North Carolina’s Statewide Tornado Drill is scheduled for Wednesday, March 9 at 9:30 a.m.

The National Weather Service Raleigh Bureau said with the warm season right around the corner, so too is the severe weather season, which typically includes the months of March, April, May, and June.

The NWS says now is the time to prepare and a spring weather safety tip page is set up at this link for the varying spring severe weather hazards which may arise across the state.

During the preparedness week, the National Weather Service will be sharing severe weather safety information through social media and via its website  

“Please help us share this information with your co-workers, partners, families, and friends,” the NWS said. “Every school, business, work place, and family across the state is encouraged to participate in the statewide tornado drill.”

The drill will be broadcast on NOAA Weather Radio and the Emergency Alert System via the Required Monthly Test. There will not be an actual Tornado Warning issued.

Some older NOAA Weather Radios depending on the brand and model may not sound an audible alert for the monthly test and tornado drill.

Those who want to participate should manually turn on your NOAA Weather Radio receiver at 9:25 a.m. and simply listen to the audio broadcast to hear when the RMT is issued, which will mark the beginning of the statewide tornado drill or simply plan to start the tornado drill on your own at 9:30 a.m.

There will be no follow-up statements 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 9, the statewide tornado drill will be postponed. The alternate date is Friday, March 11 at 9:30 a.m.

This drill and RMT will take the place of the weekly NOAA Weather Radio Alert test which normally occurs between 11 a.m. and noon each Wednesday.