New NOAA Weather Radio Transmitter Provides Expanded Coverage for Eastern Shore of Virginia and Lower Maryland

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NOAA’s National Weather Service has completed the testing phase for a new 1000-watt NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards transmitter, increasing service to areas that had limited or no coverage along the Virginia and Lower Maryland Eastern Shores. Now life-saving watch and warning services will be available to recreational and commercial mariners navigating the Atlantic coastal waters in this area.

This transmitter will serve Accomack and Northampton Counties in Virginia, including the cities of Wachapreague and Chincoteague. It will also serve Somerset and Worcester Counties in Maryland, including Pocomoke City and the Atlantic coastal waters between Ocean City, Md., and Oyster, Va. The transmitter will broadcast on a frequency of 162.525 MHz, usually Channel 6 on most NOAA Weather Radio receivers.

“NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards is vitally important for both recreational and commercial boaters navigating the Atlantic coastal waters,” said William Sammler, warning coordination meteorologist at the forecast office in Wakefield, Va. “Weather can change quickly and now everyone will be able to keep tuned to the latest forecasts and watches and warnings ? and take appropriate action.”

The new transmitter is located in Mappsville, Va., on a tower owned by Accomack County. Funding for the transmitter was secured by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management using a $59,900 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service, and $16,640 from the Department of Homeland Security’s Emergency Management Performance Grant. USDA has awarded 99 grants from its Weather Radio Transmitter Grant Program to extend the coverage of NOAA Weather Radio into rural America.

source: National Weather Service