National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

UPDATE: Wyoming statewide Tornado Drill now will be conducted FRIDAY, April 19

The National Weather Service and Wyoming emergency management officials are sponsoring Severe Weather Awareness Week April 15-19.  As part of the week,a statewide tornado drill will be conducted around 10:30 am MDT Friday April 19, which is being postponed due to the snowstorm. The exercise is used to train emergency service organizations and educate people how to respond to a tornado warning. Communities may sound local warning sirens and many schools will conduct safety drills for their students.

The drill will also include a test of the Emergency Alert System, which will interrupt local media broadcasts. The public should be aware that the scroll on television will look like a real warning, while the audio will be identified as a test.

People do not need to take any action during the drill, but if an actual tornado warning was issued, it means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar and they should take shelter immediately. Tornado warnings are disseminated through NOAA weather radio, local television and radio stations, cable television systems, and outdoor warning sirens.

Residents are encouraged take time during Severe Weather Awareness Week to become familiar with safety rules and make plans to protect themselves and their families when storms develop. Information about storm safety is available from county emergency management offices, the American Red Cross, and the Severe Weather Awareness Week web page for storm safety guidelines.