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Wind in Blue Earth County, Minnesota

187 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.

187 events · 1 deaths recorded · peak month June · county share of state 1.2%

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Wind event locations in and around Blue Earth County. Dots: Wind event locations in the kept record. Boundaries: US Census Bureau.

NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.

Blue Earth County, Minnesota, has 187 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 52 different years.

June is the busiest month, with 66 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 87 events against 64 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.

The county holds 1.2% of the 15,237 wind events recorded in Minnesota; its 25.0 per 100 square miles compares with 19.1 statewide.

NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to damaging wind.

135 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 14 reached hurricane force (74 mph).

Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.

Compared with Minnesota

MeasureBlue Earth CountyMinnesotaUS
Wind events since 195018715,237701,953
Per 100 square miles25.019.119.9
Per 10,000 residents27.026.721.1
Deaths recorded1302,166
Busiest monthJuneJulyJune

By year

195019882026
Wind events recorded in Blue Earth County per year, 1950 to 2026 (2026 is partial).

Seasonality

Jan
0
Feb
1
Mar
3
Apr
14
May
19
Jun
66
Jul
42
Aug
22
Sep
13
Oct
4
Nov
1
Dec
2
Wind events in Blue Earth County by month of occurrence, all years.

Magnitude distribution

under 58 mph52
58–73 mph121
74–95 mph13
96 mph and over1
NWS wind thresholds
under 58 mph
below severe threshold
58–73 mph
severe
74–95 mph
hurricane-force
96 mph and over
extreme

Wind speed converted from the knots NCEI records; estimated and measured gusts are combined. Events without a speed are not binned.

Recorded events

All 187 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.

