Today, as part of Severe Weather Awareness week, the severe weather sirens will be activated twice. The test times have been set by Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management in collaboration with the National Weather Service as well as many State and local agencies and organizations.
The sirens will activate at approximate 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. today (Thursday, April 11, 2024). Each time, most counties in Minnesota will activate outdoor warning siren systems and other notification systems. The choice to activate sirens is a decision made by the counties and cities. The NWS and others will also post on social media. NOAA Weather Radio will also activate with the Routine Weekly Test code.
This week is intended to refresh and remind everyone about the severe weather threats in Minnesota. This is also an excellent time to practice your emergency plan, or create one if you do not have one already. Another task this week would be to build or refresh your emergency preparedness kit.
For more information regarding Severe Weather Awareness Week, please visit the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's website.