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Atmospheric Watch: The NWS Chicago Story

Your guide to the National Weather Service's Chicago forecast office, its history, and its vital role in regional weather monitoring and public safety.

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Office Overview

Location & Scope

The National Weather Service Chicago forecast office, currently situated in Romeoville, Illinois, on the campus of Lewis University, is tasked with monitoring weather conditions across a significant region. Its operational area encompasses 23 counties in Northern Illinois, the broader Chicago metropolitan area, and extends into Northwest Indiana.

Historical Roots

The federal government's presence in regional weather monitoring began with the establishment of the first weather office in Chicago by the Army Signal Service on October 15, 1870. Over time, its responsibilities evolved, including a period in May 1894 where the Chicago Weather Bureau managed forecasts extending as far west as the Rocky Mountains.

Modern Role

Today, the Romeoville-based office is a key component of the National Weather Service. It is responsible for issuing localized forecasts and critical weather warnings for the Chicago area and its surrounding counties, ensuring public safety and providing essential meteorological data.

NOAA Weather Radio Network

The National Weather Service Chicago Forecast Office manages and programs multiple NOAA Weather Radio stations, broadcasting vital weather and hazard information across its service area.

Chicago

KWO39 Chicago
Frequency 162.550 MHz
Language English
Format Weather/Civil Emergency
First Air Date 1954
Class C
Power 300 Watts
HAAT 452 M
Website Official website

Serves marine interests on southern Lake Michigan and the Illinois/Indiana lake-shore. Covers Cook, DuPage, and Lake counties in Illinois, plus Lake and Porter counties in Indiana.

Lockport

KZZ81 Lockport
Broadcast Area Chicago metropolitan area
Frequency 162.425 MHz
Language English
Format Weather/Civil Emergency
Class C
Power 1,000 Watts
HAAT 91 M
Website Official website

Broadcasts weather and hazard information for Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, & Will counties in Illinois, as well as Lake County in Indiana.

Crystal Lake

KXI41 Crystal Lake
Frequency 162.500 MHz
Language English
Format Weather/Civil Emergency
Class C
Power 300 Watts
HAAT 96 M
Website Official website

Broadcasts weather and hazard information for Boone, Cook, Kane, Lake, & McHenry counties in Illinois, plus Kenosha & Walworth counties in Wisconsin.

Plano

KXI58 Plano
Frequency 162.400 MHz
Language English
Format Weather/Civil Emergency
Power 300 Watts
Website Official website

Broadcasts weather and hazard information for DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, LaSalle, & Will counties in Illinois.

Rockford

KZZ57 Rockford
Broadcast Area Rockford / Northern Illinois / Southern Wisconsin
Frequency 162.475 MHz
Language English
Power 1,000 Watts
Website Official website

Broadcasts weather and hazard information for Winnebago, Boone, Ogle, DeKalb, Lee & Stephenson counties in Illinois, plus Green & Rock counties in Wisconsin. Warnings for Stephenson County are issued by NWS Davenport, and for Green/Rock counties by NWS Milwaukee.

Odell

WXK24 Odell
Broadcast Area Pontiac / Gibson City / Morris / Ottawa, Illinois
Frequency 162.450 MHz
Language English
Class C
Power 1,000 Watts
Website Official website

Broadcasts weather and hazard information for LaSalle, Grundy, Livingston, Ford, Will, Kankakee, Iroquois, Marshall, Woodford & McLean counties in Illinois. Warnings for Marshall, Woodford, and McLean counties are issued by NWS Central Illinois.

DeKalb

WNG536 DeKalb
Frequency 162.550 MHz
Language English
Class C
Power 300 Watts
Website Official website

Broadcasts weather and hazard information for DeKalb, Boone, Winnebago, Ogle, Lee & Kane counties in Illinois.

Crescent City

KXI86 Crescent City
Frequency 162.500 MHz
Language English
Power 300 Watts
Website Official website

Broadcasts weather and hazard information for Ford, Kankakee, Iroquois, & Vermilion Counties in Illinois, as well as Newton & Benton Counties in Indiana. Warnings for Vermilion County are issued by NWS Central Illinois.

Dixon

KZZ55 Dixon
Frequency 162.525 MHz
Language English
Power 300 Watts
Website Official website

Broadcasts weather and hazard information for Ogle, Lee, Carroll, Whiteside & Bureau Counties in Illinois. Warnings for Carroll, Whiteside & Bureau counties are issued by NWS Davenport.

Kankakee

KZZ58 Kankakee
Frequency 162.525 MHz
Language English
Power 300 Watts
Website Official website

Broadcasts weather and hazard information for Kankakee, Iroquois & Will Counties in Illinois, as well as Newton & Lake Counties in Indiana.

