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Wind in Washington County, Minnesota
170 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 170 wind events in Washington County, Minnesota, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 42 years.
July is the busiest month, with 54 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 77 events against 78 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.1% of the 15,237 wind events recorded in Minnesota; its 44.2 per 100 square miles compares with 19.1 statewide.
110 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 12 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 | Washington County | Minnesota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 170 | 15,237 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 44.2 | 19.1 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 6.2 | 26.7 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 30 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
1Apr
5May
14Jun
47Jul
54Aug
31Sep
12Oct
3Nov
2Dec
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 170 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Oct 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2018 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $500 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Nov 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Nov 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2010 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Sep 2009 | Strong Wind | 55 mph | $200 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | 2 | County |
| 31 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2007 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Sep 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Sep 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Sep 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Sep 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 23 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Dec 2004 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $100 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Sep 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2004 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Apr 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2001 | High Wind | 79 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $1.5M | $100K | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Aug 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 1999 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 92 mph | $1.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $1.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | $14M | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 1996 | High Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Aug 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 98 mph | $800K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Sep 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1971 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 1960 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Washington County had?
170 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 Washington County?
15 Aug 2025 (Thunderstorm Wind, 68 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Washington County?
The thunderstorm wind of 30 May 1998, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $14M.
How does Washington County compare with Minnesota for wind?
44.2 events per 100 square miles against 19.1 statewide; the county holds 170 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.