My Review Of The Midland WR-120 Weather Radio + 5 Tips To Help You Choose The Best Weather Radio

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

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

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

Why I Chose The Midland WR120 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 — because it may not be very well made, and it 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 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 lately. 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 or 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 weather 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. It’s also great for anyone who wants to hear clear, verbal information during severe weather events.

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

I think the Midland WR120 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 local TV weather reports, The Weather Channel, and the umpteen-thousand weather apps that are available for your phone.

Here are some things to think about, though:

• You may not always have access to a TV.
• The Weather Channel is a great nationwide network, but it’s not necessarily fixated on providing you with weather alerts for your local area.
• Weather apps are cool, but they’re 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
• 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.

Even our own Weatherman Tim agrees that 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.

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 that you test-run your weather radio and are confident in using it.
2. Make sure to 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 has audio-visual alerts.
   I recommend buying a weather radio that has an “LED 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.
   The Midland WR120 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 to 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 the 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.