Statewide Tornado Drill scheduled for 9:45 a.m. today

A statewide tornado drill is scheduled for this morning at 9:45. The National Weather Service posted this information about the exercise.

The drill will be broadcast on NOAA Weather Radio and the Emergency Alert System via the Required Monthly Test (RMT). There WILL NOT be an actual Tornado Warning issued.

Most NOAA Weather Radio receivers (including the Midland WR-100 that many schools have) DO NOT sound an audible alert for the RMT product, but instead, may have a blinking light on the display to indicate that an RMT was received. As such, when the RMT for the statewide tornado drill is initiated at 9:45 AM on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, there’s a good chance that your NOAA Weather Radio will not automatically sound an alarm.

Since your NOAA Weather Radio may not sound an alarm at the time the RMT is issued, you will want to do one of the following: turn your radio on to listen to the broadcast by 9:40 am and when you hear the alert, simply start your tornado drill at 9:45 AM. If you do not have a NOAA Weather Radio simply start your drill and enact your safety plan at 9:45 AM.

There will be no followup statements issued by the NWS to mark the end of the statewide tornado drill. It will simply be over when your group, school, business, organization, or family feel that you have adequately practiced your tornado shelter procedures.

If there is actual severe weather occurring on the morning of March 11, 2025, the statewide tornado drill will be postponed. The alternate date for the drill is Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 9:45 AM EDT.

Emergency alert tones will be broadcast on WESR 103 the Shore and 105.7 Coastal Country.