Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week is April 9‐13, 2018

Governor Scott Walker has proclaimed the week of April 9-13, 2018, as Tornado and Severe
Weather Awareness Week in Wisconsin. This is a perfect time for school administrators,
safety officers, and faculty to review severe weather safety procedures and participate in the
annual tornado drill.

Wisconsin averages 23 tornadoes annually. In fact, the National Weather Service (NWS)
confirmed 23 tornadoes in the state in 2017. This included an EF3 tornado on May 16 that
traveled 83 miles through four counties, killing one person and causing widespread damage.
On Thursday, April 12, 2018, two statewide tornado drills are planned. A mock tornado
watch will be issued statewide by the NWS at 1:00 p.m. The NWS will follow it with a
statewide mock tornado warning at 1:45 p.m. The afternoon drill ends at 2:00 p.m.
An evening drill is scheduled on the same day with a mock tornado warning to take place at
6:45 p.m. This drill provides students and their families a great opportunity to practice
severe weather safety plans at home.

If there is a threat of severe weather in Wisconsin on Thursday, the statewide drills will be
postponed until Friday, April 13, 2018. The drill 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 drill will be cancelled. Notification of the drill status will be
posted at https://townofoakfield.org//readywisconsin.wi.gov by 10:00 a.m. on the morning of the drill.

Wisconsin Emergency Management and the National Weather Service encourage your
participation in promoting Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week.

For more information on tornadoes and severe weather, please contact your county or tribal
emergency management director or your local NWS office.