Walgreens Adds Electronic Weather Alerts

Deerfield, Ill. The electronic outdoor signs that so many Walgreens locations use to advertise weekly specials will now provide critical weather updates.

Through a partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association’s (NOAA) National Weather Service, Walgreens will use its signs to alert shoppers to approaching weather conditions.

Under the agreement, the retailer will access data about impending storms and can post these updates on any of its 3,300 electronic signs operating in potentially affected areas. Walgreens will link into NOAA’s data feed every five minutes and post continuous updates.

The signs are available at more than half of the chain’s 6,443 stores, which operate across 49 states.

This is the second initiative that expands the use of the signs. In 2005, the chain began posting Amber Alerts highlighting regional updates on recent child abductions.