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Wind in Lincoln County, Minnesota

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

135 events · 0 deaths recorded · peak month June · county share of state 0.9%

2025-08-05: Wind2025-06-19: Wind2024-07-31: Wind2024-06-22: Wind2024-05-06: Wind2024-05-06: Wind2024-05-06: Wind2022-05-30: Wind2022-05-30: Wind2022-05-30: Wind2022-05-12: Wind2022-05-12: Wind2022-05-12: Wind2021-08-26: Wind2021-08-05: Wind2020-08-28: Wind2020-06-04: Wind2020-06-04: Wind2020-06-04: Wind2020-06-04: Wind2017-07-19: Wind2017-07-19: Wind2017-07-11: Wind2017-06-11: Wind2017-06-11: Wind2016-06-17: Wind2015-08-06: Wind2015-06-20: Wind2015-06-09: Wind2013-06-21: Wind2012-08-01: Wind2012-05-05: Wind2011-07-10: Wind2011-07-01: Wind2011-07-01: Wind2011-07-01: Wind2011-07-01: Wind2010-09-02: Wind2010-08-19: Wind2010-08-19: Wind2010-08-12: Wind2010-06-26: Wind2009-07-06: Wind2008-07-31: Wind2008-06-12: Wind2008-06-12: Wind2008-06-12: Wind2007-07-16: Wind2006-06-24: Wind2005-06-24: Wind2005-06-08: Wind2004-08-23: Wind2003-06-24: Wind2002-08-03: Wind2002-07-28: Wind2001-07-21: Wind2001-07-21: Wind2001-06-10: Wind2000-05-22: Wind2000-05-17: Wind2000-05-17: Wind2000-05-17: Wind1999-07-13: Wind1999-07-03: Wind1998-07-18: Wind1997-10-08: Wind1997-06-22: Wind1996-10-16: Wind1996-08-06: Wind1996-05-18: Wind1991-06-30: Wind1990-07-18: Wind1990-07-18: Wind1990-07-18: Wind1990-07-08: Wind1990-06-01: Wind1987-07-11: Wind1987-07-11: Wind1987-07-11: Wind1985-07-14: Wind1984-07-16: Wind1980-06-04: Wind1980-06-04: Wind1979-08-04: Wind1979-06-19: Wind1979-06-19: Wind
Wind event locations in and around Lincoln 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.

Lincoln County, Minnesota, has 135 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 39 different years.

June is the busiest month, with 31 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 78 events against 50 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.

The county holds 0.9% of the 15,237 wind events recorded in Minnesota; its 25.1 per 100 square miles compares with 19.1 statewide.

89 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 11 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

MeasureLincoln CountyMinnesotaUS
Wind events since 195013515,237701,953
Per 100 square miles25.119.119.9
Per 10,000 residents242.526.721.1
Deaths recorded0302,166
Busiest monthJuneJulyJune

By year

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

Seasonality

Jan
3
Feb
5
Mar
6
Apr
10
May
20
Jun
31
Jul
29
Aug
13
Sep
1
Oct
8
Nov
2
Dec
7
Wind events in Lincoln County by month of occurrence, all years.

Magnitude distribution

under 58 mph43
58–73 mph78
74–95 mph11
96 mph and over0
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 135 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.

