A statewide tornado drill will be held April 14.
It is part of the annual spring severe weather campaign to encourage people in Wisconsin to get ready for possible tornadoes and severe weather.
The week of April 11-15 is Wisconsin’s Tornado & Severe Weather Awareness Week.
Wisconsin Emergency Management, the National Weather Service (NWS) and the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association are again teaming up to sponsor the statewide tornado drill.
For the first time, a mock tornado warning is being issued at 6:55 p.m. Thursday, April 14, to give families and businesses a chance to test their emergency severe weather plans.
Earlier in the day, a mock tornado watch is being issued at 1 p.m.
A mock tornado warning is being issued at 1:45 p.m.
Radio and TV stations across the state are set to issue the test tornado warnings.
In addition, mock alerts are being issued on NOAA Weather Radios, and many communities are going to sound their tornado sirens.
According to the NWS, Wisconsin averages 23 tornadoes annually.
Last year, there were 17 tornado touchdowns in the state.
The April 14 tornado drill is taking place even if the sky is cloudy, dark or rainy.
If actual severe storms are expected in the state on April 14, the tornado drills will be postponed until Friday, April 15, with the same times.
If severe storms are possible on April 15, the drills will be canceled.