2021 Virginia Statewide Tornado Drill

Every school, business, work place, and family across the state is strongly encouraged to participate.

Practice your plan for what to do when a NWS Tornado Warning is received.

Note that Tornado Warnings often have only a few minutes of advance notice.

Your plan should be quick to complete.

• The drill will be broadcast on NOAA Weather Radio and the Emergency Alert System via the Required Monthly Test (RMT).  There WILL NOT be an actual Tornado Warning issued.
   
• Most NOAA Weather Radio receivers (including the Midland WR-100 that many schools have) DO NOT sound an audible alert for the RMT product, but instead, may have a blinking light on the display to indicate that an RMT was received.  As such, when the RMT for the statewide tornado drill is initiated at 9:45 AM on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, there's a good chance
  that your NOAA Weather Radio will not automatically sound an alarm.
   
• Since your NOAA Weather Radio may not sound an alarm at the time the RMT is issued, you will want to do one of the following: turn your radio on to listen to the broadcast by 9:40 am and when you hear the alert, simply start your tornado drill at 9:45 AM. If you do not have a NOAA Weather Radio simply start your drill and enact your safety plan at 9:45 AM.
   
• There will be no follow-up statement issued by the NWS to mark the end of the statewide tornado drill.   It will simply be over when your group, school, business, organization, or family feel that you have adequately practiced your tornado shelter procedures.
   
• If there is actual severe weather occurring on the morning of March 16, 2021, the statewide tornado drill will be postponed.  The alternate date for the drill is Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 9:45 AM EST.