Outdoor Warning Sirens

Outdoor Warning SirensPierce County Outdoor Warning Sirens

Outdoor warning sirens are designed to alert people to get indoors or seek shelter when outside. If you hear the sirens sounding, get indoors and tune to your local radio, TV, internet or NOAA weather radio for information. Pierce County encourages all residents to purchase a NOAA weather radio for notification when indoors. Even when other forms of technology are not available an NOAA weather radio will provide necessary emergency information. 

CRITERIA FOR SOUNDING SIRENS

  • SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS: Severe thunderstorms can cause injury and/or death, structural damage and may produce tornado(s) with little or no warning. Tornadoes are unpredictable and can cause injury, death and structural damage. Take shelter if needed to protect yourself and/or family.

    The National Weather Service will automatically activate both NOAA radio and WEA (Wireless Emergency Alerts which appear on cell phones) for the following dangerous weather events:
  • Tornado – Tornado indicated by spotters or radar activity
  • Destructive Thunderstorm = Hail over 2.7” (ex: tennis ball size) OR winds above 80mph
  • Catastrophic Flash Flooding = Imminent threat to life and catastrophic damage

Pierce County will also sound the Outdoor Warning Sirens upon notification from the NWS or public safety staff/trained spotters of the emergencies listed above.  In addition, Pierce County will also sound Outdoor Warning Sirens for Severe Thunderstorm Warnings at the Considerable Damage Level which occurs when hail above 1.75” in diameter (golf ball size) or winds in excess of 70 mph are expected.  The outdoor siren warning is intended to assist those who are outdoors to become aware of imminent severe weather and to seek shelter.

  • RADIOLOGICAL EMERGENCY: Pierce County also has procedures to sound the sirens in case of emergency at the Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plant. More information is available from Xcel Energy.

Pierce County will never issue an “all clear” tone on sirens. Such a notice could be confusing when multiple events/warnings are occurring within a short time.  Please tune in to local broadcast stations or NOAA radio for further information.

Our goal is always to act quickly to protect or minimize the risk of injury to the public.

Monthly Siren test

The Pierce County Emergency Communications Center tests/activates all outdoor warning sirens in Pierce County the first Wednesday of each month at approximately 1 p.m.    The City of River Falls tests their sirens separately and information for that schedule is available on their website.

More Information

WEA MESSAGES ARE LOCATION-BASED SO IF YOU ARE RECEIVING THESE ON YOUR PHONE YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY TAKE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS INCLUDING SEEKING APPROPRIATE SHELTER.  

Weather can be unpredictable! Severe weather can and has occurred in Pierce County even when it was not expected and therefore no warning was available. While WEA messages and Outdoor Warning Sirens are important, always seek shelter if you are in an area experiencing severe weather when appropriate regardless of warnings.

Visit WEATHER.GOV for more information on these severe weather alerts and current weather conditions. 

Additionally, all Pierce County residents may sign up for additional weather alerts including winter weather advisories and local community-based emergency notifications at no cost.  For more information visit Pierce County Emergency Alerts on the County website.