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Tornado in Lyon County, Minnesota
29 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.
Lyon County, Minnesota, has 29 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 18 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 13 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 7 events against 13 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 4.1 per 100 square miles compares with 3.1 statewide.
NCEI attributes 10 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 17 at (E)F0, 8 at (E)F1, 1 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 1 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Minnesota
| Measure | Lyon County | Minnesota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 29 | 2,433 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.1 | 3.1 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 11.5 | 4.3 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 10 | 101 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | June | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
1Apr
3May
7Jun
13Jul
5Aug
0Sep
0Oct
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 29 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Jul 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2001 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2000 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2000 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 1993 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 1993 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 1993 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | 4 | County |
| 6 May 1993 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1992 | Tornado | F3 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1992 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1991 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 1985 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 1985 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 1980 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1974 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 13 Jun 1968 | Tornado | F5 | $2.5M | — | 9 | 150 | County |
| 19 Jun 1962 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1962 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1962 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1955 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | 1 | 13 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Lyon County had?
29 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 Lyon County?
19 Jul 2017 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Lyon County?
The tornado of 7 Jul 1955, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M; 1 death recorded.
How does Lyon County compare with Minnesota for tornado?
4.1 events per 100 square miles against 3.1 statewide; the county holds 29 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.