K3WE
Missouri
Senior Member
Joined: 05/24/2005
View Profile
 Offline
|
I own weather radios. I think they are neat.
That being said, There was camping in the 1960s and there was not good weather radio coverage until 1980.
So, you don't NEED one.
Also, as a weather buff, a weather radio is great for situational awareness, but 1) the system does not necessarily guarantee you will be warned in time, AND 2) you are many times more likely to be killed by a lightning bolt from a below-severe storm than a windstorm or tornado.
Nice to have? Yes.
Need to have? No.
Good safety item? Yes.
Guarantees safety? No.
Coverage where you are going? http://www.nws.noaa.gov
|
88Barth
Frozen Tundra
New Member
Joined: 05/26/2010
View Profile
|
Another thing with 511, it will give you construction areas, detours and road closures and accidents along with weather conditions.
|
K3WE
Missouri
Senior Member
Joined: 05/24/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Someone complained, "Why does the NWS mention counties, but not mention towns"
Two replies:
1) I do hear towns mentioned along with the county.
2) Unfortunately, there is a mentality that if your town is NOT mentioned, then you are ok.
|
2inAlabama
Huntsville, AL
Senior Member
Joined: 01/08/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
Yes! Two years ago a friend lost a barn, an equipment shed, and some out buildings to a tornado about 35 miles north of Denver in July. We are planning a trip to Denver in July and we will definitely have our weather radio tuned to each county that we camp in. And we will have our am radio tuned to listen for storm warnings on the road. To determine which counties you are traveling/camping in try:
http://www.digital-topo-maps.com/county-map/
And for NOAA county codes:
http://nws.noaa.gov/nwr/indexnw.htm
Safe traveling.
Just DH & DW
'02 Allegro Phaeton, 300 hp Cummins, Freightliner
|
kknowlton
southeast Idaho, formerly IL/WI border
Senior Member
Joined: 05/27/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
We've had a weather radio for many years, and are very glad we do. I'd definitely recommend one for the plains states especially, but really for anywhere. (I believe every state has reported at least one tornado over time.)
|
|
|
Mike& Rose
Lake & Horse country,Blackstone Valley MA
Senior Member
Joined: 02/12/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
Hand Crank Weather Radio
DW purchased one similar to this one. Hand crank so I do not need batteries. Mine has a light/am/fm and a few other features...reflectors, openers etc...now I will have to find it since I have not used it since last season! Check you cell phone, you may have a weather feature that you can add "Apps". I like to see the doppler radar reports where you can see where the storm front is located.
See you on the road!
|
AZPops
Wherever the Job takes us...
Senior Member
Joined: 07/13/2006
View Profile
|
adamroof wrote:What are the alternatives to a weather radio? Check the laptop when wi-fi available? Road signs? 511?
This is one alternative, but having an aircard and co-pilot (as in passenger) will make this a more effective tool while driving.
TWC National and Local Weather Forecast
I read the forcast and if a storm is coming in, I watch the radar map.
Pops
* This post was
edited 05/29/10 06:50am by AZPops *
|
RVerDiane
Madison, Wisconsin
Senior Member
Joined: 07/02/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Thanks all for your information; I bought a weather radio at WalMart yesterday. Will also highlight the counties as I found that to be a problem when I traveled to Northern Wi/MN.
Diane
Madison, WI
'94 Horizon 21 1/2'
towing '04 Honda CRV
|
MeandMyLabs
Clinton, Illinois
Senior Member
Joined: 11/07/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
I use an alert style by Midland mentioned in a previous post. I am not worried about when I am awake, I have internet on my cell for that. I am more concerned about when sleeping. The alert has awakened me a couple of times during the last year since I purchased it and I am ok with that. I have been in 3 Illinois tornadoes in my lifetime, none while camping, and I do not want to be in another, especially in a TT!
2009 Jayco 19BH
2006 Ford Supercab XLT 5.4L
Yamaha 2400is
Yamaha Zuma 50cc
Kawasaki Brute Force 650
Camping Buddy - Raji (yellow lab)
|
Mr.Beebo
Illinois
Senior Member
Joined: 04/21/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
We have the weather radio from walmart as well as hand held radios that our kids use when away from the camper. The radios are Motorolas and have a quick button for weather radio as well. Works very well.
2010 Rockwood Roo 23SS
2006 Chevy Tahoe
|
|
|
