What does a tornado siren sound like?

The sound emitted by a tornado siren differs by location. Sirens in Ohio sound a three-minute steady tone. Sirens in Kentucky sound like a louder version of the siren from an emergency vehicle and are designed to be heard from at least ? mile away.

Some areas use different siren sounds for tornado warnings and tornado watches. The sirens are intended for people outdoors and may not always be audible indoors. Most areas test their sirens regularly, sometimes at a lower volume than when used for emergencies. State and county emergency departments often offer an audio sample of the tornado siren on their websites for residents.