Sirens will wail through parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin on Thursday, likely prompting locals to scan the sky for ominous clouds. It’s just a tornado drill, part of the National Weather Service’s yearly test for Severe Weather Awareness Week.

Minnesotans may be wondering why they're hearing tornado sirens on Thursday. It's because of Severe Weather Awareness Week.

If you heard tornado sirens blaring across Minnesota and Wisconsin on Thursday, don’t be alarmed — but don’t completely ignore them, either. It was the annual tornado drill day in both states.