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Tornado in Meeker County, Minnesota
26 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.
NCEI records 26 tornado events in Meeker County, Minnesota, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 19 years.
July is the busiest month, with 8 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 8 events against 13 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.1% of the 2,433 tornado events recorded in Minnesota; its 4.3 per 100 square miles compares with 3.1 statewide.
By rating: 20 at (E)F0, 3 at (E)F1, 3 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Minnesota
| Measure | Meeker County | Minnesota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 26 | 2,433 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.3 | 3.1 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 11.1 | 4.3 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 101 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | July | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
1May
4Jun
7Jul
8Aug
4Sep
1Oct
1Nov
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 26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Aug 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2016 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2016 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 16 May 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Sep 2006 | Tornado | F0 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2001 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2000 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1997 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1997 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1997 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1995 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1994 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1991 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1991 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1991 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 1978 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1977 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1969 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 1968 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Oct 1963 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Meeker County had?
26 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 Meeker County?
14 Aug 2020 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Meeker County?
The tornado of 12 Jul 1978, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $250K.
How does Meeker County compare with Minnesota for tornado?
4.3 events per 100 square miles against 3.1 statewide; the county holds 26 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.