(February 9, 2007) - Representatives from the National Weather Service forecast office in Lubbock, the city of Childress and Texas Tech University (TTU) conducted a joint dedication ceremony, January 23. The ceremony was to dedicate a NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) transmitter, as well as the newest (50th) weather observing and reporting station brought online as part of the university's West Texas Mesonet.

NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards, known as "The Voice of the National Weather Service," is a continuous 24-hour source of the latest weather forecasts and warnings broadcast directly from the forecast office in Lubbock. Residents in the Texas Panhandle and southwest Oklahoma area can tune their receivers to 162.525 MHz for the broadcasts "This radio broadcast has been made possible through a partnership between the National Weather Service and the City of Childress, with site facilities provided by KCTX Radio" said Justin Weaver, meteorologist-in-charge of the Lubbock forecast Office.

The Texas Tech University mesonet stations provide a rich array of meteorological data to residents of Childress County. Implemented through partnerships between Texas Tech University and serviced communities, they calculate wind speed, temperature, humidity, precipitation and other data in five-minute cycles. The information, used by farmers, researchers, meteorologists and local media, will benefit the largely agricultural community and surrounding county.

Representatives from NWS forecast offices in Lubbock, Amarillo and Norman, Okla. were joined by city, county and state officials; emergency response officials; KFDA News Channel 10 in Amarillo; and, members of communities across the NWR Childress coverage area.