NORFOLK, Neb. -- A High Wind Warning is in effect for the entire state on Wednesday. In northeast Nebraska, the warning runs from 9 a.m.to 9 p.m. Northeast Nebraskans can expect consistent southwest winds 30 to 40 miles per hour with gusts up to 80 miles per hour.

The City of Norfolk sent out a reminder Tuesday afternoon noting that outdoor warning sirens are turned on when straight line winds reach 70 miles per hour or greater.

City officials note that the outdoor warning sirens are for the purpose of outdoor warning only, stating that sirens can fill a citizen with a false sense of security, as with loud storms and winds, the sirens simply will not be heard indoors in most cases.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the City said the network of outdoor warning sirens are intended for people who are outside and may not have access to other means of severe weather warning notification. If severe weather is present, the residents of the City of Norfolk should not wait until the outdoor warning sirens go off before they head indoors and/or to a safe place for cover, the statement read.

The City of Norfolk does not have public storm shelters, so all citizens need to plan for a safe place to go when severe weather hits.

A burn ban has been put into place, effective immediately.

Several northeast Nebraska schools and organizations have already announced closures and schedule changes in anticipation of the weather. For a full list of closures, click here.

Stay tuned to News Channel Nebraska for severe weather updates.