States › Minnesota › Washington County › Tornado
Tornado in Washington County, Minnesota
27 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.
Washington County, Minnesota, has 27 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 21 different years.
July is the busiest month, with 12 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 15 events against 7 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 7.0 per 100 square miles compares with 3.1 statewide.
NCEI attributes 2 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 15 at (E)F0, 7 at (E)F1, 3 at (E)F2, 2 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Minnesota
| Measure | Washington County | Minnesota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 27 | 2,433 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 7.0 | 3.1 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 1.0 | 4.3 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 2 | 101 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | July | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
1May
5Jun
4Jul
12Aug
2Sep
2Oct
0Nov
1Dec
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 27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jul 2020 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2019 | Tornado | EF1 | $1.5M | $10K | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Nov 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2008 | Tornado | EF3 | $25M | — | 2 | 18 | County |
| 25 May 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2000 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1997 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1994 | Tornado | F2 | $5.0M | — | — | 1 | County |
| 16 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1974 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1971 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 1965 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 1958 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 6 | County |
| 25 Jun 1954 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Washington County had?
27 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 Washington County?
18 Jul 2020 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Washington County?
The tornado of 25 May 2008, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M; 2 deaths recorded.
How does Washington County compare with Minnesota for tornado?
7.0 events per 100 square miles against 3.1 statewide; the county holds 27 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.