NOAA Weather Radio Station WXJ-76 (Champaign)

Locally Heavy Rainfall for the Carolinas; Thunderstorms and Fire Weather Concerns for Intermountain West

Heavy rainfall from scattered thunderstorms is expected across the Southwest, Intermountain West, and Plains. Isolated dry thunderstorms may initiate additional fires across the west. The coastal Carolinas may experience flash floods in the coming days due to repeated thunderstorms. Additionally, a wave of intense summer heat will hit the Southern Plains and central Gulf Coast States this week. Read More >

WXJ-76 operates 24 hours a day, on a frequency of 162.550 MHz. WXJ-76 transmits at 1,000 watts of power, from the WCIA-TV tower near Seymour.

WXJ-76 serves 9 counties in central Illinois:

Champaign (017019), Coles (017029), De Witt (017039), Douglas (017041), Edgar (017045), Ford (017053), Moultrie (017139), Piatt (017147), Vermilion (017183).

Numbers in parentheses are used for the Specific Area Message Encoder (SAME), utilized by many NOAA Weather Radio receivers.

The approximate coverage area is shown at left. This is based on computer projections, and may vary due to placement of your radio, direction of the transmitting antenna on the broadcast tower, and environmental issues. Click here for more details.

Listeners in Coles, Douglas and Edgar Counties can also receive severe weather warnings on station KXI-47 in Paris. Ford County is also covered by stations WXK-24 in Odell, and KXI-86 in Crescent City. De Witt County is also covered by WXJ-75 in Springfield, and KZZ-65 in Bloomington. Vermilion County is also covered by KXI-86 in Crescent City. Moultrie County is also covered by station KXI-46 in Shelby County.

Routine Programming:

Champaign and Vicinity Forecast: A forecast for the next 7 days. It airs continuously, and is routinely updated at 4 AM and 3:30 PM. Updates in between these times occur as necessary.

Hourly Weather Roundup: Detailed hourly observations for Champaign, as well as temperature and observed weather at many locations around the Midwest, are updated at 2 minutes past each hour.

Hazardous Weather Outlook: This product gives a summary of expected weather hazards over the next 7 days, and information on when storm spotters may need to be activated. It airs from 6 to 10 AM, and 3 to 7 PM daily. It is also updated around 11:30 AM if conditions warrant.

Climate Summaries: Daily summaries for observed conditions at the Champaign and Mattoon Airports air periodically from 5 to 9 AM, and 6 to 8 PM.

River Flood Statements: When flooding affects the Sangamon or Vermilion Rivers, statements will list current and forecast stages for several points along the affected rivers. These are updated at 3 AM, 11 AM, 3 PM, and 9 PM, and play every 15 minutes.

During adverse weather conditions, some normal programming is suspended. This is done to broadcast more important information frequently.

During severe thunderstorm and tornado watches, and flood warnings, the following will NOT air: Climate Summary. In addition, the hourly weather roundup will include local stations only.

Most normal programming is eliminated during severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings. Broadcast cycles are limited to severe weather watches and warnings, flood warnings, and Hourly Weather Roundup (local sites only).

When a severe weather watch or warning is issued, it is preceded by special alarm signals, which activate specially designed weather radios. These radios will alert you to the warning broadcast, through use of a siren or other means of notification. Radios that have the alarm feature and a battery backup are highly recommended. The cost of these radios range around $20 upward. Click here for more information on weather radio receivers.

In central Illinois, the alarm features will be used for the following messages:

Tornado Watches and Warnings

Severe Thunderstorm Watches and Warnings

Flash Flood Warnings

Blizzard Warnings

Non-Weather Emergency Messages

AMBER Alerts (SAME feature only)

This alarm feature is tested on Wednesdays between 10 AM and 1 PM. If severe weather is a threat, the test will be held the first available good-weather day.