National Weather Service Wichita, Kansas facts for kids
 The Wichita, Kansas National Weather Service office. |
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| Agency overview | |
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| Jurisdiction | Federal Government of the United States |
| Headquarters | 2142 S. Tyler Road, Wichita, KS 37°39′17.7″N 97°26′36.1″W / 37.654917°N 97.443361°W |
| Employees | 23 |
| Agency executives |
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| Parent agency | National Weather Service |
| Map | |
Location of the National Weather Service Wichita, Kansas and its county warning area.
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The National Weather Service Wichita, Kansas (often called NWS Wichita) is a local office of the National Weather Service. Its main job is to keep an eye on the weather and issue forecasts for 26 counties in central, south-central, and southeastern Kansas. This includes big areas like Wichita Metropolitan Area and Salina, Kansas.
A Look Back: How Weather Forecasting Started in Wichita
The first federal weather office in the Wichita area opened on June 13, 1888. It was started by the U.S. Army Signal Corps. This group was part of the army and helped with communication, including weather observations.
Later, on April 1, 1930, another weather office opened at the Wichita Municipal Airport. This airport is now known as McConnell Air Force Base. For a while, from 1930 to 1940, Wichita had two different weather offices working at the same time.
Today's Weather Watchers in Wichita
The main National Weather Service Wichita office today is located in the southwestern part of Wichita. It's close to Eisenhower Airport. This office is responsible for creating local weather forecasts and sending out warnings for severe weather.
NWS Wichita covers a large part of Kansas, including central, south-central, and southeastern areas. It is one of four National Weather Service offices located within Kansas. It is also one of seven offices that provide weather services to the state.
If the Wichita office ever has a problem and can't do its job, other offices are ready to help. The National Weather Service office in Topeka, Kansas, is the first backup. If Topeka also can't help, the office in Dodge City, Kansas, steps in as the second backup.
NOAA Weather Radio: Your Weather Alert System
NWS Wichita runs six special radio transmitters called NOAA Weather Radio. These radios broadcast important weather information and warnings 24/7. They help keep people safe across Central, South-Central, and Southeast Kansas.
Here are the main NOAA Weather Radio stations operated by NWS Wichita:
- KEC59 broadcasts from Wichita on 162.550 MHz. It serves counties like Butler, Cowley, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, McPherson, Reno, Sedgwick, and Sumner.
- WXK95 broadcasts from Erie on 162.400 MHz. This station covers counties such as Allen, Labette, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson, Woodson, Bourbon§, Cherokee§, and Crawford§.
- WXK92 broadcasts from Ellsworth on 162.400 MHz. It serves counties like Barton, Ellsworth, Lincoln, McPherson, Rice, Russell, and Saline.
- WWH22 broadcasts from Beaumont on 162.500 MHz. This station helps counties including Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cowley, Elk, Greenwood, and Woodson.
- WZ2511 broadcasts from Sharon on 162.400 MHz. It covers counties in Kansas like Harper, Kingman, Reno, Barber§, Pratt§, and Stafford§. It also reaches into Oklahoma, serving Alfalfa§, Grant§, and Woods§.
- KPS511 broadcasts from Great Bend on 162.500 MHz. This station serves counties such as Barton, Ellsworth, Reno, Rice, Russell, Pawnee§, Rush§, and Stafford§.
Note: Counties marked with a § are outside the main area that the Wichita NWS office is responsible for.
