What does my city’s siren mean?

By KAALTV

Be prepared by knowing what the siren means in your county and city: 

CERRO GORDO COUNTY:

  • Clear Lake – Sirens will sound for TORNADO WARNINGS or an observed tornadic threat by trained spotters and SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WIND of 70 mph or more.
  • Mason City – Sirens will sound for TORNADO WARNINGS or an observed tornadic threat by trained spotters and SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WIND of 70 mph or more.  Sirens are sounded by county dispatch.
  • Rockwell – Sirens will sound for TORNADO WARNINGS or an observed tornadic threat by trained spotters. Sirens are sounded by county dispatch.
  • Plymouth – Sirens will sound for TORNADO WARNINGS or an observed tornadic threat by trained spotters.  Sirens are sounded by county dispatch.
  • All other communities in the county capable of sounding sirens will sound sirens for TORNADO WARNINGS or an observed tornadic threat by trained spotters.  


DODGE COUNTY:

  • Claremont – Sirens sounded for TORNADO WARNINGS. Sirens sounded by Dodge Co. Sheriff’s Office.
  • Dodge Center – Sirens sounded for TORNADO WARNINGS. Sirens sounded by Dodge Co. Sheriff’s Office.
  • Hayfield – Sirens sounded for TORNADO WARNINGS.  Sirens sounded by Hayfield Fire Department.
  • Kasson – Sirens sounded for TORNADO WARNINGS. Sirens sounded by Dodge Co. Sheriff’s Office.
  • Mantorville – Sirens sounded for TORNADO WARNINGS. Sirens sounded by Dodge Co. Sheriff’s Office.
  • West Concord – Sirens sounded for TORNADO WARNINGS.  Sirens sounded by West Concord Fire Department.

FILLMORE COUNTY:

  • Canton – Sirens sounded for TORNADO WARNINGS & SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS. Sirens sounded by Fillmore Co.
  • Peterson – Sirens sounded for TORNADO WARNINGS & SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS. Sirens sounded by Fillmore Co.
  • Preston – Sirens sounded for TORNADO WARNINGS & SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS. Sirens sounded by Fillmore Co.
  • Rushford – Sirens sounded for TORNADO WARNINGS or a major event like a flood. Sirens sounded by the city.
  • Whalen – Sirens sounded for TORNADO WARNINGS & SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS. Sirens sounded by Fillmore Co.

FLOYD COUNTY:

  • Charles City – Sirens sounded for TORNADO WARNINGS, and will consider sounding for high wind events. Sirens sounded by Floyd County Dispatch.
  • Floyd – Sirens sounded for TORNADO WARNINGS, and will consider sounding for high wind events. Sirens sounded by Floyd County Dispatch.

FREEBORN COUNTY:

  • Sirens are sounded for Tornado threats including TORNADO WARNINGS and 70 MPH wind potential. Sirens will sound in all communities within the county when threat is determined.  Sirens for all communities with siren capabilities, except Hartland, will sound.
  • Hartland – Will sound for Tornado threats.  Sirens are sounded by the city.

HANCOCK COUNTY:

  • Every City in the County – Sirens sound for TORNADO WARNINGS in or very near the warning polygon or if a trained spotter sees tornadic conditions regardless of a warning or not.  Sirens do not specifically sound for wind, though can be triggered if the danger is deemed significant.

MITCHELL COUNTY:

