Severe Weather Frequently Asked Questions

Sirens do not sound for every type of storm. They are only activated for life-threatening, immediate weather events. Outdoor warning sirens in Olmsted County activate when:  

• A Tornado Warning has been issued for the area 

• Winds of over 70 mph are occurring Hail of 2” diameter or larger are occurring 

• Public safety officials determine there is an imminent threat 

Outdoor warning sirens are tested the first Wednesday of the month at 10 a.m. from April through October. 

• Go to a safe location immediately—don’t wait to see the storm 

• Check a trusted weather source for the timing and precise location for the warning 

• Move to the lowest level of a sturdy building 

• Put as many walls between you and the outside as possible 

• Stay away from windows 

• Bring pets with you 

• Keep a flashlight, shoes and your phone nearby 

Use multiple ways to receive severe weather information, especially at night. Relying on sirens alone is not enough to keep you safe.  

Recommended tools include: 

• NOAA Weather Radio – the most reliable, 24/7 source for alerts 

• Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on your smartphone 

• Local TV and radio 

• Trusted weather apps 

• You may need to turn alerts on in your phone’s settings 

  • Look for “Government Alerts,” “Emergency Alerts,” “Weather Alerts” or similar labels under notifications

• WEA-alerts for alerts like tornado warnings or flash floods are location based. If your device is not located within the impacted area, it will not receive the message. 

  • Tornado warnings, flash flood warnings and other high‑end alerts are automatically sent to compatible phones in the affected area

• Phones that are powered off, in airplane mode or had poor signal will not receive alerts  

• Some app‑based alerts require location services to be enabled