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Wind in Steele County, Minnesota
103 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 103 wind events in Steele County, Minnesota, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 43 years.
June is the busiest month, with 27 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 49 events against 39 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.7% of the 15,237 wind events recorded in Minnesota; its 24.0 per 100 square miles compares with 19.1 statewide.
70 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 6 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 | Steele County | Minnesota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 103 | 15,237 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 24.0 | 19.1 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 27.6 | 26.7 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 30 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
1Mar
2Apr
11May
10Jun
27Jul
27Aug
10Sep
5Oct
6Nov
1Dec
3
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 103 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Mar 2026 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2021 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Apr 2021 | High Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Sep 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2018 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $100 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2010 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Sep 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2007 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Dec 2004 | High Wind | 46 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Oct 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2004 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2001 | High Wind | 79 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 1999 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Nov 1998 | High Wind | 54 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 1997 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Oct 1996 | High Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Aug 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $5.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 1996 | High Wind | 55 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1957 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Steele County had?
103 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 Steele County?
12 Mar 2026 (High Wind, 58 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Steele County?
The thunderstorm wind of 19 May 1996, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $5.0M.
How does Steele County compare with Minnesota for wind?
24.0 events per 100 square miles against 19.1 statewide; the county holds 103 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.