Updated: 3:07 p.m. April 10, 2019

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The statewide tornado drill scheduled for Thursday, April 11 has been postponed to Friday, April 12. 

According to the National Weather Service, there is a low chance for a severe storm Thursday and to avoid confusion a decision was made by Wisconsin Emergency Management to postpone the test to Friday. 

Milwaukee County has also rescheduled their test of the Wireless Emergency Alerts to Friday.

The timing of the alerts remains the same. The test tornado watch will happen at 1 p.m. Friday with a test tornado warning at 1:45 p.m. that will be canceled at 2 p.m. and another at 6:45 p.m. that will be canceled at 7 p.m.

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Posted: 12:54 p.m. March 29, 2019

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- For the first time as part of the statewide tornado drill, phones in Milwaukee County will go in a test of the wireless emergency alert system.

The alert is scheduled for Thursday, April 11 at 1:45 p.m. 

Any phone in Milwaukee County or currently using a cell tower from Milwaukee County will receive the alert. 

“Similar to AMBER alerts, WEA messages are text messages sent through mobile carriers in a designated geographic area, without a special app or subscription," said Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele.

The alert message will read "This is a TEST of the Milwaukee County Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action needed."

According to the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management, the messages are only issued in the event of imminent threats including tornado warnings, blizzard warnings, extreme wind warnings, flash flood warnings and terrorist attacks.

In addition to the alert on phones, the outdoor warning sirens will sound on April 11 at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.