Broadcast Radio and TV
Broadcast radio and television remain some of the most reliable ways to receive weather alerts during severe weather. Unlike SiriusXM or your streaming playlist, broadcast radio and TV stations participate in the Emergency Alert System (EAS), which allows stations to quickly relay emergency messages, including local weather alerts, oftentimes before your phone or weather app notifies you.
Some stations may also provide live severe weather coverage with continuous updates from a meteorologist. However, not all stations participate equally. Some choose not to relay weather alerts through the EAS and may not provide live severe weather coverage at all.
What is the Emergency Alert System (EAS)?
The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a nationwide public warning system in the United States that allows government agencies, such as the National Weather Service (NWS), FEMA, and local, state, and tribal emergency managers to deliver urgent alerts to the public via radio, television, and digital broadcasts.
Originally designed for national emergencies, the EAS is now used for weather alerts, AMBER Alerts, civil emergencies, and more. It ensures critical messages reach as many people as possible during life-threatening situations.
Below is a list of stations in the Bemidji area, including the types of alerts they relay and whether they provide live severe weather coverage.
Broadcast Radio and TV Alert Sources
| Frequency | Callsign | Location | Weather Alerts Relayed | Live Severe Weather Coverage | Alert Relay Rating | Weather Radio Station Relayed From | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88.5 MHz | KCRB | Bemidji, MN | Civil Alerts, National Alerts | No | Bad | None | State Relay |
| 89.7 MHz | KBSB | Bemidji, MN | Civil Alerts, National Alerts | No | Bad | None | No Programming during Summer |
| 90.1 MHz & 107.9 MHz | KOJB | Cass Lake, MN | Unknown | UNK | UNK | UNK | 107.9 is the Bemidji Translator |
| 90.5 MHz | KBXE | Bemidji, MN | Tornado Warning, Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Flash Flood Warning, Civil Alerts, National Alerts | UNK | Good | WXM99 | |
| 88.5 MHz | KNBJ | Bemidji, MN | Civil Alerts, National Alerts | No | Bad | None | State Relay |
| 92.1 MHz | WMIS | Blackduck, MN | EAS Override is Not Working | Yes | Okay | WXM99 | |
| 92.7 MHz | W224AB | Bemidji, MN | Non-Local Weather Alerts Relayed, Civil Alerts, National Alerts | No | Bad | WXK45 (Int'l Falls) | |
| 93.5 MHz | K228EW | Bemidji, MN | Civil Alerts, National Alerts | No | Bad | None | |
| 95.5 MHz | KKZY | Bemidji, MN | Tornado Warning, Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Flash Flood Warning, Civil Alerts, National Alerts | No | Good | WXM99 | |
| 96.7 MHz | KKCQ | Bagley, MN | Tornado Warning, Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Flash Flood Warning, Civil Alerts, National Alerts | No | Good | WXM99 | |
| 98.3 MHz | WBJI | Blackduck, MN | EAS Override is Not Working | Yes | Okay | WXM99 | |
| 99.1 MHz | KLLZ | Bemidji, MN | Tornado Warning, Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Flash Flood Warning, Civil Alerts, National Alerts | No | Good | WXM99 | |
| 101.1 MHz | KBHB | Bemidji, MN | Tornado Warning, Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Flash Flood Warning, Civil Alerts, National Alerts | No | Good | WXM99 | |
| 102.5 MHz | KKWB | Keliher, MN | Tornado Warning, Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Flash Flood Warning, Civil Alerts, National Alerts | No | Good | WWG98 | Also relays from WXJ64/Leader |
| 103.7 MHz | KKBJ (FM) | Bemidji, MN | Tornado Warning, Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Flash Flood Warning, Winter Storm Warning, Blizzard Warning, Tornado Watch, Severe Thunderstorm Watch, Flood Warning, Civil Alerts | Yes | Best | WXM99 | |
| 104.5 MHz | KBUN (FM) | Bemidji, MN | Tornado Warning, Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Flash Flood Warning, Civil Alerts, National Alerts | No | Good | WXM99 | |
| 105.3 MHz | WRLN | Red Lake, MN | Tornado Warning, Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Flash Flood Warning, Civil Alerts, National Alerts | Coming Soon | Good | WXM99 | |
| 107.1 MHz | KKEQ | Bemidji, MN | Tornado Warning, Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Flash Flood Warning, Civil Alerts, National Alerts | No | Good | WXM99 | |
| 820 KHz, 89.7 MHz | WBKK | Bemidji, MN | Tornado Warning, National Alerts | No | Bad | WXM99 | |
| 870 KHz, 103.1 MHz | KPRM | Park Rapids, MN | Tornado Warning, Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Flash Flood Warning, Civil Alerts, National Alerts | No | Good | WWG98 | Also relays from WXJ64/Leader |
| 1300 KHz, 94.3 MHz | KPMI | Bemidji, MN | EAS Override is Not Working | Yes | Okay | WXM99 | |
| 1360 KHz, 106.3 MHz | KKBJ (AM) | Bemidji, MN | EAS Override is Not Working | Yes | Okay | WXM99 | |
| 1450 KHz, 100.1 MHz | KBUN (AM) | Bemidji, MN | Tornado Warning, Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Flash Flood Warning, Civil Alerts, National Alerts | No | Good | WXM99 | |
| DTV Ch 9 | KAWE | Blackduck, MN | Tornado Warning, Severe Thunderstorm Warning, Flash Flood Warning, Winter Storm Warning, Blizzard Warning, Tornado Watch, Severe Thunderstorm Watch, Flood Warning, Civil Alerts | Yes | Best | WXM99 | Also relays from WXJ64/Leader |