States › Minnesota › Washington County › Winter
Winter in Washington County, Minnesota
120 winter storms and snow events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Winter Storm, Winter Weather, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Ice Storm, Lake-Effect Snow, Sleet.
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 120 winter events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 29 different years.
December is the busiest month, with 25 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 88 events against 32 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1% of the 12,156 winter events recorded in Minnesota; its 31.2 per 100 square miles compares with 15.3 statewide.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter events since 1950 | 120 | 12,156 | 287,339 |
| Per 100 square miles | 31.2 | 15.3 | 8.1 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 4.4 | 21.3 | 8.7 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 63 | 2,509 |
| Busiest month | December | December | January |
By year
Seasonality
21Feb
22Mar
24Apr
13May
1Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
3Nov
11Dec
25
Recorded events
All 120 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Apr 2026 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Mar 2026 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 2026 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Feb 2026 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jan 2026 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jan 2026 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Dec 2025 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Dec 2025 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Dec 2025 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2025 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Nov 2025 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Nov 2025 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Apr 2025 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Mar 2025 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 2025 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Feb 2025 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Feb 2025 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jan 2025 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Dec 2024 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Mar 2024 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Mar 2024 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Feb 2024 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Oct 2023 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Apr 2023 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Mar 2023 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Mar 2023 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Feb 2023 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Feb 2023 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Jan 2023 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jan 2023 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Jan 2023 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Jan 2023 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 2022 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Dec 2022 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Nov 2022 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Feb 2022 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Dec 2021 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 2020 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Nov 2020 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Oct 2020 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Apr 2020 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Feb 2020 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jan 2020 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Nov 2019 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Apr 2019 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Feb 2019 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Feb 2019 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Feb 2019 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Feb 2019 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Apr 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Apr 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Mar 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Mar 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Mar 2016 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Feb 2016 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Nov 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Apr 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Apr 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Feb 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Feb 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Jan 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Jan 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Dec 2013 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 May 2013 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Apr 2013 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Apr 2013 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Apr 2013 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 2013 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2012 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Dec 2011 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Mar 2011 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Feb 2011 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Dec 2010 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Dec 2010 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Nov 2010 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 2009 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Dec 2009 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Oct 2009 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Feb 2009 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Dec 2008 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Dec 2008 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Apr 2008 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Mar 2008 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Dec 2007 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Mar 2007 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 2007 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Mar 2006 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Mar 2006 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Dec 2005 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Dec 2005 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Mar 2005 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jan 2005 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Jan 2005 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Mar 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Jan 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Nov 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Feb 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Mar 2002 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Mar 2002 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Nov 2001 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Mar 2001 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jan 2001 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Dec 2000 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Jan 2000 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Jan 2000 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Mar 1999 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jan 1998 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Mar 1997 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Jan 1997 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 1996 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Dec 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Nov 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Nov 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Mar 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jan 1996 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jan 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many winter events has Washington County had?
120 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of winter storms and snow became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded winter event in Washington County?
2 Apr 2026 (Winter Weather). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Washington County?
NCEI records no damage estimate for events of this type in the county.
How does Washington County compare with Minnesota for winter?
31.2 events per 100 square miles against 15.3 statewide; the county holds 120 of the state's 12,156 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 Winter hub and the county page.