Minnesota Statewide Tornado Drills Scheduled for April 16
Published: April 16th 2026
MINNESOTA: The annual statewide tornado drills in Minnesota are set to take place on Thursday, April 16, 2026, as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week.
According to the National Weather Service, the drills will be conducted twice during the day — first at 1:45 p.m. CDT and again at 6:45 p.m. CDT. Outdoor warning sirens are expected to sound across the state during both drills as part of a simulated tornado warning.
The afternoon drill is primarily intended for schools, businesses, and other institutions, while the evening drill is aimed at second-shift workers and families who may not be able to participate earlier in the day.
Officials say the drills are an opportunity for residents to practice their emergency plans and review safety procedures related to tornadoes and other severe weather hazards. In addition to outdoor sirens, alerts may also be transmitted through NOAA Weather Radio and other notification systems.
Residents are encouraged to treat the drills as real warnings and take time to identify safe shelter locations, such as basements or interior rooms on the lowest level of a building, away from windows.