The Bay Area's main NOAA Weather Radio signal has gone quiet, and for a lot of weather radio users, that is not great timing. The National Weather Service says the San Francisco Bay Area's NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards transmitter on 162.400 MHz (KHB‑49) is offline because of technical problems and will stay off the air until further notice. That shutdown pulls the region's primary NWR feed from that frequency and could leave people who rely on dedicated weather radios without automatic alerts for watches and warnings. Local officials are urging residents to lean on other alert channels while technicians work on repairs.
According to the National Weather Service, the KHB‑49 transmitter on 162.400 MHz will be off the air until further notice because of technical difficulties. In the same Public Information Statement, posted yesterday, the agency listed alternate transmitters and frequencies that may still reach parts of the Bay Area: 162.550 MHz from Mount Umunhum, 162.475 MHz from Sonoma County, and 162.425 MHz from Mount Diablo.
How To Get Alerts Without 162.400
If your weather radio only locks on to 162.400, try tuning to the other Bay Area frequencies listed by NWS or moving the receiver to a higher spot to boost reception. The city also runs a text-based alert service - you can sign up for AlertSF through the SFPUC - and Wireless Emergency Alerts can deliver life-safety messages to mobile phones in the affected area. Officials recommend having multiple ways to receive warnings, including a battery-backed radio, phone alerts and local media, while the transmitter is down.
Where Officials Will Post Updates
The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management amplified the NWS Bay Area advisory on X, sharing the alert in a San Francisco Department of Emergency Management post, and is distributing local guidance for residents. City and NWS channels will publish repair timelines and any further safety messages as they are released. Officials advise following those primary accounts instead of unverified reposts for the most accurate information.
...San Francisco Bay Area NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards Station Will Be Off The Air Until Further Notice... During the outage, listeners may be able to receive NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts on frequencies 162.550 MHz from Mount Umunhum, 162.475 MHz from Sonoma County, or 162.42 pic.twitter.com/RckVDdNPYW
— NWS Bay Area 🌉 (@NWSBayArea) March 29, 2026
Why This Matters
NOAA Weather Radio is the official "Voice of the National Weather Service," broadcasting watches, warnings and other hazard information around the clock, according to the NOAA Weather Radio program. When a primary transmitter goes offline, coverage gaps can leave people outdoors, boaters and those without reliable cell service more vulnerable to delayed warnings. Keeping extra alert methods and charged devices close at hand can help bridge the gap until full service is restored.