  • McIntire – Sirens will sound for TORNADO WARNINGS or if a trained spotter confirms a tornado on the ground and for SEVERE HIGH WINDS as observed from a trained spotter.  Sirens are sounded by the Mitchell County Communications Center.
  • Mitchell – Sirens will sound for TORNADO WARNINGS or if a trained spotter confirms a tornado on the ground and for SEVERE HIGH WINDS as observed from a trained spotter.  Sirens are sounded by the Mitchell County Communications Center.
  • Osage – Sirens will sound for TORNADO WARNINGS or if a trained spotter confirms a tornado on the ground and for SEVERE HIGH WINDS as observed from a trained spotter.  Sirens are sounded by the Mitchell County Communications Center.Sirens will also sound in an oscillating tone to serve as a Fire Department Page.
  • Riceville – Sirens will sound for TORNADO WARNINGS or if a trained spotter confirms a tornado on the ground and for SEVERE HIGH WINDS as observed from a trained spotter.  Sirens are sounded by the Mitchell County Communications Center.  Sirens will also sound in an oscillating tone to serve as a Fire Department Page.
  • St. Ansgar – Sirens will sound for TORNADO WARNINGS or if a trained spotter confirms a tornado on the ground and for SEVERE HIGH WINDS as observed from a trained spotter.  Sirens are sounded by the Mitchell County Communications Center.  Sirens will also sound in an oscillating tone to serve as a Fire Department Page.
  • Stacyville – Sirens will sound for TORNADO WARNINGS or if a trained spotter confirms a tornado on the ground and for SEVERE HIGH WINDS as observed from a trained spotter.  Sirens are sounded by the Mitchell County Communications Center.  Sirens are sounded by the Mitchell County Communications Center.

MOWER COUNTY:

  • Austin – Sirens sounded for TORNADO WARNINGS. Sirens sounded by dispatch (Mower Co.).
  • Brownsdale – Sirens sounded for TORNADO WARNINGS. Sirens sounded by dispatch (Mower Co.).
  • Dexter – Sirens sounded for TORNADO WARNINGS. Sirens sounded by dispatch (Mower Co.).
  • Elkton – Sirens sounded for TORNADO WARNINGS. Sirens sounded by dispatch (Mower Co.).
  • Grand Meadow – Sirens sounded for TORNADO WARNINGS. Sirens sounded by dispatch (Mower Co.).
  • Le Roy – Sirens sounded for trained spotter reports of funnel clouds, SEVERE WIND 58 MPH OR MORE, or for TORNADO WARNINGS. Sirens sounded by the fire department.
  • Lyle – Sirens sounded for TORNADO WARNINGS. Sirens sounded by dispatch (Mower Co.).
  • Racine – Sirens sounded for TORNADO WARNINGS. Sirens sounded by dispatch (Mower Co.).
  • Rose Creek – Sirens sounded for TORNADO WARNINGS. Sirens sounded by dispatch (Mower Co).

OLMSTED COUNTY:

  • Every City in the County –
    • Sirens are sounded for TORNADO WARNINGS, SEVERE HIGH WINDS greater than 70 MPH, radar detected funnel cloud and/or spotter funnel cloud report from a trained weather spotter.  Sirens are activated by Olmsted County Emergency Management, 911 Dispatch or City of Rochester Emergency Management.  
    • For SEVERE T-STORM WARNINGS, a voice message to seek shelter can be sent via Voice Modulator sirens at city and county parks:  Oxbow Park, Chester Woods, Quarry Hill, McQuillan, Faud Mansoor, and Watson Soccer Fields.  Voice modulators are activated by Olmsted County Emergency Management, 911 Dispatch or City of Rochester Emergency Management.  

STEELE COUNTY:

  • Owatonna – Sirens sounded for TORNADO WARNINGS, or storm with damaging winds. Sirens sounded by Steele Co.

WINNEBAGO COUNTY:

  • Every City in the County – Sirens sound for TORNADO WARNINGS in or very near the warning polygon or if a trained spotter sees tornadic conditions regardless of a warning or not.  Sirens do not specifically sound for wind, though can be triggered if the danger is deemed significant.

WORTH COUNTY:

  • All cities within the county –  Sirens sound for TORNADO WARNINGS or SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS.  Sirens can also be activated if trained spotters observe a tornado or funnel.  Communities with sirens are: Fertile, Grafton, Hanlontown, Joice, Kensett, Manly, Northwood.

Severe weather can happen at any time but across southern Minnesota and northern Iowa, we primarily see our severe weather starting in March and it usually lasts through mid to late Fall. If sever weather is hitting your area, please stay up-to-date with the latest information with a weather radio, tuning into ABC 6 Weather on-air, and downloading the ABC 6 News App for the latest in the area.