Outdoor Warning System

System Details

Be advised: The “Storm Sirens” as they are commonly referred are not intended or designed to warn citizens inside their residence of weather related danger. This system does not take place of a storm radio and monitoring developing weather conditions on your own.

The City of Bixby has installed several new storm sirens to our existing system for a total of 15 sirens that are placed throughout the city. The sirens are computer controlled and radio activated. Each siren has a battery backup system to ensure uninterrupted service in the event of a power failure, which is common during severe weather. 

The siren controls are located in the Bixby Police Department and are monitored 24 hours a day. The sirens have a silent test feature, which allows us to test them at anytime. They are tested silently every Wednesday at noon and a full test is conducted the weekly on Saturday at noon, weather permitting. The system also allows us to activate one siren or a group of sirens in an effected area without sounding all of the sirens in the city.

Terms & Definitions

Some helpful terms and definitions:

Downburst: An intense localized downdraft, which may be experienced beneath a thunderstorm, typically a severe thunderstorm; it results in an outward burst of damaging winds on or near the ground.

Downdraft: A relatively small-scale current of air with marked downward motion.

Tornado Warning: Is issued by the local National Weather Service office when a tornado or funnel cloud has been sighted visually or detected by radar; the location and direction of movement, if known are given, and residents of the warning area should take immediate safety precautions.

Tornado Watch: Is issued by the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla. as a precautionary alert when conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes in the specific area.

Thunderstorm Watch: is issued by the National Weather Service when the weather conditions are such that a severe thunderstorm (damaging winds 58 miles per hour or more, or hail three-fourths of an inch in diameter or greater) is likely to develop.

Thunderstorm Warning: is issued when a severe thunderstorm has been sighted or indicated by weather radar.