Severe Weather Awareness and Tornado Drill 2024
Severe Weather Awareness Week to be held March 4-8; Virginia Statewide Tornado Drill to take place March 7, 2024, at 9:45 AM
##### THE STATEWIDE TORNADO DRILL DATE HAS BEEN CHANGED TO THURSDAY, MARCH 7 AT 9:45 A.M.#####
Severe Weather Awareness Week
Once again, VDEM is partnering with the National Weather Service to promote Severe Weather Awareness Week. The week is designed to refresh, remind, and educate everyone about the seasonal threats from severe weather and how to avoid them. It’s also a great time to make and practice your emergency plan!
The week is usually planned for March and includes a statewide tornado drill. Virginia’s Severe Weather Awareness Week will be from March 4-8, 2024, with the Statewide Tornado Drill taking place on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at 9:45 a.m.
Each day during the week, a different topic will be covered and shared on social media. The information shared will be preparedness tips and ways to stay safe during severe weather.
Topic by Day
MONDAY
Watch vs Warning
TUESDAY
Tornadoes
WEDNESDAY
Severe Thunderstorms (Hail, Lightning, and Wind)
THURSDAY
Flash Flooding
FRIDAY
Outdoor Weather Safety
Statewide Tornado Drill
Every school, business, workplace, and family across the commonwealth is strongly encouraged to participate in the statewide tornado drill.
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 and the notification WILL NOT be sent to cellular phones.
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 Thursday, March 7, 2024, 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 an NOAA Weather Radio simply start your drill and enact your safety plan at 9:45 AM.
There will be no follow-up 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 feels that you have adequately practiced your tornado shelter procedures.
Register for the Statewide Tornado Drill HERE