NOAA weather radio transmitter to be off air for equipment installation

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — For the past two months, the NOAA weather radio transmitter in Winnabow has not been transmitting at full power, but next week that will change.

A new cable and antenna will be installed on Thursday and Friday. This gear will replace equipment that was damaged a few months ago. Wind from Hurricane Matthew likely caused part of the damage, then ice from the winter weather in early January caused the transmitter to stop working, according to NWS Meteorologist Steven Pfaff.

Instead of taking four to six months to get the transmitter back working, a temporary fix was put in place in early February to get the transmitter working at half power.

The Winnabow transmitter will be off the air on Thursday and Friday while the new equipment is installed.

The National Weather Service says once installed, the new antenna and cable will enable the NWS to better serve a broader area across southeast NC with observations, forecasts and warnings.

The new cable will reduce signal loss, while the new antenna will increase transmission.