From Emergency Preparedness Director, Tim Isom:
This is a reminder that today, Thursday, April 12, 2018 is Tornado Drill day. Listed below is information and schedule for today’s events.
Thursday, April 12 – Tornadoes (with statewide tornado drills)
– Two Tornado Drills are planned, see the schedule below for details.
– The first drill allows schools, businesses, and industries to test their sheltering plans.
– The second, evening drill, allows families and businesses with second shifts to practice their sheltering plans.
Schedule for Tornado Drill Day
1:00 p.m. Test Watch (TOA).
The six National Weather Service Offices that serve Minnesota will issue a Test Watch.
Weather Radios will activate with the real TOA code.
1:45 p.m. Test Tornado Warning (TOR)
The six National Weather Service Offices that serve Minnesota will issue a Test Tornado Warning.
Weather Radios will activate with the real TOR code.
Outdoor Warning Systems (sirens) will activate.
2:00 p.m. Test Severe Weather Statement (SVS) issued to announce the end of the test warning.
Weather radio will NOT activate.
Outdoor Warning Systems will NOT activate.
There is no such thing as an All Clear signal
6:45 p.m. Test Tornado warning (TOR)
The six National Weather Service Offices that serve Minnesota will issue a Test Tornado Warning.
Weather Radios will activate with the real TOR code.
Outdoor Warning Systems (sirens) will activate.
7:00 pm. Test Severe Weather Statement (SVS) issued to announce the end of the test warning.
Weather radio will NOT activate.
Outdoor Warning Systems will NOT activate.
You can find more information on Tornado Drill Day at
For more information about Severe Weather Awareness week, please visit the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s website at:
