When phones and radios begin playing emergency tones Wednesday, it will only be a test.

The Province of Manitoba is testing its Alert Ready system. The Emergency Measures Organization says at 1:55 p.m., multiple communication channels, including radios and cell phones, will play the alert.

"Not all Manitobans will receive the test alert on their mobile devices. This may occur for a variety of reasons including device compatibility, connection to an LTE network, cell tower coverage, and device software and settings," the province says in a statement.

They say the test is an opportunity for them to validate and improve the existing system, ensuring it is in working order.