Indiana Severe Weather Preparedness Week: March 9-15, 2025

Source: National Weather Service

March 9-15, 2025 is Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Indiana.

Governor Mike Braun has proclaimed March 9-15, 2025 to be Severe Weather Preparedness Week in the state of Indiana.

The National Weather Service, in conjunction with the Indiana State Police, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, the Indiana Department of Education, the Indiana Broadcasters Association, the American Red Cross, and Amateur Radio Operators will conduct a statewide test of communication systems on Tuesday, March 11 at 10:15 AM EDT/9:15 AM CDT.

Important Notes – while the drill will be sent using live TOR EAS coding (Tornado Warning), it is only a test, and will be postponed to Wednesday, March 12 if weather conditions warrant.  The test warning will activate the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and include SAME activation on NOAA Weather Radio, but will NOT trigger a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA).  (NWS Wilmington, OH will send the test for their Indiana counties using the RWT coding, per an agreement with their Cincinnati broadcast market partners)

Help the NWS and partners protect your community: become a trained storm spotter!

As part of NWS efforts to build a Weather Ready Nation, the goal of Severe Weather Preparedness Week is to better educate people about the hazards of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, and to help everyone be prepared when severe weather occurs.

Each day will focus on a different topic.  NWS Indianapolis will make approximately 5-6 posts via social media throughout each day of Severe Weather Preparedness Week. Visit us on Facebook and X (@NWSIndianapolis) for information on the following themes:

• Sunday: Weather Ready Nation
• Monday: Severe Weather Outlooks and Watches
• Tuesday: Severe Weather Warnings and Tornadoes (Statewide Tornado Drill Day)
• Wednesday: Other Types of Severe Weather Hazards
• Thursday: Flooding
• Friday: Response and Recovery
• Saturday: Recap of Severe Weather Preparedness Week

For information on National Weather Service Impact-Based Warnings (IBW) and what their content indicates, click here.

Click here for a kids’ activity booklet from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.

Severe weather safety information in Spanish can be found here.  Aquí encontrará información en español sobre seguridad en caso de inclemencias meteorológicas.

Know the difference between a watch and a warning, and the definitions of Severe Thunderstorm Warnings, Tornado Warnings, and Flash Flood Warnings!
 

Know what Storm Prediction Center Severe Weather Outlook Categories mean!