Progress Energy will blast the emergency sirens at the Shearon Harris nuclear plant Tuesday in a quarterly test of the plant's public warning system.

The 83 sirens will be sounded at full volume for about three minutes sometime between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. The tests are conducted every three months.

Progress operates 83 sirens, mounted on 50-foot towers, within the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone surrounding the nuclear plant located in southwestern Wake County. The area includes the towns of Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Moncure and New Hill.