Abilene Texas Tornado Drill Set for April 1 During Severe Weather Awareness Week

If you’ve lived in Abilene longer than five minutes, you already know that spring in Texas doesn’t just mean warmer temps… it means keeping one eye on the sky at all times.

And yeah, I’ll be honest, I’m that guy. I’m constantly checking radar, watching models, following storm chasers, and probably refreshing weather apps way more than I should. It’s a whole thing.

That’s exactly why the National Weather Service is pushing a tornado drill across West Central Texas on Wednesday, April 1, at 10 a.m. as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week (March 29 – April 4).

Get our free mobile app

Here’s What to Expect During the Abilene Tornado Drill

This isn’t just a casual test; it’s meant to feel real.

The drill will be sent out as a Routine Weekly Test through the Emergency Alert System, so your phone may buzz, your TV could cut in, and your weather radio might (or might not) go off depending on how it’s set up.

The point is not to don’t trust just one alert source. That’s a gamble you don’t want to take in West Texas.

Tornado Safety Tips Every Texan Should Know

Let’s keep it simple:

• Have more than one way to get alerts
• Sirens aren’t built to wake you up at home. Stack your options: apps, alerts, weather radios.
• Know your safe spot before the storm hits
• Interior room. No windows. Lowest level. Not the time to be figuring it out on the fly.
• More safety tips here

West Texas Storm Season Is Here, So Don’t Get Caught Slippin’

We all joke about “Nader season" in Texas, but the reality is these storms can spin up fast and get serious even faster.

This drill is your chance to run through the plan, tighten things up, and make sure everyone around you knows what to do, because when it’s go time in Texas, there’s no pause button.

Stay weather aware, Abilene.