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Beginning Sunday, Minot Central Dispatch will stop audible testing for the Minot Area Outdoor Warning System as well as the Outdoor Warning Sirens located throughout Ward County in preparation for colder weather conditions. The Outdoor Warning Sirens still will be tested on a regular basis using a "silent mode" to ensure they are still operating correctly internally, according to Ward County Emergency Management.
Discontinuing the audible testing is a means to protect the Outdoor Warning Sirens during the winter months and ensure they remain operational. An audible activation during cold weather could inadvertently damage the siren. An audible activation in winter conditions would typically only be used during an actual emergency.
Regularly scheduled audible tests will resume in May of 2024.