Lexington is preparing for a tornado warning drill Wednesday, March 4, as Lexington Emergency Management takes part in Kentucky’s annual statewide tornado drill. The test is scheduled for 10: 07 a. m. ET in Lexington, with the city using the moment to push tornado safety practice during Kentucky’s Severe Weather Awareness Week. The week is designed to remind people to be “weather ready” for all types of hazards, a message tied to the National Weather Service.
What will happen at 10: 07 a. m. ET
Lexington Emergency Management said it will test the city’s actual tornado warning sirens at 10: 07 a. m. ET. the sirens are expected to sound for about two minutes.
Officials also urged residents not to call 911 during the test. The drill is planned as a controlled exercise, and Lexington Emergency Management emphasized that the sirens sounding at that time are part of the scheduled statewide drill.
LexAlerts and the Emergency Alert System will activate during the drill
Alongside the sirens, Lexington Emergency Management said the LexAlerts notification system will send a test message to people who are signed up for weather alerts. the message will begin with “this is a test, ” signaling it is not tied to an active emergency.
As part of the statewide drill, alerts will also activate the Emergency Alert System. Lexington Emergency Management noted that includes NOAA Weather Radio, local television, radio stations, and cable override.
The drill will not trigger a Wireless Emergency Alert on mobile phones, Lexington Emergency Management said, meaning people should not expect a phone alert as part of this exercise.
Officials: use the drill to practice tornado safety
Lexington Emergency Management encouraged all Kentuckians to practice tornado safety during the drill. The agency framed the statewide exercise as an opportunity for households, workplaces, and communities to treat the scheduled alert as a real-time prompt to review what they would do during a tornado warning.
The drill is part of Kentucky’s Severe Weather Awareness Week, which the National Weather Service describes as a reminder to be “weather ready” for hazards. In Lexington, the city’s approach centers on testing the warning tools people rely on most—sirens, local alert systems, and broadcast interruptions—while giving residents a defined time to rehearse their response.
What’s next if weather changes
Lexington Emergency Management said the statewide drill would be canceled or postponed if inclement weather is forecast. Residents and organizations planning to participate should be prepared for schedule changes if conditions require it.
For now, Lexington’s plan remains set for Wednesday morning: a tornado warning siren test around two minutes long, a LexAlerts test message labeled “this is a test, ” and activation of the Emergency Alert System—without a Wireless Emergency Alert on mobile phones.
