Some NOAA weather radio transmitters go offline for software upgrades

The National Weather Service office in Greenville-Spartanburg will undergo a scheduled system upgrade from Monday, June 2 through Wednesday, June 4, 2025, which will temporarily impact certain weather communication services across the Carolinas including NOAA Weather Radio coverage in Charlotte.

The update involves a mandatory overhaul of the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS), which is a critical system used by meteorologists to analyze data and issue life-saving weather warnings. While the Greenville-Spartanburg office conducts the upgrade, forecast operations will temporarily shift to the NWS back-up office in Columbia, South Carolina, to ensure minimal disruption to weather services.

Despite the transition, no interruptions are expected for core services such as weather forecasts, watches, warnings, and advisories. However, the NWS says limited impacts will affect NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts and online forecast graphics.

All NOAA Weather Radio transmitters operated by the Greenville-Spartanburg office will be off the air during the installation. This includes transmitters that serve Charlotte and surrounding areas:

• North Carolina: Charlotte, Asheville, Nantahala, Linville, Mooresville/Statesville

• South Carolina: Greenville, Rock Hill

• Georgia: Toccoa, Rabun

In Mecklenburg County, some NOAA Weather Radio reception may still be possible from the Buck Mountain transmitter in Montgomery County, however, this transmitter does not have tone-alert capability for severe warnings in Charlotte.

For those living in the western North Carolina mountains, reception of transmissions from Virginia or Tennessee may be possible. Similarly, those living in central North Carolina may still be able to receive signals operated by the National Weather Service in Raleigh. While those living in the sandhills of South Carolina may still receive reception from neighboring areas. 

However, it is important to remember that just because a NOAA weather radio can receive a distant signal, that distinct transmitter may not offer severe weather alerts for your county. To check reception and severe weather alerting locations, there is a tool on the National Weather Service website.

Residents are encouraged to rely on alternative alert systems such as wireless emergency alerts (WEAs), mobile weather apps, and local television and radio broadcasts.

Despite the AWIPS upgrade, the Greenville-Spartanburg office will remain open and staffed to handle phone inquiries and conduct other operations not dependent on AWIPS.

These same upgrades are happening nationwide, with a staggered schedule to allow for continuous weather operations regionally.

Contact Bekah Birdsall at rbirdsall@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.