KNNK radio host, Jerry Brock and Castro County Emergency Manager Randy Griffitt take part in KNNK's live radio coverage during the press conference promoting the new NOAA Weather Radio transmitter in Summerfield, TX.

The National Weather Service (NWS) installed a new NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) transmitter in Summerfield, Texas. The new transmitter provides weather radio coverage across all of Deaf Smith County, and portions of Randall and Oldham counties within the Amarillo NWS County Warning Area. The transmitter also serves Castro and Parmer Counties which lie in the Lubbock NWS County Warning Area.

After a 30 day test period, the transmitter began officially broadcasting 24-hour weather information on November 20, 2004. A press conference was held at the Castro County Courthouse in Dimmitt, which was carried live by Hereford radio station KNNK. The transmitter is located on the KNNK radio tower in Summerfield, which is provided by KNNK as a service to the public. Officials from Deaf Smith, Castro, and Parmer Counties were on hand at the press conference, as well as NWS officials from both the Amarillo and Lubbock offices. After the ceremony, NWS Amarillo Warning Coordination Meteorologist Steve Drillette and Deaf Smith County Emergency Manager Dean Turney participated in a live radio interview at the KNNK studio in Hereford.

Steve Drillette, Amarillo National Weather Service (NWS) Warning Coordination Meteorologist addressed the Hereford Kiwanas on February 5th, and the Hereford Lions Club on February 25th. Steve presented information on the benefits of NOAA Weather Radio and on Hereford’s recent recognition as a “StormReady” community. Approximately 30 and 45 people respectively attended the two meetings. Hereford’s Emergency Manager Dean Turney was responsible for organizing the programs. (Pictured at right: NWS Warning Coordination Meteorologist Steve Drillette speaks to the Hereford Lions Club during their February meeting.)

As an Amarillo NWS cooperative weather observer, KEYE radio records the daily maximum and minimum temperatures and precipitation data for Perryton. KEYE’s first official observations were collected and recorded on October 1, 1954. These records are sent and archived at the National Climate Data Center in Ashville, North Carolina. KEYE is the longest running cooperative observer station in the Texas panhandle. Thousands of Cooperative Weather Observers across the nation volunteer their time and efforts to assist the NWS in recording daily temperature, precipitation, river stage and other vital weather information for their community. “It’s rare anywhere in the United States where an observer will provide 50 consecutive years of service”, said Jose Garcia, Amarillo NWS Meteorologist-In-Charge. “KEYE is to be commended for their dedication to this program”.