Rice County Siren Activation

Rice County follows the siren activation recommendations of both the Association of Minnesota Emergency Managers and the National Weather Service.

Outdoor warning sirens are activated to promote situational awareness for citizens of a dangerous or potentially dangerous weather situation within Rice County.  Upon hearing outdoor warning sirens, it is important that all persons immediately refer to local media (radio, TV, weather radio, trusted websites, etc.) for additional information.

There are set criteria for when sirens are activated.

As recommended by the National Weather Service and in agreement with Rice County, the activation of warning sirens is based on the following weather related criteria:

Tornadoes: Tornado Warning issued by the National Weather Service and/or tornado or funnel cloud reported by local Law Enforcement, Emergency Responders, or Emergency Management personnel based upon reports received by trained severe weather spotters.

Severe Thunderstorms: Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued by the National Weather Service that clearly reports sustained wind speed estimates of at least 70 mph and/or 2.5" and larger hail for Rice County and the cities within the National Weather Service warning polygon box that are in the predicted path of the storm.

Siren Duration: Sirens will be activated for a full cycle; roughly 3 minutes.  Sirens may be activated for an additional cycle if new warnings are declared for the area.

All Clear: There is no such thing as an “all-clear” siren, so a second or third activation means that the threat is still imminent and finding or staying in a safe shelter area is strongly encouraged.

Outdoor weather sirens in Rice County are activated by quadrants.

This means, for example, if a Tornado Warning were issued for eastern Rice County, outdoor weather sirens may only be sounded for Nerstrand and/or Northfield, depending on the polygon drawn by the National Weather Service for the warning. The system is designed this way so people in unaffected areas such as western Rice County aren't alerted unnecessarily.

Each municipality also has the equipment and ability to sound their siren(s) on their own if necessary. The City of Northfield, as a matter of policy, makes their own siren activation decisions.

It is important to note that you may not hear sirens indoors, because they weren't designed for that, so have a weather radio or cellphone in your home or business.

Initially designed to alert individuals outdoors, warning sirens were primarily intended to be heard outside during the 1950s. However, as urbanization and changes in building construction have evolved, with the prevalence of materials like concrete and insulation that dampen sound, the effectiveness of outdoor sirens in alerting those indoors has diminished. Consequently, advancements in warning technology have aimed to address this gap by integrating indoor alert systems such as NOAA Weather Radio and smartphone alerts, ensuring that individuals indoors can receive timely warnings despite the challenges posed by modern construction. This shift reflects a broader strategy to enhance tornado preparedness by adapting to changing environmental and architectural landscapes, ultimately prioritizing the safety of individuals both inside and outside during tornado events.

But why am I hearing the sirens go off when there is no bad weather at all?

It is important that the outdoor warning sirens be tested on a regular schedule to ensure proper operation. Testing occurs on the first Wednesday of each month at 1:00 p.m. Federal and state guidelines indicate that monthly warning system tests should occur in the following manner:

• Alert Warning signal (steady siren) will sound for 1 minute

• One minute of silence

• Attack Warning signal (wavering siren) will sound for 1 minute

You may also hear a very, very brief windup and release of the sirens for about a second now and again. This is done automatically by the sirens to ensure the siren motor and gearing systems are kept active so they won't seize up.

Helpful Links:

City of Faribault emergency siren coverage map and locations