Hebron

WNG689 Hebron
Frequency 162.450 MHz
Language English
Power 300 Watts
Website Official website

Broadcasts weather and hazard information for Lake, Porter, Newton, Jasper, LaPorte, Starke & Pulaski Counties in Indiana. Warnings for LaPorte, Starke, and Pulaski Counties are issued by NWS Northern Indiana.

Historical Context

Early Beginnings

The foundation for the NWS Chicago office was laid on October 15, 1870, when the Army Signal Service established the first federal weather office in the region. This marked the beginning of systematic meteorological observation and forecasting in Chicago.

Expanding Reach

By May 1894, the Chicago Weather Bureau's forecast area had significantly expanded, encompassing the Great Lakes region and stretching westward to the Rocky Mountains, demonstrating the growing scope and importance of its services.

Evolution of Radio Services

The NOAA Weather Radio service began in 1954, initially catering to aviation users. It was later reinstated for marine usage on an experimental basis and proved successful, becoming permanent and expanding to include general public weather information throughout the 1960s.

Relocation and Upgrades

The forecast office relocated from the University of Chicago to West Pershing Road in the early 1970s. A significant upgrade occurred in 1975 when the transmitter was moved to the Sears Tower (now Willis Tower), enhancing broadcast capabilities.

Key Reporting Locations

Airport Sites

The NWS Chicago office maintains crucial first-order and climate reporting functions at key locations:

  • O'Hare International Airport (Chicago)
  • Chicago Rockford International Airport (Rockford)

Regional Coverage

The office's forecast and warning responsibilities cover a diverse geographical area, including major urban centers, agricultural regions, and the significant freshwater ecosystem of Lake Michigan.

National Weather Service Network

The NWS Chicago office is part of a larger network of forecast offices across the United States, each serving specific regions and contributing to national weather monitoring efforts.

Central Region Offices

Within the Central Region, NWS Chicago works alongside numerous other forecast offices:

  • Denver/Boulder, Colorado (BOU)
  • Grand Junction, Colorado (GJT)
  • Pueblo, Colorado (PUB)
  • Lincoln, Illinois (ILX)
  • Indianapolis, Indiana (IND)
  • Northern Indiana (IWX)
  • Quad Cities, IL/IA (DVN)
  • Des Moines, Iowa (DMX)
  • Dodge City, Kansas (DDC)
  • Goodland, Kansas (GLD)
  • Topeka, Kansas (TOP)
  • Wichita, Kansas (ICT)
  • Jackson, Kentucky (JKL)
  • Louisville, Kentucky (LMK)
  • Paducah, Kentucky (PAH)
  • Detroit/Pontiac, Michigan (DTX)
  • Gaylord, Michigan (APX)
  • Grand Rapids, Michigan (GRR)
  • Marquette, Michigan (MQT)
  • Duluth, Minnesota (DLH)
  • Minneapolis/Twin Cities, Minnesota (MPX)
  • Kansas City/Pleasant Hill (EAX)
  • Springfield, Missouri (SGF)
  • St. Louis, Missouri (LSX)
  • Hastings, Nebraska (GID)
  • North Platte, Nebraska (LBF)
  • Omaha/Valley, Nebraska (OAX)
  • Bismarck, North Dakota (BIS)
  • Grand Forks, North Dakota (FGF)
  • Aberdeen, South Dakota (ABR)
  • Rapid City, South Dakota (UNR)
  • Sioux Falls, South Dakota (FSD)
  • Green Bay, Wisconsin (GRB)
  • La Crosse, Wisconsin (ARX)
  • Milwaukee/Sullivan, Wisconsin (MKX)
  • Cheyenne, Wyoming (CYS)
  • Riverton, Wyoming (RIW)

Other Regions

The NWS operates offices across multiple regions, including Alaska, Eastern, Pacific, Southern, and Western regions, each with unique meteorological challenges and responsibilities.

Alaska Region

  • Anchorage, Alaska (AFC)
  • Fairbanks, Alaska (AFG)
  • Juneau, Alaska (AJK)

Eastern Region

  • Caribou, Maine (CAR)
  • Gray/Portland, Maine (GYX)
  • Boston, Massachusetts (BOX)
  • Mount Holly/Philadelphia, New Jersey (PHI)
  • Albany, New York (ALY)
  • Binghamton, New York (BGM)
  • Buffalo, New York (BUF)
  • New York/Upton, New York (OKX)
  • Newport/Morehead City, North Carolina (MHX)
  • Raleigh, North Carolina (RAH)
  • Wilmington, North Carolina (ILM)
  • Cleveland, Ohio (CLE)
  • Wilmington, Ohio (ILN)
  • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (PBZ)
  • State College, Pennsylvania (CTP)
  • Charleston, South Carolina (CHS)
  • Columbia, South Carolina (CAE)
  • Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina (GSP)
  • Burlington, Vermont (BTV)
  • Baltimore/Washington, Virginia (LWX)
  • Blacksburg, Virginia (RNK)
  • Wakefield, Virginia (AKQ)
  • Charleston, West Virginia (RLX)

