Community Corner
Tornado Warning Alert Sent Out By Mistake During Statewide Drill, NWS Says
The National Weather Service (NWS) said a "bug" in the system sent a tornado warning alert out during a statewide tornado drill in Missouri
March 02. 2021
The National Weather Service (NWS) said a "bug" in the system sent a tornado warning alert out during a statewide tornado drill in Missouri and Illinois Tuesday. Tornado sirens were heard at 10 a.m. across both states as part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week but several people got an alert to take shelter. However, the agency said some alerts did contain text that clarifed it was just a test. "There has been confusion this morning with our test of the tornado warning system as part of the tornado drill. There was a malfunction between the NWS & the Weather Emergency Alert (WEA) system. The test warning should have not activated WEA. We apologize for the inconvenience," the department tweeted. Earlier, the NWS said residents should treat the drill as if it were an actual Tornado Warning to test their readiness for when severe weather hits. News 4 Meteorologist Kent Ehrhardt stressed that tornado sirens were designed for outdoor use only. While some people can hear them inside of their home, he suggests getting a weather radio for an alarm inside a home. Click here for more information and tips on how to prepare for severe weather