DateEvent typeMagnitudeProperty damageCrop damageDeathsInjuriesGeography
12 Mar 2026High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
17 Aug 2025Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
28 Mar 2025Thunderstorm Wind61 mph————County
5 Aug 2024Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
17 Jun 2024Thunderstorm Wind59 mph————County
27 Jul 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
27 Jul 2023Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
24 Jun 2023Strong Wind52 mph————Forecast zone
23 Jul 2022Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
11 May 2022Thunderstorm Wind66 mph$15K———County
11 May 2022Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$2K———County
14 Apr 2022High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
15 Dec 2021High Wind59 mph————Forecast zone
17 Sep 2021Thunderstorm Wind52 mph——11County
11 Jul 2020Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
11 Jul 2020Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
11 Jul 2020Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
11 Jul 2020Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
11 Jul 2020Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
2 Jun 2020Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
24 Sep 2019Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
17 Aug 2019Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
17 Aug 2019Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
20 Jul 2019Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
20 Jul 2019Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
20 Jul 2019Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$15K———County
15 Jun 2019Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$5K———County
20 Sep 2018Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
20 Sep 2018Thunderstorm Wind67 mph————County
20 Sep 2018Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
19 Jul 2017Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
19 Jul 2017Thunderstorm Wind62 mph————County
19 Jul 2017Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
9 Jul 2017Thunderstorm Wind72 mph————County
16 Jun 2017Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
12 Jun 2017Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
12 Jun 2017Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
19 Aug 2016Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$150K———County
18 Aug 2016Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
18 Aug 2016Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
18 Aug 2016Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
13 Jul 2016Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
17 Jun 2016Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
14 Jun 2016Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
14 Jun 2016Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$5K———County
10 Jun 2016Thunderstorm Wind75 mph————County
10 Jun 2016Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$25K———County
10 Jun 2016Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
26 May 2016Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$25K———County
25 May 2016Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
17 Jul 2015Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$100K———County
22 Jun 2015Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$50K———County
22 Jun 2015High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
20 Sep 2014Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
20 Sep 2014Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
20 Sep 2014Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
18 Aug 2014Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
16 Jun 2014Thunderstorm Wind100 mph$500K———County
16 Jun 2014Thunderstorm Wind75 mph————County
16 Jun 2014Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$10K———County
16 Jun 2014Thunderstorm Wind90 mph$100K———County
16 Jun 2014Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
16 Jun 2014Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
16 Jun 2014Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
23 Jun 2013Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
21 Jun 2013Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
12 Jun 2013Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
12 Jun 2013Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
3 Aug 2012Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
10 Jun 2012Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$250———County
10 Jun 2012Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
15 Jul 2011Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$3K———County
26 Oct 2010High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
19 Aug 2010Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
23 Jul 2010Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$5K———County
23 Jul 2010Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
17 Jul 2010Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
17 Jul 2010Thunderstorm Wind59 mph————County
26 Jun 2010Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
25 Jun 2010Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
25 Jun 2010Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
26 Oct 2008High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
31 Jul 2008Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
31 Jul 2008Thunderstorm Wind62 mph————County
31 Jul 2008Thunderstorm Wind67 mph————County
11 Jul 2008Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
6 May 2007High Wind68 mph————Forecast zone
24 Jun 2006Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
3 Aug 2005Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
25 Jul 2005Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
20 Jun 2005Thunderstorm Wind72 mph————County
20 Jun 2005Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
8 Jun 2005Thunderstorm Wind66 mph————County
8 Jun 2005Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
26 May 2005Thunderstorm Wind62 mph————County
12 Dec 2004High Wind46 mph————Forecast zone
21 Jul 2004Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
18 Apr 2004Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
18 Apr 2004Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
18 Apr 2004Thunderstorm Wind69 mph————County
18 Apr 2004High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
21 Aug 2003Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
9 Jul 2003Thunderstorm Wind81 mph————County
4 Jul 2003Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
4 Jul 2003Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
3 Aug 2002Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
3 Aug 2002Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
23 Jul 2001Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
13 Jun 2001Thunderstorm Wind58 mph$2K———County
13 Jun 2001Thunderstorm Wind62 mph————County
6 May 2001Thunderstorm Wind62 mph————County
1 May 2001Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
7 Apr 2001High Wind79 mph————Forecast zone
7 Aug 2000Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
7 Aug 2000Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
5 Apr 2000High Wind74 mph————Forecast zone
26 Jun 1999Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
22 Jun 1999Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
17 Mar 1999High Wind63 mph————Forecast zone
10 Nov 1998High Wind62 mph————Forecast zone
19 Aug 1998Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
20 Jul 1998Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
25 Jun 1998Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
24 Jun 1998Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
15 May 1998Thunderstorm Wind70 mph———1County
15 May 1998Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
15 May 1998Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$20M———County
15 May 1998Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
1 Jul 1997Thunderstorm Wind69 mph————County
6 Apr 1997High Wind59 mph————Forecast zone
29 Oct 1996High Wind74 mph————Forecast zone
16 Oct 1996Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
5 Jun 1996Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
19 May 1996Thunderstorm Wind69 mph————County
10 Feb 1996High Wind55 mph————Forecast zone
27 Jul 1995Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
27 Jul 1995Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
24 Jul 1995Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
7 Jul 1994Thunderstorm Wind83 mph$500———County
30 Jun 1994Thunderstorm Wind75 mph————County
30 Jun 1994Thunderstorm Wind0 mph$5K———County
30 Jun 1994Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
10 Jun 1994Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$500———County
28 May 1991Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
29 Apr 1991Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
29 Apr 1991Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
12 Jun 1990Thunderstorm Wind66 mph————County
12 Jun 1990Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
12 Jun 1990Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
2 Jun 1990Thunderstorm Wind0 mph———1County
24 May 1989Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
3 Sep 1986Thunderstorm Wind69 mph————County
30 Jul 1986Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
30 Jul 1986Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
8 Jul 1986Thunderstorm Wind74 mph————County
27 Apr 1984Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
19 Jul 1983Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
30 Jun 1983Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
13 Jun 1983Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
4 May 1982Thunderstorm Wind87 mph————County
4 May 1982Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
23 Jun 1981Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
14 Jun 1981Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
30 Apr 1981Thunderstorm Wind69 mph————County
20 Sep 1980Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
19 Aug 1980Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
19 Jun 1979Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
19 Jun 1979Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
26 May 1978Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
10 Sep 1975Thunderstorm Wind75 mph————County
20 Jun 1974Thunderstorm Wind81 mph————County
20 Jun 1974Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
18 Jun 1974Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
20 Apr 1974Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
29 Aug 1973Thunderstorm Wind59 mph————County
21 Aug 1973Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
19 Apr 1973Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
29 Jun 1971Thunderstorm Wind79 mph————County
29 Jun 1971Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
29 Jun 1971Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
24 Jun 1971Thunderstorm Wind78 mph————County
21 Sep 1970Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
23 Aug 1968Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
10 Jun 1968Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
28 Jun 1963Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
30 May 1959Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
1 Sep 1957Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County

Questions and answers

How many wind events has Blue Earth County had?

187 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of damaging wind became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.

When was the last recorded wind event in Blue Earth County?

12 Mar 2026 (High Wind, 58 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.

What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Blue Earth County?

The thunderstorm wind of 15 May 1998, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $20M.

How does Blue Earth County compare with Minnesota for wind?

25.0 events per 100 square miles against 19.1 statewide; the county holds 187 of the state's 15,237 recorded events.

Provenance

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Wind hub and the county page.