It happened again...

[Twister_2]

WXL40 Weather Radio in Harrisburg is down again. I called State College and they said that they have gotten numerous phone calls about the problem. They also said that Harrisburg is not the only affected transmitter. This is starting to happen way too often...and right before major weather events like severe weather outbreaks the next day...and in our case now...Tropical Storm Hanna. They need to get this straightened out...there needs to be a more reliable solution to whatever the problem is. When it happened before, they blamed it on Verizon...but I don't know what the problem is today. Mt Holly should step in because State College is not the best anymore.

 

[chankel]

A backup transmitter installation at each site would be helpful, but as with all projects funding is required. NWS tries to maintain overlapping coverage from neighboring transmitters. Some parts of Daupin County are covered by WXL39 (162.4) in Allentown, WWG52 (162.525) in Huntingdon, WXM59 (162.475) in State College, and even WXL55 (162.4) in Williamsport.

 

[PCPA]

Except for the higher elevations of southern York County that can pick up Martinsburg WV or Baltimore, the rest of the County is SOL when WXL40 goes down.

York County 911 will broadcast the alerts about 15 minutes after they receive them but that is a whole different issue.

 

[Twister_2]

A backup transmitter installation at each site would be helpful, but as with all projects funding is required. NWS tries to maintain overlapping coverage from neighboring transmitters. Some parts of Daupin County are covered by WXL39 (162.4) in Allentown, WWG52 (162.525) in Huntingdon, WXM59 (162.475) in State College, and even WXL55 (162.4) in Williamsport.

Yea, I know that I could pick up multiple transmitters including Allentown, Huntington, Williamsport, and a few others. However, they are not consistent and NONE of them send out SAME tones for Dauphin County. That would be nice if they did, but they don't. I don't really use the radio for forecasts because Accuweather is much better...I only use it for the alerts mostly.

 

[scan-pa]

For NOAA, I pick up HBG, Allntwn, and Chstr & on a good skip night I can pick up Phila.