Severe Weather Awareness Week is April 13–17, 2026

Each year, the City Emergency Management Team collaborates with Homeland Security and Emergency Management to sponsor Severe Weather Awareness Week in Minnesota. The week is designed to refresh, remind and educate everyone about the seasonal threats from severe weather and how to avoid them. It's also a great time to make and practice your emergency plan and build or refresh your emergency preparedness kit.   

As part of Severe Weather Awareness Week, the monthly outdoor warning siren test will happen twice on Thursday, April 16 at 1:45 pm and then in the evening at 6:45 pm.

Afternoon Tornado Drill - 1:45 pm

Schools, businesses and other facilities are encouraged to conduct a tornado drill during this time to practice their tornado sheltering plans.

Evening Tornado Drill- 6:45 pm

The reason for a 6:45 pm drill is that severe weather, including tornadoes, occurs most often between 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm. The statewide 1:45 pm drill gives institutions, first-shift and day workers a time to practice, but it does not allow second-shift workers the same opportunity. The 6:45 pm tornado drill also allows families to practice their sheltering plans.

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota experiences an average of 46 tornadoes per year. In 2022, 83 tornadoes struck Minnesota, which is the most in a year since the all-time record of 113, set in 2010. Most tornadoes occur between May and August, though they have been spotted as early as March 6 in 2017 and as late as December 15, in 2021, when the state recorded 22 confirmed tornadoes.

Understanding this threat and knowing what to do when a tornado is approaching can save lives.

Take advantage of Severe Weather Awareness Week to review your own and your family's emergency procedures and prepare for weather-related hazards.