National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist Hector Guererro reports that a case of vandalism at the Coleman NWS transmission site has taken the NWS Weather Radio station transmitter off the air. Guererro said that Coleman County authorities reported that vandals broke into the transmitter building north of Coleman and stole the copper data feed lines that come from San Angelo.

The lines are being replaced and the transmitter should be back on by Friday. The transmitter, identified as WXN-89, operates at 162.475 MHz and many area Weather Alert radios and scanners are tuned to that frequency for up to date weather alerts and current conditions.

Guererro recommended that weather alert radios be temporarily re-tuned the Richland Springs NWS frequency at 162.525. Coleman county authorities are investigating the break-in and vandalism that damaged the federal transmitting facility.