News Summary
The National Weather Service in Birmingham will conduct a software upgrade from May 19-21, temporarily taking NOAA weather radios offline. This outage coincides with increased severe weather risks, including tornadoes in central Alabama. Residents are advised to seek alternative weather updates using smartphone apps, local broadcasts, and emergency notification systems. The upgrade aims to enhance the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System to improve future weather monitoring and alerts.
Birmingham – The National Weather Service (NWS) in Birmingham is set to initiate a software upgrade from Monday, May 19, through Wednesday, May 21, which will take all NOAA weather radios offline. This outage comes at a critical time as central Alabama faces an increased threat of severe weather, including the risk of tornadoes and strong storms on Tuesday night.
The scheduled upgrade is part of efforts to enhance the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS), essential for monitoring and broadcasting weather-related information. Although this upgrade is crucial for improving future operations, the NWS confirmed that it was planned months ahead and cannot be postponed.
During the outage, while the NOAA weather radios will not be operational, the NWS will continue to issue weather watches, warnings, and advisories through other channels. Residents in the affected areas are encouraged to seek alternative ways to receive weather updates, which include:
- Downloading smartphone weather apps and enabling emergency alerts.
- Watching local television and listening to radio broadcasts.
- Subscribing to county emergency notification systems.
The NWS Birmingham emphasized the importance of staying informed, particularly during nighttime severe weather, as tornadoes can pose increased danger when visibility is low. The NOAA weather radio transmitters affected by this temporary outage are located in key areas such as Winfield, Oneonta, Birmingham, Anniston, Tuscaloosa, Demopolis, Selma, Montgomery, Auburn, and Texasville.
In light of this situation, nearby NWS offices, including those in Huntsville, Mobile, Peachtree City (GA), Memphis (TN), and Tallahassee (FL), will remain operational and assist during the upgrade process.
The forecast for the region indicates a significant weather threat classified as a Level 3 out of 5 (enhanced risk) for central Alabama, with predictions of damaging winds, large hail, and the potential for tornadoes. Residents are urged to stay vigilant and updated through social media platforms and the NWS website, where alerts will be posted in real time.
Despite the NOAA weather radios being offline, all forecast operations at the Birmingham office will continue uninterrupted, as the office remains fully staffed. The upgrade is anticipated to enhance the efficiency and speed of weather forecasts and warnings, akin to how a smartphone upgrade improves device performance. The upgrade is expected to be completed by the end of the week, with weather conditions likely calming down following the severe threat.
The NWS encourages all residents to take proactive measures in ensuring they have access to timely weather information during this period. Misinformation or unawareness due to the NOAA weather radio outage can be detrimental during critical weather events, especially when severe conditions may arise.
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Additional Resources
- Newsweek: NOAA Warning System Offline
- Wikipedia: Tornado
- AL.com: Weather Radio Update
- Google Search: National Weather Service
- WBRC: NOAA Weather Radios Offline
- Google Scholar: Weather Alert Systems
- ABC 33/40: Severe Weather Update
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Weather
- WEIS Radio: Weather Radios Offline
- Google News: Severe Weather Alabama
