Weather Radio Back To Full Power

The National Weather Service, NOAA weather radio tower that serves a large part of east-central South Dakota is back at full strenght. A January ice storm brought the tower holding the NOAA antenna down. The signal, W-X-M-27 continued to broadcast all summer during the heart of the severe weather season, but at 500 watts and not the normal 1000 watts. Because of the lack of power and low altitude of the antenna, the signal was not properly reaching some areas. The National Weather Service says the new tower was erected near the site of the old tower so the coverage area should remain the same. A back-up generator was installed at the new tower site in case commerical power is lost in the future. The tower, located near Vayland, broadcasts forecasts and tone alert warning services to Hand, Hyde, Spink, Beadle, Kingsbury, Sanborn, Jerauld and Brule Counties