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Wind in Freeborn County, Minnesota
180 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.
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.
Freeborn County, Minnesota, has 180 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 58 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 78 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 87 events against 56 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 25.5 per 100 square miles compares with 19.1 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to damaging wind.
125 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 12 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
| Measure | Freeborn County | Minnesota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 180 | 15,237 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 25.5 | 19.1 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 58.5 | 26.7 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 30 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
1Mar
2Apr
9May
25Jun
78Jul
29Aug
18Sep
5Oct
3Nov
2Dec
8
Magnitude distribution
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 180 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 May 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 45 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 78 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $50K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 3 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Mar 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2010 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2007 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Sep 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Dec 2004 | High Wind | 46 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Aug 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2004 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Apr 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2001 | High Wind | 79 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 1999 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Nov 1998 | High Wind | 47 mph | — | — | — | 2 | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 1997 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Oct 1996 | High Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jun 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 1996 | High Wind | 55 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Aug 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | $5K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 17 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | 1 | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 99 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 98 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 1971 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 1971 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1967 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1964 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 1963 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1963 | Thunderstorm Wind | 100 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 1962 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 1962 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 1960 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 1960 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 1959 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 1958 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Freeborn County had?
180 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 Freeborn County?
17 May 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 64 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Freeborn County?
The thunderstorm wind of 18 Aug 2016, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $300K.
How does Freeborn County compare with Minnesota for wind?
25.5 events per 100 square miles against 19.1 statewide; the county holds 180 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.