Author's note: The list below was compiled by the Texas
Severe Storms Association, TESSA, (C)1996. They and Martin Lisius
have graciously allowed me to reprint this article from The Weather
Bulletin, TESSA's newsletter. This may be used for personal use only.
Below that article are listings sent to me by various chasers in states
not covered by TESSA's article. The author(s) assume no responsibility
in guaranteeing the accuracy or timeliness of the information, but
we'll keep it as current as possible. Last updated July 28, 1997.--Gilbert
Lamar, 920AM
KANSAS:
Colby, KXXX 790 AM
Hays, KAYS 1400AM, KJLS 103.3FM
Garden City, 1030AM
Goodland, KLOE 730AM, KKCI 102.5FM
Liberal, KSCB 1270AM
Norton, KQNK 1530AM
Oberlin, KFNF 101.1FM
Phillipsburg, KKAN 1490AM/95.3FM
Scott City, KEZU 94.5FM
Wichita, KFDI 1070AM, KFH 1330AM
NEBRASKA:
Grand Island, KNNJ AM 780
Lexington, KRVN 880AM
Yankton, (SD) WNAX 570AM
OKLAHOMA:
Altus, KWHW 1450AM
Ardmore, KVSO 1240AM
Elk City, KADS 1240AM
Enid, KCWA 960AM
Hobart, KTJS 1420AM
Guymon, KGYN 1210
Oklahoma City, KOTK 1000AM
Ponca City, KBBZ 1230AM
Stillwater, KSPI 780AM
Tulsa, KRMG 740AM, KSKS 1430AM
Woodward, KWOX 101.1FM
TEXAS:
Alpine, KVLF 1240AM
Amarillo, KGNC 710AM, KIXZ 940AM
Childress, KCTX 1510, KSRW 96.1FM (Has own chase van)
Dalhart, KXIT 1410AM
Dallas-Ft.Worth, KRLD 1080AM (one of the best), WBAP 820AM
Denton, KDNT 1440AM
Lubbock, KFYO 790AM, KLLL 96.3FM
Levelland, KLVT 1230AM
Memphis, KLSR 1130AM
Perryton, KEYL 1400AM
Plainview, KKYN 1090AM
Shamrock, KBYP 1580AM
Seymour, KSEY 1230AM
Vernon, KVWC 1490AM
Weatherford, KZEE 1220AM
Wichita Falls, KWFT 990AM
Other recommendations. The following is in addition to the TESSA article
above.
ILLINOIS:
Chicago, WBBM 780AM (good for all of northern IL, far southern WI,
northern Indiana)
Champaign, WILL 580AM (Serves eastern IL)
Peoria, WMBD 1470AM (One of the best, serves west central and north
central Illinois)
IOWA:
Des Moines, WHO 1040AM, (Serves most of Iowa. Really good)
Cedar Rapids, WMT 600AM (Good for eastern Iowa)
Kansas:
KHOK 100.7 FM
KVGB 104.3 FM
KVGB 1590 AM
They give excellent (realistic) reports during severe weather.
Minnesota:
Minneapolis/St Paul WCCO 830AM (Weather updates at least every 20 minutes)
Missouri:
KMOX 1120 AM
From: "J. Botee" (OnNews@swbell.net):
Courtesy of Jim Meyer, Meyer Info Systems, Kansas City, MO...
From: "Alan D. Davis" (addavis@execpc.com):
Hi Gilbert,
There are two good radio stations in Kenosha, Wisconsin for listening
for weather information. WLIP: 1050 AM, and WIIL: 95.1 FM. Both
stations are owned by the same company. When severe weather breaks in
any portion of their listening area, the stations cease their normal
programming and begin a wall-to-wall simulcast coverage of the severe
weather event. Their listening area includes Kenosha, Racine, and
Walworth counties in Wisconsin, and Lake and McHenry counties in
Illinois. They will broadcast the latest info from the NWS or local
authorities, and also cover damage reports from the affected areas.
Alan D. Davis
Kenosha, Wisconsin
addavis@execpc.com
From: Randall Picking (rpicking@midusa.net):
you might want to add the following stations for weather coverage in
central and northeast kansas. KSAL 1150-am/KYEZ 93.7fm/KZBZ 104.9 in
Salina. KSAJ 98.5fm in Abilene and KBLS 102.5 fm in North Fort Riley.
all the stations are owned by EBC INC and cover severe weather from
Russell on the West to Manhattan on the East . From Concordia on the
North to Newton on the South. In the Event of a Tornado Warning in any
of the counties of some or all of the radio stations, all stations will
similcast severe weather information until the Tornado threat passes.
