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Wind in Wadena County, Minnesota
123 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 123 wind events in Wadena County, Minnesota, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 40 years.
July is the busiest month, with 54 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 66 events against 44 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.8% of the 15,237 wind events recorded in Minnesota; its 22.9 per 100 square miles compares with 19.1 statewide.
83 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 28 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 | Wadena County | Minnesota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 123 | 15,237 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 22.9 | 19.1 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 86.8 | 26.7 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 30 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
2Mar
0Apr
2May
15Jun
27Jul
54Aug
9Sep
9Oct
3Nov
1Dec
1
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 123 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2025 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 83 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 94 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2021 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 100 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 84 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2013 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $100K | $50K | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2010 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2010 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $50K | $200K | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2008 | High Wind | 46 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jun 2008 | High Wind | 40 mph | $100K | $50K | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Nov 2005 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 76 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 76 mph | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 20 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Dec 2004 | High Wind | 46 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $100 | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Feb 2002 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 25 Sep 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Oct 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 1967 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1966 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 1962 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Wadena County had?
123 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 Wadena County?
29 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 75 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Wadena County?
The thunderstorm wind of 25 Sep 1998, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $500K.
How does Wadena County compare with Minnesota for wind?
22.9 events per 100 square miles against 19.1 statewide; the county holds 123 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.