High Wind — Cottonwood, Minnesota

2025-11-25 · Cottonwood, Minnesota

Event narrative

Sustained winds reached around 40 mph at times at an Automated Weather Observing System site at Windom, and Minnesota Road Weather Information System sites near Mountain Lake and Jeffers.

Wider weather episode

Intense low pressure developed across northern South Dakota and pushed eastward into Minnesota on the night of November 25-26. A very intense pressure gradient on the western flank of the system produced widespread winds which gusted from 50 to 75 mph, with the highest wind gusts noted through the Missouri River corridor and along the Buffalo Ridge. Light snowfall wrapped through areas of east central South Dakota and southwest Minnesota during the afternoon and evening, with amounts varying from a dusting along Interstate 90 to 1 to 2 inches near U.S. Highway 14. Combined with the strong winds, visibility briefly dropped to one-half mile or less in numerous locations north of Interstate 90.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1299653. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.