Don’t let some cloudy skies fool you. If you hear a tornado siren on Wednesday, March 25, it’s only a test.
What’s included in Iowa’s statewide tornado drill?
As part of Severe Weather Awareness Week, counties across Iowa will be testing their outdoor weather sirens. Iowans who are signed up for the Alert Iowa system will also receive a test notification on their phones via text message.
The National Weather Service encourages Iowans to practice their tornado safety plans, including moving to a safe space.
When are tornado sirens tested in Des Moines?
The test on March 25 will be the second outdoor siren test in March for the Des Moines metro area.
Communities in Dallas and Polk counties test their outdoor warning siren system on the first Saturday of each month to ensure they’re working when severe weather strikes. That means you’ll next hear sirens on Saturday, April 4.
Sirens will be activated starting at noon each Saturday from March through November. Sirens are not tested in December, January or February to prevent damage from cold temperatures.
Tornado sirens will not be tested if there’s severe weather in the forecast, according to the Polk County Emergency Management Agency.
What does a tornado siren mean?
Outdoor warning siren systems are designed to alert people to nearby dangers. The sirens, often called tornado sirens, are meant to be heard outdoors, not alert people inside, according to the Polk County Emergency Management Agency.
When you hear a tornado siren, you should immediately seek shelter and look for additional information about storm threats, the National Weather Service said.
NWS recommends having alternative ways to get weather alerts like weather radios, local media or the Alert Iowa system, which can text you warnings.
When do tornado sirens go off in Iowa
Outdoor sirens are used for more than just tornado warnings in the Des Moines metro area.
Since 2010, sirens in Polk and Dallas counties have been used for severe thunderstorms when observed or forecast winds exceed 70 mph. These storms can cause damage comparable to an EF0 and can be just as dangerous for people outdoors, the county said.
Why do tornado sirens keep going on and off?
During a warning, sirens will sound for 3-5 minutes and cycle on and off about every 10 minutes until the threat passes.
There is not an “all clear” sound in the Des Moines metro. Follow local media or the National Weather Service to ensure a threat has passed.
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Brian Smith is an audience strategist and senior editor at the Des Moines Register. Contact him at bsmith@dmreg.com or 515-284-8214.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Why are tornado sirens going off? Iowa holds statewide tornado drill
Reporting by Brian Smith, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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