04/22/2026
OUTDOOR WARNING SIREN reminder-
-Sirens are meant for OUTDOOR WARNING - NOT INDOOR!!! They are not meant to wake you up!
-Only Sirens within the warned area are activated.
-Sirens activate for SEVERE THUNDERSTORM with 1.75"+ Hail (golfball).
-Sirens activate for SEVERE THUNDERSTORM with 70+mph winds.
-Sirens activate for TORNADO WARNING.
-Sirens sound for 3 minutes in the warned area.
-There is NO all clear. Each warning produced by the US National Weather Service Des Moines Iowa contains an EXPIRATION time - that is the time that should be reflected as a "all clear" time, AS LONG AS ANOTHER WARNING WAS NOT ISSUED!
-Any additional warning within the same area will prompt a 2nd activation of the sirens.
-Just because the sirens shut off, does not mean the storm has passed. Often times the warnings are well ahead of the storm, allowing for advanced warning, so the sirens may sound 20 minutes before the storm hits, they could also sound with minutes to spare!
-Citizens need to take personal responsibility and ensure they have multiple ways to be notified - and sirens should NOT be #1!
*please note each county has their own policy and are slightly different, the comments above only reflect the policy for WEBSTER COUNTY IOWA.
