If you're looking for a unique and practical gift for a weather enthusiast you know, consider a NOAA Weather Radio. These specialized receivers continuously broadcast local weather observations, forecasts, watches, warnings, and other hazard information, directly from the National Weather Service.

NOAA weather radio is often called the "Voice of the National Weather Service." In this area, there are NOAA weather radio transmitters in Philadelphia, Allentown, Atlantic City, and Lewes, with two more planned for installation this year. Once that's done, nearly everyone in the thirty-four county area served by the Mount Holly National Weather Service will be able to receive NOAA weather radio broadcasts.

NOAA weather radios are available in most electronics stores, through catalogs, and on the Web. Many have an automatic alerting device that turns the radio on whenever a watch or warning is issued. The more sophisticated radios will only alarm when a warning is issued for the county you live in. Small battery-operated units will fit in a shirt pocket, while larger ones with alarms are about the size of a book. Generally, they cost between 25 and 50 dollars.