It's that time of year when severe weather sirens may sound. Have you ever wondered about how Dakota County determines when it will sound sirens?
All Dakota County cities sound their sirens for severe thunderstorm warnings and tornado warnings. In 1980, numerous homes throughout Dakota County were severely damaged by a severe thunderstorm with little or no advance warning. A severe thunderstorm warning includes predicted wind speeds of 58 miles per hour or greater. A tornado warning indicates that a tornado has been sighted in the area or indicated on National Weather Service radar.
Although there is always the potential that a warning may sound and the severe weather may not actually affect Apple Valley, it is better to give the warning and allow residents to seek further information from the radio and television broadcasts than to delay the warning and not have residents advised in a timely manner.