Severe Weather in Dallas? A Guide to Emergency Sirens

(TNS) — As Texas summer grows more hot and humid, Dallas-Fort Worth has seen a spike in severe weather warnings. Heat advisories, high winds and frequent thunderstorms put the Metroplex at an increased risk for dangerous conditions.

If you hear an emergency siren, here’s what it means and what you should do next:

What do outdoor sirens signal?

Dallas residents will hear a siren when the Office of Emergency Management determines conditions could lead to severe weather or a related emergency.

The city’s outdoor warning system includes 168 sirens that are meant to be heard outdoors throughout the metro area. Sirens typically play for 3-5 minutes.

But sirens do not always signal an impending tornado. The OEM’s criteria for siren activation includes:

• A tornado warning was issued by The National Weather Service for areas in and around Dallas.
• A tornado has been reported near Dallas or a neighboring jurisdiction by trained storm spotters.
• A severe thunderstorm warning — with sustained winds over 70 miles per hour — was issued by The National Weather Service for areas in and around Dallas. Severe thunderstorms can also increase risk for flash floods.
• Hail with a diameter of 1.5 inches or greater has been reported. However, hail advisories can vary if a large number of people are expected to be outdoors.
• The OEM has determined that an alternate situation fits emergency criteria.

Aside from emergency situations, the OEM tests the outdoor warning system on the first Wednesday of every month at 12:00 p.m. The sirens will not be tested if weather is threatening to prevent confusion.

What should I do if I hear a siren?

If you hear a siren in your area, seek shelter immediately.

It is safest to shelter indoors in an interior room like a closet or bathroom. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors and shelter is not available, the OEM advises lying in a ditch or ravine and using your arms to protect your head and neck.

Vehicles and mobile homes are especially vulnerable to tornadoes, and it is safer to evacuate and seek shelter elsewhere.

Listen for further weather advisories and emergency information on a cell phone, radio or other battery-powered device. All local channels will be interrupted if a tornado warning is issued, according to the OEM.

What’s the difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning?

A tornado watch is issued when weather conditions are favorable for tornados — it does not mean a tornado is in the area. A tornado warning is issued when a tornado has been confirmed in or around Dallas by radar or trained storm spotters.

Tornado warning information is often made available through weather forecasts and may not always result in a tornado, while a tornado watch is an active emergency situation.

Both situations fit the outdoor siren criteria.

Safety resources

The National Weather Service Fort Worth and the Dallas Office of Emergency Management post updates on social media.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration operates radio stations throughout Texas with 24-hour alert information. Some stations provide information in both English and Spanish.

NOAA All Hazards Radios provide in-home weather alerts and action information curated to your area.

The OEM has also complied a checklist with information on how you can best be prepared for an emergency weather event.

To find emergency transportation or locate a Dallas inclement weather shelter, call 311. The city provides temporary inclement weather shelters under emergency conditions.

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