Alerts on NOAA Weather Radio All-Hazards

What you should know about receiving alerts on your weather radio:

  • Every model of radio is different. Check your directions for specifics about what features your radio has and how to program it.
  • There may be some variation from region to region in which messages include alert tones. 
  • In general, winter weather messages should not alert your weather radio (although there may be some exceptions).
  • Weekly, a test is conducted for all transmitters.  In the local area, this test is conducted every Wednesday around 11 am.    In case of severe weather, the test will be postponed until the next available non-severe weather day (at 11 am).
  • Civil emergencies are alerted per partnerships with state and local agencies.  There will be variations from state to state in handling non-weather emergencies based on the specific agreements in place.

The following is a list of which messages include alert tones when broadcast from transmitters operated by the NWS Quad Cities. (These transmitters are: Cedar Rapids, IA - Delaware County, IA - Dubuque, IA - Fairfield, IA - Freeport, IL - Macomb, IL - Maquoketa, IA -Medill, MO - Princeton, IL - Quad Cities, IA/IL - West Burlington, IA.)

Weather Messages
Should this 
message alert?
    Non-Weather Messages
Should this 
message alert?
Blizzard Warning

No

  
Emergency Action Notification (National)

Yes
Dust Storm Warning
Yes
   Child Abduction (Amber Alert)

Yes (IA and IL)
Flash Flood Watch
Yes
  
Civil Danger Warning
Yes (IA,IL,WI only)
Flash Flood Warning
Yes
  
Civil Emergency Message

Yes
Flash Flood Statement
No
  
Earthquake Warning
Yes (IL,WI only)
Flood Watch
No
  
Evacuation Immediate
Yes (IL,WI only)
Flood Warning
Yes
  
Fire Warning
Yes (IL,WI only)
Flood Statement
No
  
Hazardous Materials Warning
Yes (IL,WI only)
High Wind Watch
Yes
  
Law Enforcement Warning
Yes (IL,WI only)
High Wind Warning
Yes
  
Local Area Emergency
Yes (IL,WI only)
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Yes
  
911 Telephone Outage Emergency
Yes (IA,IL,WI only)
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Yes
  
Nuclear Power Plant Warning
Yes (IA,IL,WI only)
Severe Weather Statement
No
  
Radiological Hazard Warning
Yes (IL,WI only)
Special Weather Statement
No
  
Shelter in Place Warning
Yes (IL,WI only)
Tornado Watch
Yes
      
Tornado Warning
Yes
  
Required Weekly Test

Yes
Winter Storm Watch
No
Winter Storm Warning
No

 

 
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