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Wind in Watonwan County, Minnesota
91 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.
Watonwan County, Minnesota, has 91 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 36 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 28 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 35 events against 42 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.6% of the 15,237 wind events recorded in Minnesota; its 20.9 per 100 square miles compares with 19.1 statewide.
67 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 5 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 | Watonwan County | Minnesota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 91 | 15,237 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 20.9 | 19.1 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 81.7 | 26.7 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 30 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
1Mar
2Apr
10May
7Jun
28Jul
19Aug
15Sep
1Oct
4Nov
2Dec
2
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 91 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 2026 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 45 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 78 mph | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2015 | High Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2010 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2009 | Strong Wind | 54 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 May 2007 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Dec 2004 | High Wind | 46 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Apr 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2004 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2001 | High Wind | 79 mph | $8.0M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Nov 1999 | High Wind | 44 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 1999 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Nov 1998 | High Wind | 55 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 1997 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Oct 1996 | High Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Oct 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 1996 | High Wind | 55 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Watonwan County had?
91 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 Watonwan County?
30 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 60 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Watonwan County?
The high wind of 7 Apr 2001, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $8.0M.
How does Watonwan County compare with Minnesota for wind?
20.9 events per 100 square miles against 19.1 statewide; the county holds 91 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.