The first Tuesday of any month is usually a time for cities to test emergency equipment, specifically, emergency sirens. However, due to the threat of severe weather most cities will forego siren testing today, Tuesday, April 4th, 2023, so as not to cause confusion between a siren test and an actual warning siren due to the threat of a tornado. The City of Galesburg was among the first to announce that cities across Illinois will not be testing sirens due to the severe weather. In the announcement, the City of Galesburg stated that if you hear sirens today, it’s not a test, it’s a legitimate warning to take cover and prepare for a potential tornado. This same warning goes to most, if not all cities currently in the path of severe weather across Illinois. If you hear sirens today, it means a severe weather event, such as a tornado is imminent and you should take cover.
