ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — When winter storms or power outages hit Asheville and Buncombe County, staying informed can be a challenge. Local radio stations, NOAA Weather Radio and amateur “ham” radio repeaters can keep residents connected with emergency updates, weather alerts, and even entertainment when other services go dark.
Local stations to keep you connected
Several Asheville-area stations provide reliable programming during power outages:
- Mix 95.5 (WOXL-FM): Adult contemporary music.
- 97.2 La Pantera (WOXL-HD3): The city’s first dedicated Spanish-language station.
- 98.1 The River (WOXL-HD2): Eclectic music for all tastes.
- Rewind 100.3 (W262CO): Classic hits with an upbeat twist.
- 105.5 The Outlaw (WTMT-HD3): Curated classic country.
- 105.9 The Mountain (WTMT-FM): Classic rock hits.
- WISE Sports Radio (1310 AM): Sports talk coverage.
NOAA Weather Radio
For continuous alerts, NOAA Weather Radio provides watches, warnings and advisories directly from the National Weather Service.
- WXL56 (Asheville): 162.400 MHz; covers Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison and surrounding mountain counties. Broadcasts 24/7.
- WNG537 (Windsor/Asheville region): 162.525 MHz; supplementary coverage.
NOAA Weather Radio is especially reliable during outages because it can deliver alerts even when traditional AM/FM stations are off the air.
Amateur (Ham) radio
Licensed amateur radio operators often maintain communication during widespread outages, relaying emergency traffic, welfare checks, and local situation reports. Key repeaters in the Asheville area include:
- 146.910 MHz (W4MOE, Spivey Mountain) – Primary Buncombe ARES/EOC repeater, 91.5 PL tone.
- 145.190 MHz (N2GE, Mt. Mitchell) – Wide-area coverage.
- 146.640 MHz (WB4YAO, Bearwallow) – Blue Ridge Amateur Radio Club (BRARC), 91.5 PL tone.
Additional repeaters: 146.835 MHz (Asheville area), 224.520 MHz (Stradley Mountain, 91.5 PL), 224.600 MHz (Spivey Mountain, 94.8 PL).
Emergency preparedness tips
- Keep a battery-operated or hand-crank radio. AM/FM and NOAA receivers are most reliable during outages.
- NOAA Weather Radio can push alerts automatically, even when other devices fail.
- Car radios can serve as an emergency listening option if you have fuel.
During storms or power outages, these radio resources can provide critical information and peace of mind when the lights go out.
