Roanoke, Virginia – Residents across central and southwest Virginia can expect to hear a loud tone and alert message at 11:50 a.m. Wednesday as the National Weather Service in Blacksburg conducts its weekly NOAA Weather Radio test.
According to the National Weather Service, the test covers parts of Virginia and southern West Virginia, including cities like Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Richlands, and extends into Beckley and Hinton in West Virginia. The drill helps verify the operational readiness of the alert system, which is used during severe weather emergencies such as tornadoes, floods, or hazardous storms.
Radio frequencies tied to transmitters like WXL92 in Lynchburg, WXK47 in Roanoke, and WXM75 in Beckley will broadcast the test. A full coverage map and station list is available at weather.gov/rnk/NWRInformation.
The weekly test is usually canceled during active severe weather conditions and rescheduled as needed. Officials recommend keeping weather radios powered on and volume checked, especially during the summer storm season.
Next week’s routine test is expected around the same time unless severe weather intervenes.
