You can find information about past storms and their frequency in your community through the National Climatic Data Center. On average, the Quad City area experiences 5 storms each year that meet the common siren guidelines. How often can I expect the outdoor warning sirens to sound for severe weather? An increasing number of communities (inlcuding in the Quad Cities area) are incorporating these threats into their outdoor warning siren policies.Ĩ. When thunderstorm winds exceed 70 mph, trees can be uprooted or snapped. Hail that is golf ball sized or larger can break windows. Both of these things pose a direct risk to life if people are caught outdoors. Why are the outdoor warning sirens sometimes sounded for hail and wind? People should be indoors and monitoring local media for updates on the storm.ħ. Why don’t the outdoor warning sirens sound an all-clear signal? Check with your local officials to get the specific day for your community.Ħ. In the Quad Cities area, this is on the first Tuesday of each month.

Sirens are tested according to local community or state policies. NOAA Weather Radio is like a smoke detector for severe weather, and it can wake you up when a warning is issued for your area so you can take appropriate action.ĥ. How can I get alerts when I’m at work or in my house?įor alerts indoors, every home and business should have a NOAA Weather Radio All-Hazards. Sirens are an outdoor warning system designed only to alert those who are outside that something dangerous is approaching.Ĥ. Why can’t I hear the outdoor warning sirens in my house? When the sirens are heard, go inside and tune to local media to get more information.ģ.

What should I do when I hear the outdoor warning sirens?

The specific guidelines (tornado, hail ,wind, etc.) for sounding sirens varies by jurisdiction, so check with your local community to find out the specifics if you are interested.Ģ. In short, it means that something life-threatening is happening and you should go indoors and get more information.

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