My Review Of The Midland WR-120 Weather Radio + 5 Tips For Buying Weather Radios

A weather radio is something everybody should have in their emergency preparedness kits.

There are many weather radios available, which can make choosing just the right one seemingly difficult.

I live in Florida — a state also known as Hurricane Alley. So, I want the best weather radio I can find. 

I also didn’t want to spend an arm and a leg buying a decent weather radio.

I shopped around and did plenty of research, because I’m one of those techies who needs to know everything about an electronic product before buying it.

The Midland WR-120 turned out to be the best buy for my buck. Here’s why:

• It’s inexpensive but is also reliable and offers a substantial number of features.
• It’s simple to use yet has more to offer than the most basic models.
• It provides the weather information, weather forecasts, and severe weather updates I need.

The Midland WR-120 weather radio can be bought many places where electronics are sold — including pharmacies, department stores, and, of course, Amazon.

 

Why I Chose The Midland WR-120 Weather Radio

I mentioned earlier that affordability was a factor in deciding which weather radio I bought.

While I purchased an inexpensive weather radio (less than $50), I certainly didn’t buy one of the cheapest weather radios.

I’m not against saving money, and I can be rather frugal. But I advise you not to buy a cheap weather radio — it may not be very well made and could possibly let you down just when you need a weather radio the most.

Midland Radio is known as a so-called value brand, but it’s also a well-established name with products that last a long time.

By the way, don’t mistake my enthusiasm for Midland Radio or its products for financial or familial partiality to the company. I have no financial stake in Midland Radio whatsoever, nor do I have any personal connections to the company. I’m simply a satisfied customer!

Midland Radio was founded in 1960 and is widely known for making reliable 2-way radio systems, CB radios, and weather hazard alert radios.

My Midland weather radio provides advisories for local storms and daily forecasts.

Thankfully, I’ve not had to use my weather hazard system for hurricanes, blizzards, or tornadoes. But it’s designed to pump out audio-visual alerts when the local branch of the National Weather Service, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), issues them for major weather events.

The Midland WR-120 also allows you to select what types of advisories you want the radio to warn you about. For example, if you want alerts for only hurricanes and tornadoes, you can select that as an option. Or, if you want to receive warnings for all advisories, you can choose that, too.

The Midland WR-120 has 3 alert levels:

• A yellow LED light indicates local weather advisories
• An orange LED signal provides a heads-up on weather watches
• A red LED alert will pop up when NOAA issues a weather warning

The WR-120 also has a voice warning system — which is ideal for those who are visually impaired or individuals who want clear, verbal info during severe weather events.

Additionally, the Midland weather radio has a basic clock feature with an alarm option.

I think the Midland WR-12o is pretty easy to set up. However, if you want a little extra assistance, you might enjoy this 8-minute video by Evansville, Indiana, WEHT-25 Chief Meteorologist Wayne Hart:

 

Reasons To Buy A Weather Radio

Weather radios may seem unnecessary in the era of TV weather reports, The Weather Channel, and, of course, umpteen-thousand weather apps for your phone.

The thing to think about is that you may not always have access to a TV. And the Weather Channel is a great nationwide network, but it’s not necessarily fixated on providing you with local weather alerts.

As for those weather apps? Cool, yes — but apps are not always reliable and may not offer official weather alerts from your local NOAA branch.

NOAA generally provides weather alerts for the following:

• Flood conditions
• Severe thunderstorms
• Tornadoes
• Hurricanes
• Blizzards
• Heavy snow and ice
• High winds and strong surf conditions

Enter the weather radio — a trusty device with (usually) an old-fashioned telescopic-style antenna. It can function on batteries and deliver up-to-the-minute, local NOAA weather advisories during blackouts and cell phone service disruptions.

Really, you must have a weather radio because it can serve as a lifeline for providing important weather alerts and info that you may not be able to get anywhere else.

For a relatively small investment (I paid about $35 for my Midland weather radio), you can buy an alert system that will help you stay in the know during dangerous weather events or other natural hazards.

Whether you buy the Midland WR-120 or another weather radio, you won’t regret spending money on one. I know I certainly haven’t!

 

My 5 Best Tips For Buying A Weather Radio

You certainly have no shortage of options when it comes to buying a weather radio.

It’s not like the old days, back when there were a only few different types of weather radios available.

Today, there are dozens of different kinds of weather radios on the market — ranging from extremely basic, cheap weather radios to deluxe models with all the bells and whistles.

What type you purchase is totally up to you, but here are 5 things to consider before you buy a weather radio:

1. Buy a model that’s easy for you to use — Whether you’re tech savvy or think you don’t get along with electronics very well, make sure you test-run your weather radio and are confident in using it.
2. Make sure you buy a weather radio from a reliable brand — I’m one of those folks who swears by particular brands. Why? Because there are certain companies whose products I’ve grown to trust. Don’t cut corners when buying weather radios. Pay the extra few dollars to buy a weather radio from a manufacturer that offers durable products and substantial warranties.
3. Get one that offers audio-visual alerts — I suggest you buy a weather radio that has a light warning system along with audio alerts, such as beeps, alarms, and/or vocal warnings. It’s ideal to have multiple alert systems in case a weather warning is issued while you’re sleeping, busy with work, or otherwise distracted.
4. Buy a weather radio that runs on inexpensive batteries — My Midland weather radio runs on 3 AA alkaline batteries. You can buy 4-packs and 8-packs of AA batteries for only a few dollars. However, some weather radios run on more expensive C-batteries and D-batteries. If you’re trying to save money, make sure you buy a model that uses the more affordable AA or even AAA battery. (And stock up on batteries so you can always use your weather radio during power outages.)
5. Make sure you buy a weather radio that picks up your nearest NOAA weather station — Most weather radios will receive alerts within a 25- to 40-mile radius of your nearest NOAA reporting station. Very few areas don’t have a NOAA station within that distance. So, make sure that your weather radio can receive info, forecasts, and alerts from your nearest NOAA station.

 

More About Weather Radios & Severe Weather Alerts

• Midland WR-120 Weather Radio Manual
• NOAA Weather Radio Coverage By County & State
• Weather Radio Buying Guide
• Tornado Watch Vs. Tornado Warning: What To Look For & How To Stay Safe
• Hurricane Watches Vs. Hurricane Warnings
• Winter Storm Watches, Warnings & Alerts