Washington County residents may have been surprised to hear the outdoor warning sirens on Wednesday. 

According to Washington County Emergency Management, the emergency warning sirens were automatically activated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service of the Quad Cities as a result of an issued high wind warning for the county. 

A high wind warning is issued for exceptionally windy days where the winds, which are not storm related, but are expected to cause damage. Meaning gusts up to over 60 miles per hour. According to the NWS Washington saw a wind gust of 48 miles per hour at 5:55 p.m. Iowa City recorded a wind gust of 60 miles per hour at 5:58 p.m. 

Citizens can expect to hear a scheduled, monthly test while outdoors, on the first Wednesday of every month, at approximately 11 a.m., except during inclement weather.