Weather Coverage...

[Guest]

With the season already started in some areas of the country, people turn to a wide array of outlets for severe weather information. From the local radio and television stations to NOAA Weather Radio to Internet, a wide range of methods exist to provide life-saving information.

In particular, commercial radio coverage of these storms at night.

[wx247]

We have one station KTTS-FM whose voices you hear in the Storm Stories episode on Pierce City. They have a 24 hour newsteam and every one of them is spotter certified. They provide excellent coverage. Our tv stations are good as well. The rest of the radio stations generally just play music. One other station KKOW-FM does a good job, too, but it is best during the day/evening.

In general, the country stations do MUCH MUCH better than any other format here.

[Guest]

Your station, KTTS, is one of those stations that has not been gobbled up by one of the big media companies. KFAB up here in Omaha, is owned by Clear CHannel Communications. Ever since they took over, they are not staffed 24 hours a day.

What does this mean with WX coverage?

Severe weather warnings will be announced at 3pm, but unless it is a tornado warning right over the city, don't count on anything at 3am.

But when they are clicking, they do click.

The other news station, is pretty much the same.

The FMs pretty much simulcast their AM sister stations or TV. Back before 2000, we had a GREAT team (one of those 24hour setups).

WOW-AM/FM. SVR or TOR's would cause WALL-TO-WALL coverage, reports from the field, etc.

[wx247]

Your station, KTTS, is one of those stations that has not been gobbled up by one of the big media companies. KFAB up here in Omaha, is owned by Clear CHannel Communications. Ever since they took over, they are not staffed 24 hours a day.

What does this mean with WX coverage?

Severe weather warnings will be announced at 3pm, but unless it is a tornado warning right over the city, don't count on anything at 3am.

But when they are clicking, they do click.

The other news station, is pretty much the same.

The FMs pretty much simulcast their AM sister stations or TV. Back before 2000, we had a GREAT team (one of those 24hour setups).

WOW-AM/FM. SVR or TOR's would cause WALL-TO-WALL coverage, reports from the field, etc.

actually KTTS is owned by a conglomerate. It is just that since they are #1 by a large margin... they do it right.

[vbhoutex]

We are very fortunate here in Houston with 15+ different stations(if you don't have cable). Our Primne affiliates all have very good coverage 24/7. They seem to get the warnings out in a very timely manner and almost always have teams of reporters in the field when we have severe or unusual weather events.

[Suzi Q]

Actually although I watch the NBC affiliate here more than any other channel, in my opinion it's the radio stations that get immediate info out, specifically 740AM. They are the ONLY station I rely on when severe weather is imminent or occurring. They earned my allegiance during the November outbreak here and I ALWAYS turn to them when things start popping. Although KPRC (the tv station) is excellent with graphics, that doesn't help me when I'm chasing. Plus I think ALL TV stations lean towards sensationalism during a severe occurrence, but that's just my feeling.

[Guest]

Actually although I watch the NBC affiliate here more than any other channel, in my opinion it's the radio stations that get immediate info out, specifically 740AM. They are the ONLY station I rely on when severe weather is imminent or occurring. They earned my allegiance during the November outbreak here and I ALWAYS turn to them when things start popping. Although KPRC (the tv station) is excellent with graphics, that doesn't help me when I'm chasing. Plus I think ALL TV stations lean towards sensationalism during a severe occurrence, but that's just my feeling.

Oh, yeah, here the TV stations fight, unlike the radio stations. A day after a severe weather event, all 5 stations that have a weather department already are promoting their respective weather departments through ads.

[TexasStooge]

I rely on my local ABC channel's weather coverage most of the time because it sometimes synchronizes with NOAA Weather Radio, and sometimes tune into Fox.

[Guest]

I rely on my local ABC channel's weather coverage most of the time, and sometimes tune into Fox.

My grandma lives in Plano, and just loves WFAA!

[ColdFront77]

I have no way of knowing if stations in Boston broke in for severe weather coverage in the middle of the night, it very rarely has happened and I was growing up so wasn't up between midnight and dawn, as I would imagine is the case with most if not everyone.

Here in the Orlando market having even rain (like we did overnight last night) is rare/usually happens in the winter months after midnight and before dawn.

It sounds like the ABC affiliate would break in for severe weather coverage, I cannot be sure about the NBC, CBS and Fox affiliates.