DateEvent typeMagnitudeProperty damageCrop damageDeathsInjuriesGeography
14 May 2026High Wind77 mph————Forecast zone
28 Mar 2026High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
12 Mar 2026High Wind67 mph————Forecast zone
18 Feb 2026High Wind44 mph————Forecast zone
16 Jan 2026Strong Wind53 mph————Forecast zone
18 Dec 2025High Wind41 mph————Forecast zone
9 Dec 2025High Wind43 mph————Forecast zone
25 Nov 2025High Wind43 mph————Forecast zone
5 Aug 2025Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
19 Jun 2025Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
19 May 2025Strong Wind49 mph————Forecast zone
15 May 2025High Wind66 mph————Forecast zone
4 Mar 2025Strong Wind48 mph————Forecast zone
28 Feb 2025High Wind41 mph————Forecast zone
4 Dec 2024Strong Wind47 mph————Forecast zone
20 Nov 2024Strong Wind48 mph————Forecast zone
31 Jul 2024Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
22 Jun 2024Thunderstorm Wind81 mph—$2K——County
6 Jun 2024Strong Wind54 mph————Forecast zone
6 May 2024Thunderstorm Wind75 mph————County
6 May 2024Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
6 May 2024Thunderstorm Wind75 mph————County
21 Jan 2024High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
9 Dec 2023Strong Wind32 mph————Forecast zone
30 Apr 2023High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
30 May 2022Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
30 May 2022Thunderstorm Wind68 mph————County
30 May 2022Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
12 May 2022Thunderstorm Wind68 mph————County
12 May 2022Thunderstorm Wind62 mph————County
12 May 2022Thunderstorm Wind90 mph————County
23 Apr 2022High Wind61 mph————Forecast zone
14 Apr 2022High Wind44 mph————Forecast zone
25 Mar 2022Strong Wind52 mph————Forecast zone
15 Dec 2021High Wind43 mph————Forecast zone
26 Aug 2021Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$2K———County
5 Aug 2021Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$2K———County
28 Aug 2020Thunderstorm Wind62 mph————County
4 Jun 2020Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$500———County
4 Jun 2020Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
4 Jun 2020Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$1K$320K——County
4 Jun 2020Thunderstorm Wind64 mph$2K———County
21 Oct 2019High Wind43 mph————Forecast zone
19 Jul 2017Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
19 Jul 2017Thunderstorm Wind61 mph————County
11 Jul 2017Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
11 Jun 2017Thunderstorm Wind63 mph————County
11 Jun 2017Thunderstorm Wind62 mph————County
25 Dec 2016High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
17 Jun 2016Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
19 Feb 2016High Wind41 mph————Forecast zone
6 Aug 2015Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$2K———County
20 Jun 2015Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
9 Jun 2015Thunderstorm Wind59 mph————County
21 Jun 2013Thunderstorm Wind67 mph————County
1 Aug 2012Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
5 May 2012Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
15 Apr 2012High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
10 Jul 2011Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
1 Jul 2011Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$10K———County
1 Jul 2011Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$10K———County
1 Jul 2011Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$5K———County
1 Jul 2011Thunderstorm Wind64 mph————County
26 Oct 2010High Wind64 mph————Forecast zone
2 Sep 2010Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
19 Aug 2010Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
19 Aug 2010Thunderstorm Wind76 mph————County
12 Aug 2010Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
26 Jun 2010Thunderstorm Wind70 mph$10K———County
23 Jun 2010High Wind72 mph————Forecast zone
10 Jun 2010High Wind63 mph————Forecast zone
6 Jul 2009Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
26 Oct 2008High Wind45 mph————Forecast zone
31 Jul 2008Thunderstorm Wind66 mph————County
12 Jun 2008Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
12 Jun 2008Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
12 Jun 2008Thunderstorm Wind62 mph————County
16 Jul 2007Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
24 Jun 2006Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
24 Jun 2005Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
8 Jun 2005Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
10 Mar 2005High Wind40 mph$10K———Forecast zone
21 Jan 2005High Wind40 mph$100K———Forecast zone
12 Dec 2004High Wind40 mph————Forecast zone
23 Aug 2004Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
24 Jun 2003Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
3 Aug 2002Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
28 Jul 2002Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
11 Feb 2002High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
21 Jul 2001Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
21 Jul 2001Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
10 Jun 2001Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$100K———County
29 Apr 2001High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
7 Apr 2001High Wind—$14K———Forecast zone
22 May 2000Thunderstorm Wind58 mph————County
17 May 2000Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$20K———County
17 May 2000Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
17 May 2000Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
5 Apr 2000High Wind62 mph$13K———Forecast zone
13 Jul 1999Thunderstorm Wind75 mph$20K———County
3 Jul 1999Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
17 Mar 1999High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
18 Jul 1998Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
12 Apr 1998High Wind55 mph————Forecast zone
8 Oct 1997Thunderstorm Wind90 mph$15K———County
2 Jul 1997High Wind40 mph$7K———Forecast zone
22 Jun 1997Thunderstorm Wind60 mph$100K———County
5 May 1997High Wind60 mph$5K———Forecast zone
6 Apr 1997High Wind63 mph$3K———Forecast zone
29 Oct 1996High Wind58 mph————Forecast zone
16 Oct 1996Thunderstorm Wind—$200K———County
6 Aug 1996Thunderstorm Wind63 mph$100K———County
18 May 1996Thunderstorm Wind—$5K———County
25 Apr 1996High Wind60 mph————Forecast zone
10 Feb 1996High Wind60 mph$5K———Forecast zone
27 Jul 1995Thunderstorm Wind0 mph$1.0M———County
6 Oct 1994Thunderstorm Wind67 mph————County
6 Oct 1994Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
7 May 1993Thunderstorm Wind0 mph$500K———County
30 Jun 1991Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
18 Jul 1990Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
18 Jul 1990Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
18 Jul 1990Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
8 Jul 1990Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
1 Jun 1990Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
11 Jul 1987Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
11 Jul 1987Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
11 Jul 1987Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
14 Jul 1985Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
16 Jul 1984Thunderstorm Wind0 mph————County
4 Jun 1980Thunderstorm Wind60 mph————County
4 Jun 1980Thunderstorm Wind81 mph————County
4 Aug 1979Thunderstorm Wind81 mph————County
19 Jun 1979Thunderstorm Wind70 mph————County
19 Jun 1979Thunderstorm Wind69 mph————County

Questions and answers

How many wind events has Lincoln County had?

135 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 Lincoln County?

14 May 2026 (High Wind, 77 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.

What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Lincoln County?

The thunderstorm wind of 27 Jul 1995, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $1.0M.

How does Lincoln County compare with Minnesota for wind?

25.1 events per 100 square miles against 19.1 statewide; the county holds 135 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.