States › Minnesota › Polk County › Wind
Wind in Polk County, Minnesota
319 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.
NCEI records 319 wind events in Polk County, Minnesota, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 50 years.
June is the busiest month, with 99 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 186 events against 106 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.1% of the 15,237 wind events recorded in Minnesota; its 16.2 per 100 square miles compares with 19.1 statewide.
200 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 48 reached hurricane force (74 mph).
Compared with Minnesota
| Measure | Polk County | Minnesota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 319 | 15,237 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 16.2 | 19.1 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 103.7 | 26.7 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 30 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | July | June |
By year
195019882026
Seasonality
Jan
0Feb
0Mar
1Apr
3May
26Jun
99Jul
96Aug
70Sep
20Oct
4Nov
0Dec
0
0Feb
0Mar
1Apr
3May
26Jun
99Jul
96Aug
70Sep
20Oct
4Nov
0Dec
0
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
The 198 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 319. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 76 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 87 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 83 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 91 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Sep 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 92 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 100 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $100K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $50K | $100K | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $400K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $200 | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $200 | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $200 | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $100 | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Oct 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $2K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 8 Oct 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Oct 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Oct 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | $25K | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | 2 | County |
| 16 Aug 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 1976 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1976 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 1976 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 1966 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1965 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 1956 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Polk County had?
319 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 Polk County?
10 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 60 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Polk County?
The thunderstorm wind of 8 Aug 2001, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $500K.
How does Polk County compare with Minnesota for wind?
16.2 events per 100 square miles against 19.1 statewide; the county holds 319 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.