If you’re hearing sirens in the Des Moines area at noon on Saturday, October 3, 2026, they’re scheduled for Polk County’s regular monthly test. The county tests its outdoor warning siren system at noon on the first Saturday of each month, unless severe weather is imminent.
Why are sirens sounding in Des Moines today?
Polk County’s published schedule calls for a full-system test at noon on the first Saturday of each month. October 3, 2026, is the first Saturday, and a current-day report says communities in Dallas and Polk counties follow that schedule during the March-through-November seasonal routine. The county describes its system as an outdoor warning system; “tornado siren” is the common phrase, but the sirens can warn about more than tornadoes.
The test may be postponed if severe weather is imminent. Polk County does not specify the exact duration or tone of each municipality’s test, so there is no reliable single duration to expect across the area. Polk County’s Warning Sirens page lists the current published schedule and policy.
When is the schedule expected to change?
A search result summarizing later Emergency Management Commission proceedings reports that Polk County approved moving monthly tests to the first Wednesday at 11 a.m. starting in January 2027. The county’s public siren page retrieved for this article still lists the first-Saturday-at-noon schedule, so treat the Wednesday schedule as a reported future change until it appears in the adopted policy or an updated county notice.
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What does an outdoor warning siren mean?
Polk County says its sirens are intended to warn people who are outdoors, not to serve as an indoor alert system. Under the county’s published policy, the sirens activate for a National Weather Service tornado warning in Polk County, as well as for a severe thunderstorm warning when forecast or actual winds reach at least 70 mph (61 knots).
If you hear a siren outside a scheduled test, don’t assume it is a test. Move to shelter and check official alerts or local media for the hazard and instructions. The county says warning activations sound in a 3–5 minute cycle, followed by a 10–15 minute break, repeating while the threat continues. There is no “all clear” siren; use reliable information sources to learn when the danger has passed.
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How to get warnings indoors
Because the outdoor sirens are not designed to alert people inside buildings, pair them with an indoor source of emergency information.
Use a battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio
Polk County recommends a battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio during a tornado watch or warning. The county lists handheld, desktop, and console receiver types; choose a form that suits where you plan to use it, and keep battery power available in case electricity is out. NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts on seven VHF frequencies from 162.400 MHz to 162.550 MHz, according to the county’s Forms of Communication page.
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Sign up for county emergency alerts
Polk County SMART 911 / Alert Iowa can send alerts, including tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings, to registered phone numbers or email by voice, text, or email. The county describes the service as free; normal message fees may apply. See Polk County SMART 911 for details.
Follow watch and warning guidance
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- Tornado warning: Go to a pre-identified safe place, stay away from windows, and monitor a battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio or local media for updates.
These steps follow Polk County’s severe-weather guidance.
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Should you call 9-1-1 to ask about the sirens?
No. Polk County asks residents to reserve 9-1-1 for actual emergencies. For a siren outside a known test, check official alerts or local media rather than calling emergency dispatch just to ask why it sounded.
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