 4 AA backup, AM/FM, clock
Watch out for: Specs come from a retailer listing because Sangean's own page was not available.
Check price on AmazonMidland ER50
Midland says it locks onto the strongest local weather signal and alerts from the NWS. It charges by hand crank, solar or USB, so it keeps working in a long outage.
Key specs: NOAA weather alert, hand crank, solar, 2,600 mAh battery (up to 25 hr), LED flashlight with SOS
Watch out for: No SAME, so it may sound for alerts that are not for your county.
Check price on AmazonSangean MMR-99
Tunes all seven NOAA weather channels and charges by crank, solar or USB-C, with a USB port to top up a phone.
Key specs: 7 NOAA channels, hand crank, solar, USB-C, 2,600 mAh battery, USB-A out, flashlight, Bluetooth
Watch out for: No SAME listed. Specs come from a retailer because Sangean's page was not available.
Check price on AmazonWhat NOAA Weather Radio is
The National Weather Service runs NOAA Weather Radio as a network of more than 1,000 transmitters covering all 50 states, coastal waters, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and the Pacific territories. It broadcasts 24 hours a day from your nearest NWS office, and carries non-weather emergencies too, like chemical releases.
You need a special receiver. It listens on seven frequencies: 162.400, 162.425, 162.450, 162.475, 162.500, 162.525 and 162.550 MHz.
What to look for
| Feature | Why the NWS says it matters |
|---|---|
| Public Alert or NWR All Hazards logo | The NWS recommends receivers with these logos. |
| SAME | Lets you choose the areas you get alerts for, so you are not woken for counties far away (NWS). |
| Battery backup | Power often goes out during storms, so battery backup can be crucial (NWS). |
| Tone alert | The NWS sends a 1050 Hz alarm before most warnings. It sounds even with the audio off, which helps overnight. Public Alert radios must have it (NWS). |
| External antenna jack | Helps if your signal is weak. A TV or FM antenna should work (NWS). |
| Accessory jack | For strobe lights or bed shakers (NWS). Midland sells a strobe and pillow shaker for its radios. |
How to set it up
- Find your 6-digit SAME code. Look it up on the NWS SAME page, or call 1-888-697-7263 (1-888-NWR-SAME).
- Program your county using the radio's manual. The NWS says if you do not program it, you will not receive alerts.
- Pick your local SAME station. Do not choose a louder or clearer station that is not set up for your area (NWS).
- Put batteries in even though it plugs into the wall.
- Keep it where you sleep and set it to alert mode, so it stays quiet until a warning comes (NWS).
When the alarm goes off
The NWS says an alert starts with a digital burst and a 10-second alarm tone, then a voice message that names the hazard, the area and how long it lasts. Act on it straight away. For a tornado warning, see tornado safety.
The Missouri StormAware program says a weather radio is especially important if you live where there are no sirens.
Common mistakes
- Not programming the SAME code. The NWS says you will not get alerts.
- Picking the loudest station instead of your local SAME channel.
- Leaving out the backup batteries, so it goes silent when the power fails.
- Keeping it in the kitchen instead of where you sleep.
- Relying on outdoor sirens to wake you. The NWS says they are designed for people outside.
- Buying only a crank radio. The crank radios we checked do not list SAME, so use one as a second radio, not your main alert.
Gear for this
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AA batteries
Every bedside pick uses AA batteries as backup. Keep spares with the radio.
Strobe light or pillow shaker for weather radios
The NWS says accessory jacks for strobes or bed shakers help people with special needs. Check it matches your radio.
Window or outdoor antenna
The NWS says a radio with an external antenna jack can use an indoor or outdoor antenna for a weak signal.
Questions people ask
Do I need a NOAA weather radio if I have a phone?
The National Weather Service says every home and business should have one. It runs on batteries when power and cell service are down, and can wake you when a warning is issued.
What is SAME on a weather radio?
SAME stands for Specific Area Message Encoding. The NWS says it lets you program your county so the radio alerts you only for your chosen areas.
How do I find my county SAME code?
Use the SAME code list on weather.gov or call 1-888-NWR-SAME (1-888-697-7263), the NWS says.
Sources
- National Weather Service: NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards
- National Weather Service: NWR Receivers
- National Weather Service: Using SAME
- National Weather Service: NWR Warning Alarm
- National Weather Service: Weather Radio
- National Weather Service Quad Cities: Outdoor Warning Siren FAQ
- Missouri StormAware: Alerts and Warning Systems
- Midland: WR400
- Midland: WR120
- Midland: ER50
Related entries
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- D-0272-hour go bag checklistWhat to pack so you can leave home in minutes and get through 3 days. Red Cross and FEMA lists, ready to tick off.
- D-06How to make a family emergency planContacts, two meeting places, routes out, and a plan for every person, as a tick-off checklist.
General safety information only, not medical or professional advice. Rules can change, so check the linked sources and follow your local officials. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.