The stations have 6 trained weather spotters, and is in the process of
getting in house radar which we hope to have real time radar images on
the internet next spring. I'm the severe weather coordinator for all of
the stations. safe chasing
From: Rachel Gavelek:
Hello there--
I know that northeastern Wisconsin is not as a prime a chase area as the
southern Plains, but should anyone be out around the Fox Cities looking for
storms, an excellent radio station to listen to out of Appleton is WHBY
1150 AM. They serve a huge listening area, have frequent weather updates
during watch situations, and break into programming to run continual
warnings with location and where the storm is moving to next. An Outagamie
Co. emergency siren is located on top of the station, so they are immediate
in their actions to break into programming.
I hope this is helpful to Wisconsin chasers!
R. Gavelek
From Kerry Craig:
KVRP FM 99.5 Haskell, Texas is a 100,000 watt station operating its own color
X-band radar, since about 1981, with live link to live Doppler radar at KTXS
television in Abilene Channel 12 as well as access to NexRad composite doppler, infra-red satellite imagry and a full time staff to man the equjipment during
severe weather. Also KVRP AM 1400 Stamford, Texas 1,000 watt station
simulcasting with the FM station. Combined coverage is approximately 30
counties around Haskell County, located 50 miles north of Abilene and 75 miles
south of Wichita Falls, Texas.
Kerry Craig, News Director
KVRP AM/FM
This list is (C) 1997 and provided by Martin Lisius, Texas Severe Storms Association.
COLORADO:
Gilbert:
Have been an amateur meteorolgist since the early 60's & have been tracking severe
storms in the KC area since about 1970. Would like to add the following to your listings:
RADIO
Kansas
Pittsburg...KKOW-AM 860...Very good severe WX coverage for SE KS, SW MO & extreme NE OK. They
send reporter/spotters out as does KFDI in Wichita.
Topeka...WIBW-AM 580 & FM 97.3...Breaks into programming for watches/warnings issued over a
wide area of Kansas (not just the Topeka area). THIS IS THE BEST SEVERE WEATHER STATION ON
RADIO IN THE EASTERN HALF OF KANSAS
Missouri
Kansas City...WDAF-AM 610...Best severe weather coverage in the immediate KC Metro.
KCMO-AM 710...Clear channel-50,000 watts in daytime. Shares staff with KMBZ-AM 980.
St. Joseph...Covers NW MO, NE KS & SE NE.
TELEVISION
Kansas City (NOTE: All stations use "corner graphics" during watch/warning periods.
WDAF Newschannel 4 (FOX)...Has a station radar (a "cheap" Doppler, detects turbulence)
with frequent use of EAX & TWX WSR-88D. Staff of 4 meterologists with frequent break-ins. In
addition, uses "tower cam," live units & their helicopter in the field. This is by far the
best/most technical WX presentation in the KC area. Chief meteorolgist (CM): Mike Thompson.
KCTV-5 (CBS)...Uses NWS radars. Has remote cameras at over a half-dozen area sites as
well as remote weather sation linked by modem to station. Only 1 bona-fide meteorologist (CM:
Gary Amble).
KMBC-9 (ABC)...Uses NWS radars. Has a "spotter network (human)" that covers about a 25
mile radius of the city. CM: Bryan Busby.
KSHB-41 (NBC)...Uses NWS radars. CM: Dave Sweeney.
Topeka...WIBW-13 (CBS)...Has a station radar & uses TWX WSD-88D. This station is one of the
best I've ever seen on live coverage during severe wx, no doubt inspired by the great June 8,
1966 F5 that tore the city in half.
I would like to offer a few more stations to your list who are
dedicated to severe weather reporting. KSIM AM 1400 Sikeston, MO
serving Southeast Missouri with severe weather
information....when severe weather breaks, the radio
station discontinues most programming until the threat has passed
with color radar, and our own NWS trained storm spotter. KZIM AM
960 Cape Girardeau MO serving Southeast MO and Southern Illinois also
goes wall to wall with severe weather coverage. KEZS 102.9 FM
Cape Girardeau MO and KKLR 94.5 FM Poplar Bluff MO also activate and
go into "24 hour Storm Center mode" whenever there is severe weather.
All of these stations are manned 24 hours a day and are owned by the
Zimmer Radio Group which takes severe weather seriously. I am the
storm spotter and weather coordinator for KSIM Sikeston. Feel free
to contact me at 573-471-1400 or E-mail ksim@mo.net. Thank you.
Jeff R. Gillespie
News Director
KSIM Sikeston