One of the most common and widely used weather instruments for meteorology is the Weather band radio. NWR is a network of radio stations spread all over the nation. These stations continuously broadcast weather information and forecast. The nearby National Weather Service Office is the only source for all the necessary information. Throughout the day Weather band radio broadcasts warnings, weather forecasts, watches and other hazard information provided by the National Weather Service. This information helps the people to plan their days ahead and take extra precautionary measures if necessary.

United with the state, Federal and Local Emergency Managers and other public officials, NWR broadcasts warnings on the forthcoming natural and environmental hazards like earthquake, avalanche, oil or gas releases, etc. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, commonly known as NOAA is a part of the Department of Commerce. NWR weather band radio is described as the “Voice of NOAA's National Weather Service”.

More that 940 transmitters of the NWR weather band radio covers all 50 states near the coastal waters. One of the 7 VHF frequencies are used for broadcasting the NOAA weather band radio between the frequencies of 162.400 MHz to 162.550 MHz. Standard AM/FM radios cannot receive these frequencies.

There are different types of weather band radio receivers available such as the portable units known as the ‘pick up Weather Radio', other desktop models that receive weather radio along with other broadcasts. Standalone Weather Band Radio Receivers and Multi-Band/Function Receivers are the two major radio receivers used for transmitting weather reports and alerts.