National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

The 8 bay antenna for the Rockford NOAA Weather Radio station, KZZ-57, failed. It was an old antenna and parts are not available to repair it. It was replaced with a 1 bay antenna. This has caused a degradation in coverage, mainly for Stephenson, Lee, Ogle, and DeKalb Counties in Illinois, and for Rock and Green Counties in Wisconsin. A new 4 bay 1Kw antenna has been ordered but there are none in stock at this time. The degraded signal will likely continue for a few months until a new antenna can be obtained.

 

In the meantime, NOAA Weather Radio listeners can tune to the following weather radio sites for weather information and tone alerts for warnings;

 

DeKalb, WNG-536, at 162.550 MHz, serving Dekalb, Boone, Winnebago, Ogle and Lee Counties

Dixon, KZZ-55, at 162.525 MHz, serving Ogle and Lee Counties

Freeport, KZZ-56, at 162.450 MHz, serving Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago Counties in IL and Green County WI.

Janesville, WI, WWG-90, at 162.425 MHz, serving Rock and Green Counties Wisconsin

Crystal Lake, KXI-41, at 162.500 MHz, serving Boone County

Plano, KXI-58, at 162.400 MHz, serving DeKalb County 

 

For more information on northern Illinois NOAA Weather Radio coverage, go to http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lot/?n=nwr

For more information on northwest Illinois NOAA Weather Radio coverage, got to http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dvn/?n=allhazardsradio

For more information on southern Wisconsin NOAA Weather Radio coverage, go to http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mkx/?n=nwr

Rockford NOAA Weather Radio old coverage pattern.

 

Rockford NOAA Weather Radio new coverage pattern