Minnesota recorded 2,168 tornadoes from 1950 through 2024, an average of 29 a year, in NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center database. They killed 100 people. The busiest year was 2010, with 113.
Tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950: none under 10 10 to 25 25 to 50 50 to 75 75 to 100 over 100. Tap a county for its history.
Tornadoes by year
The rise since the 1990s is mostly better detection of weak tornadoes, not a jump in strong ones.
Tornado season in Minnesota
June is the peak, with 687 tornadoes since 1950 (32% of the total).
How strong
| Rating | Estimated 3-second gust | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| F0 / EF0 | Light damage: 65 to 85 mph (EF scale) | 1,150 |
| F1 / EF1 | Moderate: 86 to 110 mph | 685 |
| F2 / EF2 | Considerable: 111 to 135 mph | 221 |
| F3 / EF3 | Severe: 136 to 165 mph | 55 |
| F4 / EF4 | Devastating: 166 to 200 mph | 24 |
| F5 / EF5 | Incredible: over 200 mph | 3 |
| EF-U | Unknown: no damage to rate (mostly since 2016) | 30 |
Minnesota has had 3 F5 or EF5 tornadoes, the top of the scale.
The deadliest tornadoes in Minnesota
| Date | Rating | Deaths in Minnesota | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 6, 1969 | F4 | 12 | Aitkin County, Cass County, Crow Wing County |
| June 13, 1968 | F5 | 9 | Lyon County, Murray County, Redwood County |
| May 10, 1953 | F2 | 6 | Freeborn County |
| May 6, 1965 | F4 | 6 | Hennepin County, Ramsey County |
| April 30, 1967 | F4 | 6 | Freeborn County, Waseca County |
| July 20, 1951 | F3 | 5 | Hennepin County |
| April 30, 1967 | F4 | 5 | Freeborn County, Steele County |
| July 5, 1978 | F2 | 4 | Clearwater County, Mahnomen County, Norman County, Polk County |
| May 6, 1965 | F4 | 3 | Carver County, Hennepin County |
| May 6, 1965 | F4 | 3 | Anoka County |
Counties with the most tornadoes
| County | Tornadoes since 1950 | Per 1,000 sq mi | Strongest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Otter Tail County | 87 | 39 | EF4 |
| Polk County | 79 | 40 | EF3 |
| Freeborn County | 63 | 88 | EF4 |
| Stearns County | 56 | 40 | F3 |
| Kandiyohi County | 56 | 65 | EF3 |
| Swift County | 48 | 64 | EF2 |
| Blue Earth County | 43 | 56 | F4 |
| Nobles County | 43 | 60 | F5 |
| Clay County | 43 | 41 | F5 |
| Beltrami County | 43 | 14 | EF1 |
| Roseau County | 42 | 25 | F3 |
| Rice County | 41 | 80 | F3 |
| Dakota County | 41 | 70 | F2 |
| Faribault County | 40 | 55 | EF2 |
| St. Louis County | 39 | 6 | F3 |
Big counties collect more tornadoes simply because they are big. By area, the most tornado-dense counties are Freeborn County (88 per 1,000 sq mi), Rice County (80 per 1,000 sq mi), Dakota County (70 per 1,000 sq mi), Kandiyohi County (65 per 1,000 sq mi), Steele County (65 per 1,000 sq mi).
Every county in Minnesota
Staying safe
When a tornado warning is issued, act at once. Go to a basement, storm shelter or safe room. With none, use a small windowless room on the lowest floor, as far from outside walls as you can, and cover your head and neck. Mobile homes and cars are not safe places to ride out a tornado: leave early for a sturdy building or shelter. Read the full tornado safety guide and the National Weather Service advice linked below.
Sources
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center: Severe Weather Database, tornadoes 1950 to 2024 (public domain)
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center: The Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF scale)
- National Weather Service: Tornado safety
Sources last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many tornadoes does Minnesota get a year?
About 29 on average from 1950 to 2024; recent years run higher because weak tornadoes are better detected.
When is tornado season in Minnesota?
June has had the most. Spring and early summer bring most of them.
What was the deadliest tornado in Minnesota?
August 6, 1969: 12 deaths in Minnesota.