Central Indiana Weather Alert: NOAA Radio Outages Scheduled During Storm Threat

Many people across Indiana rely on NOAA Weather Radios to stay informed of severe weather, but next week, some residents will need a backup plan to stay alert.

When & Why the NOAA Update Is Happening

The National Weather Service office in Indianapolis has scheduled a necessary update to the weather radio system that serves Central Indiana. The update is expected to take place beginning Monday, April 28, 2025, and conclude on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.

The scheduled update will not impact weather service forecasts or the National Weather Service's ability to issue advisories, watches, or warnings, and the NWS office will remain open and staffed. However, it will impact how we receive warning alerts.

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Threat of Severe Weather on the Way

As of now, there is a threat of severe weather that coincides with the timing of this update. It's for this reason that residents of Central Indiana need to be aware of what is happening.

What Areas Will Be Affected by the Outage?

The update will impact the nine National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) radio transmitters serving 39 Indiana counties. The transmitters maintained by the NWS office in Indianapolis will be rendered ineffective during the update.

READ MORE: Know the Difference Between a Watch and a Warning

What Happens If Severe Weather Hits During the Outage?

This means that in the event a severe weather event occurs during the update, Central Indiana residents will not receive alerts on their NOAA Weather Radios. If severe weather strikes during the update, Indiana's Office of Homeland Security will be able to send out "internet-delivered alerts" utilizing FEMA's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS).

FEMA's IPAWS is an internet protocol (IP)-based network that serves as a gateway between official entities that need to communicate an emergency alert (alerting authorities) and the national communications networks capable of delivering those alerts to relevant public audiences. IPAWS collects alerts from local alerting authorities and simultaneously distributes them across specified pathways, such as radio and television broadcasting networks and cell phone networks

How IPAWS Will Keep You Informed

According to Congress.gov, IPAWS is designed to send out emergency alerts utilizing an IP-based network. Those alerts can be received via cell phones, social media, and even digital highway signs, as well as county and state websites and alerting systems.

Smart Ways to Stay Weather-Ready Without a NOAA Radio

So while this update is routine, it is taking place at a time when severe weather is possible. That makes it a great time to check your back up alert systems. Make sure to keep your phone charged and ensure you have emergency alerts enabled. Also, be sure you have access to trusted news apps, local television, and social media so you can still stay updated by the NWS.

With severe weather just around the corner and the update to the NOAA Weather Radio system, make sure you have an emergency preparedness plan in place. We've put together a helpful gallery of severe weather preparedness tips to help you be ready for anything Mother Nature throws your way. Don’t wait until it's too late—scroll through and take action now to protect your family, your pets, and your property.

[SOURCE: National Weather Service]