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Tornado in Cass County, Minnesota
28 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
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.
Cass County, Minnesota, has 28 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 20 different years.
August is the busiest month, with 10 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 10 events against 4 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.2% of the 2,433 tornado events recorded in Minnesota; its 1.4 per 100 square miles compares with 3.1 statewide.
NCEI attributes 13 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 9 at (E)F0, 13 at (E)F1, 2 at (E)F2, 3 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Minnesota
| Measure | Cass County | Minnesota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 28 | 2,433 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 1.4 | 3.1 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 9.1 | 4.3 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 13 | 101 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | August | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
0May
3Jun
7Jul
7Aug
10Sep
1Oct
0Nov
0Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 28 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jun 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2016 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1991 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1991 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | 1 | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1991 | Tornado | F3 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 1981 | Tornado | F1 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 1978 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 1977 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 1977 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1977 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 1976 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 2 Jul 1975 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1971 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 1969 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | 12 | 70 | County |
| 6 Aug 1969 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | 4 | County |
| 14 Jul 1968 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1967 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 1964 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Cass County had?
28 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Cass County?
16 Jun 2025 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Cass County?
The tornado of 6 Aug 1969, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M; 12 deaths recorded.
How does Cass County compare with Minnesota for tornado?
1.4 events per 100 square miles against 3.1 statewide; the county holds 28 of the state's 2,433 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 Tornado hub and the county page.