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MADISON, Wis. – Storms can develop quickly in Wisconsin and knowing what to do when a severe weather warning is issued can help keep you and others safe. To help encourage everyone to be prepared for tornadoes, thunderstorms and flooding, Gov. Evers signed a proclamation declaring April 13-17 as Severe Weather Awareness Week in Wisconsin.
“Severe weather, especially tornadoes, can develop quickly and with little to no warning,” said Wisconsin Emergency Management Administrator Greg Engle. “This week is an opportunity for families, schools and workplaces to take steps to be prepared for and know what to do when severe weather strikes.”
Wisconsin averages 23 tornadoes annually. In 2025, the National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed 39 tornadoes in the state. That includes 15 tornadoes that touched down in a single day, when storms moved across southern Wisconsin on May 15 of last year.
The annual Wisconsin Statewide Tornado Drills will occur on April 16 at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. Schools, businesses, and families are encouraged to practice going to their nearest tornado shelter or safe location during these drills.
- For houses: If you live in a house, the safest areas could be a basement, a ground floor interior room of a building that is not near windows, or a specially constructed safe room designed to withstand high winds and falling debris.
- For apartment buildings: If you live in an apartment, the safest location to be is the lowest level, with as many walls between you and the outside as possible. Stay away from windows.
- For mobile homes: Mobile homes are not a safe shelter location during a tornado. Identify a safer structure to go to whether that is a community shelter location, nearby public buildings or family and friends who live in sturdy structures. Know your evacuation route from your home and how long it will take to get to a safer location.
During the drill times, Wisconsin’s NWS offices will conduct NOAA Weather Radio tests that can be heard if you are actively listening to those devices or have one programmed to activate on test alerts. Local media outlets may also participate on the air or over social media. Some communities may also choose to test their outdoor warning sirens during drill times. Check with local emergency management offices for information on the siren testing schedules.
If there is a threat of severe weather in Wisconsin on April 16, the statewide drills will be postponed until Friday, April 17. The drills will go on in all other conditions, including non-severe weather (clouds, rain, dark sky, scattered thunderstorms, etc.). If severe weather is also expected on Friday, the drills will be cancelled. Notification of the drill status will be posted at http://readywisconsin.wi.gov by 10 a.m. on April 16.
To stay safe during severe weather, ReadyWisconsin encourages people to do the following:
- Create an emergency plan and practice it.
- Know where designated shelters are located at home, work, and school. Be ready to go there when a tornado warning is issued.
- Have multiple ways to receive alerts about approaching severe weather. Outdoor warning sirens, NOAA Weather Radios, local media, and mobile devices are all important tools. Don’t rely on any single source for important life-saving information.
- If you have a mobile device, make sure it is enabled to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). On many devices, that option is available in the settings menu. Find out more about WEA at https://readywisconsin.wi.gov/be-informed/be-alert/.
- Stay weather aware by checking the daily forecast for your area.
- Create an emergency kit for your home. Find tips for making a kit at https://readywisconsin.wi.gov.
About ReadyWisconsin
ReadyWisconsin is a public service campaign of Wisconsin Emergency Management, a division of the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs. In alignment with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's national Ready campaign, ReadyWisconsin aims to educate and empower Wisconsinites to prepare for and respond to both natural and human-made emergencies, while engaging the public and boosting basic preparedness statewide. For more emergency preparedness resources, head to readywisconsin.wi.gov or follow ReadyWisconsin on Facebook, X, and Instagram for tips delivered straight to your feed.
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