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Winter in Watonwan County, Minnesota
110 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.
NCEI records 110 winter events in Watonwan County, Minnesota, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 29 years.
January is the busiest month, with 35 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 75 events against 35 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.9% of the 12,156 winter events recorded in Minnesota; its 25.3 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 | Watonwan County | Minnesota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter events since 1950 | 110 | 12,156 | 287,339 |
| Per 100 square miles | 25.3 | 15.3 | 8.1 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 98.8 | 21.3 | 8.7 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 63 | 2,509 |
| Busiest month | January | December | January |
By year
Seasonality
35Feb
18Mar
15Apr
8May
0Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
2Nov
10Dec
22
Recorded events
All 110 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 Mar 2026 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Feb 2026 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Feb 2026 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jan 2026 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jan 2026 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2026 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Dec 2025 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2025 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Dec 2025 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Dec 2025 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Nov 2025 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Nov 2025 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 2025 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Dec 2024 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Mar 2024 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jan 2024 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Jan 2024 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Mar 2023 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Feb 2023 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Feb 2023 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Jan 2023 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Dec 2022 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Dec 2022 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Nov 2022 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Jan 2022 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Dec 2021 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jan 2021 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 2020 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Apr 2020 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Feb 2020 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Feb 2020 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jan 2020 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jan 2020 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Apr 2019 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 2019 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Feb 2019 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Feb 2019 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jan 2019 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jan 2019 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Dec 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Apr 2018 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Apr 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Mar 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 2018 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Mar 2017 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Feb 2016 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Dec 2015 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jan 2015 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Nov 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Apr 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 2014 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Feb 2014 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Jan 2014 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 2014 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2014 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Apr 2013 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Apr 2013 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Feb 2011 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Jan 2011 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 2010 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Dec 2010 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Dec 2010 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Nov 2010 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Feb 2010 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Jan 2010 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Jan 2010 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 2009 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Dec 2009 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Oct 2009 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Jan 2009 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Dec 2008 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Dec 2007 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Mar 2007 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Feb 2007 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Jan 2007 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Nov 2006 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Mar 2006 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Mar 2005 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jan 2005 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Jan 2005 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Jan 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Nov 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Apr 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Feb 2003 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Mar 2002 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Mar 2002 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Feb 2002 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 2001 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jan 2001 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Jan 2000 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Oct 1999 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Mar 1999 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jan 1999 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Jan 1999 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 1997 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jan 1997 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jan 1997 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 1996 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Dec 1996 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Dec 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Nov 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Nov 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Nov 1996 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Mar 1996 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Mar 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jan 1996 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Jan 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jan 1996 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many winter events has Watonwan County had?
110 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 Watonwan County?
15 Mar 2026 (Blizzard). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Watonwan County?
NCEI records no damage estimate for events of this type in the county.
How does Watonwan County compare with Minnesota for winter?
25.3 events per 100 square miles against 15.3 statewide; the county holds 110 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.