Weather cripples local NOAA Weather Radio
Violent weather has muted the robotic voices of NOAA's Weather Radio in the Baltimore area.
The Pikesville antenna that broadcasts the weather forecasts, and the all-important weather watches and warnings for the region was struck by lightning during the storm late Monday or early Tuesday.
The bolt knocked out full-power broadcasts at 162.4 Megahertz, reducing the signal to a poor-quality 500 watts. The broadcasts are punctuated by a series of beeps and little or no content from the synthetic announcers: sweet and sultry Donna, next-door neighbor Tom, and the older, and vaguely Scandanavian Paul.
The transmitter's range during repairs will be limited to no more than 5 or 10 miles. I can hear nothing in our downtown Baltimore office. Repairs are expected to take as long as two weeks, the National Weather Service said.
The good news is that the same products are available as MP3 files and RSS feeds here: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/lwx/podcasts/
(SUN PHOTO: Frank Roylance)
Comments
Ah, the irony (can I say that, Professor McIntyre?).
I wonder if they had any warning the storm was headed their way....
Posted by: BankStreet | July 15, 2010 11:41 AM
I listen to KEC83 every morning out in the garage while I smoke and have a cup of coffee. Donna IS sweet and sultry!!
I am a very lonely guy. I've had to switch to the station out of Sudlersville, and it's just not the same.
FR: That is the saddest thing I've heard all day.
Posted by: MikeS | July 15, 2010 3:35 PM
"That is the saddest thing I've heard all day."
So says Frank, with his voice dripping with sarcasm. VBG
Posted by: Mike | July 16, 2010 12:54 AM