04/16/2026
Severe Weather Awareness Week is April 13–17, 2026
🌪️Statewide tornado drills🌪️
The most important events during Severe Weather Awareness Week are the two annual statewide tornado drills.
🔴In Minnesota, the 2026 statewide tornado drills are scheduled for Thursday, April 16 at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. CDT. (PIPESTONE COUNTY WILL BE SETTING THE TORNADO SIRENS OFF AT 1:00 PM INSTEAD OF 1:45 PM AND THEN AGAIN AT 6:45 PM ON THURSDAY, APRIL 16TH 2026!)
Outdoor warning sirens will sound in a simulated tornado warning. The first drill is intended for institutions and businesses. The evening drill is intended for second shift workers and families.
A tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from the base of a thunderstorm down to the ground. Tornadoes are capable of completely destroying well-made structures, uprooting trees, and hurling objects through the air like deadly missiles. Tornadoes can occur at any time of day or night and at any time of the year.
What is the difference between a Tornado Watch, a Tornado Warning and a Tornado Emergency? The National Weather Service breaks it down by:
- Tornado Watch: Be Prepared! Tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. Review and discuss your emergency plans, take inventory of your supplies and check your safe room. Be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is approaching. Acting early helps to save lives! Watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center for counties where tornadoes may occur. The watch area is typically large, covering numerous counties or even states.
- Tornado Warning: Take Action! A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. There is imminent danger to life and property. Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If in a mobile home, a vehicle, or outdoors, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris. Warnings are issued by your local forecast office. Warnings typically encompass a much smaller area (around the size of a city or small county) that may be impacted by a tornado identified by a forecaster on radar or by a trained spotter/law enforcement who is watching the storm.
- Tornado Emergency: Seek Shelter Immediately! A tornado emergency is the alert level. It is issued when a violent tornado has touched down in the watch area. There is a severe threat to human life and property, with catastrophic damage confirmed. Immediately seek refuge in the safest location possible. Call friends and family who are within the watch area to ensure they are aware of the situation. If you see a tornado approaching, do not attempt to outrun it in a vehicle, shelter in place. Once safe, be sure to monitor your local forecast for the latest updates.
