April 13-17 is Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week

April 13, 2026
Andrew Beckett
Emergency Management

DANE COUNTY, Wis. – When thunder roars and dangerous severe weather is near, it’s important to have a plan in place so you can stay safe. April 13-17 is Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week and everyone is encouraged to learn more about how they can be protected during dangerous storms.

“Severe weather can develop quickly, which is why you should have a plan for how you will be notified about storms and know where you can seek shelter,” said Dane County Executive Melissa Agard. “Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week is an excellent opportunity for all Dane County residents to discuss what actions they can take to protect themselves and those around them.”

Dane County Emergency Management encourages everyone to have multiple sources of information for severe weather alerts. Outdoor warning sirens, weather apps on your mobile device, weather radios and local media are all great ways to receive notifications, but be aware they have limitations that could affect how quickly information gets to you.

“Outdoor warning sirens can be difficult to hear indoors and cell phones may not always receive a notification,” said Dane County Emergency Management Director Charles Tubbs. “We suggest everyone have more than one way to receive notifications and warnings for severe weather and other emergencies.”

Dane County Emergency Management operates a network of 144 outdoor warning sirens throughout the county. If you hear one, it’s a signal to head indoors to a safe location and seek additional information. These devices are intended to alert those who are outdoors about approaching severe weather and may be difficult to hear if you are inside a vehicle, home or other building.

Dane County activates its sirens when the National Weather Service (NWS) issues a Tornado Warning or a Severe Thunderstorm Warning that carries the “destructive” tag, which means it is capable of producing 80 mph winds and/or baseball-sized hail.

Sirens are tested on the first Wednesday of the month at noon, weather permitting. While Wisconsin’s statewide tornado drill is scheduled for April 16 this year, Dane County will not sound its sirens during the drill times. Residents are still encouraged to practice their tornado safety plans at home, work and school on that date.

When a Tornado Warning is issued, seek shelter inside a sturdy building, preferably in a basement or a ground floor interior room with no windows. Be sure to bring a way to receive updates with you, such as a weather radio or your cell phone.

If you are outside when a warning is issued, head indoors to a safe location as quickly as you can. There is no completely safe location to take shelter outdoors and never try to take cover under an underpass or bridge, as those areas can create a wind tunnel that collects dangerous debris. If it’s not possible to get indoors, lay face-down in a low area and try to cover your head and your neck with your arms. 

Staying weather aware can help you know when to take precautions during days where severe weather is possible. Check the weather forecast daily through trusted sources of information. Consider changing outdoor plans if there’s a risk of tornadoes or thunderstorms during that time frame.

You can also sign up to have alerts from Dane County sent directly to your phone and email. Register for these free alerts, which include notices about severe weather, evacuations and other hazards, at https://em.countyofdane.com/emergency-alerts.

To help the public learn more about weather safety, Dane County is hosting two NWS Storm Spotter trainings on Wednesday, April 22. These sessions are free and open to anyone interested in becoming a trained weather spotter.

  • 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. – Waunakee Public Library (201 N. Madison St., Waunakee, WI)
  • 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. – Dane County Emergency Management (2982 Kapec Road, Fitchburg, WI)

These sessions will cover weather safety for spotters and the general public, along with the essentials of what you need to know to report severe weather to the NWS. Each session will cover the same information, so you only need to attend one. No pre-registration is required. More information is available at https://www.weather.gov/mkx/spotter-schedule.

Learn more about Dane County Emergency Management on our website. You can also follow us on Facebook and BlueSky for weather updates and preparedness tips throughout the year.