Mower County residents can plan ahead for summer weather by participating in Severe Weather Awareness Week April 19–23.

A key part of the week will be statewide tornado drills on April 22. At 1:45 p.m. that Thursday, the National Weather Service will issue a simulated tornado warning, and outdoor warning sirens will be activated. The day is a good time for families to set out an emergency plan.

“Every family and business should take this opportunity to put weather emergency plans into action,” Wayne Madson, emergency management director, said in a press release. “Tornados follow no pattern, and dangerous thunderstorms are common in Minnesota. There’s no substitute for practice when the real thing comes along.”

According to National Weather Service data, tornadoes have occurred in every Minnesota County at some time during the past 60 years. Mower County has experienced 31 tornadoes since 1950.

Each year, Severe Weather Awareness Week is held to promote weather knowledge and planning. The week is sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, along with the National Weather Service.

Additional tornado safety information and instructions can be found at www.severeweather.state.mn.us.a