Pacific Region

  • Tiyan, Guam (GUM)
  • Honolulu, Hawaii (HFO)
  • Pago Pago, American Samoa (PPG)

Southern Region

  • Birmingham, Alabama (BMX)
  • Huntsville, Alabama (HUN)
  • Mobile/Pensacola, Alabama (MOB)
  • North Little Rock, Arkansas (LZK)
  • Jacksonville, Florida (JAX)
  • Key West, Florida (KEY)
  • Melbourne, Florida (MLB)
  • Miami, Florida (MFL)
  • Tallahassee, Florida (TAE)
  • Tampa, Florida (TBW)
  • Peachtree City/Atlanta, Georgia (FFC)
  • Lake Charles, Louisiana (LCH)
  • New Orleans/Baton Rouge, Louisiana (LIX)
  • Shreveport, Louisiana (SHV)
  • Jackson, Mississippi (JAN)
  • Albuquerque, New Mexico (ABQ)
  • Norman/Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (OUN)
  • Tulsa, Oklahoma (TSA)
  • San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)
  • Memphis, Tennessee (MEG)
  • Morristown/Knoxville, Tennessee (MRX)
  • Nashville, Tennessee (OHX)
  • Amarillo, Texas (AMA)
  • Austin/San Antonio, Texas (EWX)
  • Brownsville, Texas (BRO)
  • Corpus Christi, Texas (CRP)
  • Fort Worth-Dallas, Texas (FWD)
  • El Paso, Texas (EPZ)
  • Houston/Galveston, Texas (HGX)
  • Lubbock, Texas (LUB)
  • Midland/Odessa, Texas (MAF)
  • San Angelo, Texas (SJT)

Western Region

  • Flagstaff, Arizona (FGZ)
  • Phoenix, Arizona (PSR)
  • Tucson, Arizona (TWC)
  • Eureka, California (EKA)
  • Los Angeles/Oxnard, California (LOX)
  • Sacramento, California (STO)
  • San Diego, California (SGX)
  • San Francisco Bay Area/Monterey, California (MTR)
  • San Joaquin Valley/Hanford, California (HNX)
  • Boise, Idaho (BOI)
  • Pocatello, Idaho (PIH)
  • Billings, Montana (BYZ)
  • Glasgow, Montana (GGW)
  • Great Falls, Montana (TFX)
  • Missoula, Montana (MSO)
  • Elko, Nevada (LKN)
  • Las Vegas, Nevada (VEF)
  • Reno, Nevada (REV)
  • Medford, Oregon (MFR)
  • Pendleton, Oregon (PDT)
  • Portland, Oregon (PQR)
  • Salt Lake City, Utah (SLC)
  • Seattle, Washington (SEW)
  • Spokane, Washington (OTX)

Related Topics

Tornadoes in Chicago

Explore the specific history and impact of tornadoes within the Chicago metropolitan area, a critical aspect of regional weather phenomena.

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References

References

  1.  KWO39 NOAA.gov. Accessed August 24, 2012
  2.  History of NOAA Weather Radio KWO-39 in Chicago NOAA.gov. Accessed August 24, 2012
  3.  NOAA KZZ-81 Query NOAA.gov. Accessed August 24, 2012
  4.  KXI41 NOAA.gov. Accessed August 24, 2012
  5.  KXI58 NOAA.gov. Accessed August 24, 2012
  6.  KZZ57 Rockford, 162.475 MHz NOAA.gov. Accessed August 24, 2012
  7.  WXK24 Odell, 162.450 MHz NOAA.gov. Accessed August 24, 2012
  8.  WNG536 DeKalb, 162.550 MHz NOAA.gov. Accessed August 24, 2012
  9.  KXI86 Crescent City, 162.500 MHz NOAA.gov. Accessed August 24, 2012
  10.  KZZ55 Dixon, 162.525 MHz NOAA.gov. Accessed August 24, 2012
  11.  KXI86 Kankakee, 162.525 MHz NOAA.gov. Accessed August 24, 2012
  12.  WNG 689 Hebron, 162.450 MHz NOAA.gov. Accessed August 24, 2012
A full list of references for this article are available at the National Weather Service Chicago, Illinois Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is derived from publicly available data and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date. It is not a substitute for official National Weather Service (NWS) products or services.

This is not official weather advice. The information provided on this website should not be used as a sole basis for making decisions regarding safety, travel, or any weather-sensitive activities. Always consult official NWS forecasts, warnings, and advisories for the most current and authoritative weather information.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein. Always refer to official sources for critical weather information.