Blue Earth County, Minnesota
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1953 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
43
Tornado reports
182
Hail reports
41
Floods since 1996
661
All events
4
Deaths
$38.2M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Blue Earth County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 42 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated
Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
Tornado F4 Tornado
See Brown county discussion.
A tree branch fell onto a tent at the Land of Memories Park. A family was in the tent and a 4 year old girl was killed from injuries of the fallen tree branch.
There were multiple reports of road closures due to high water and debris along the Minnesota River. Flood waters caused around 70 people to move out of their apartment complex in Mankato.
Numerous roads were closed due to excessive rainfall that fell on September 22nd and 23th. The major areal flooding didn't recede until late Saturday when most of the small streams and creeks had crested and only mainstem rivers remained flooded.
The sixth tornado in a series was the last of five to hit Blue Earth County. This one took direct aim on four farmsteads. Barns, sheds and outbuildings were downed. A roof was taken off a house and numerous trees were snapped. Law Enforcement video showed this to be a multiple vo…
Trees down. Roof damage. Estimated windspeed. Damage estimate for entire county.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
The tornado moved into Blue Earth County from Watonwan County. Based on multiple storm chaser videos, ground contact was evident most of the way, but not always, as there were two or three occasions when ground circulation was not evident for one or two minutes. But some storm ch…
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Blizzard Blizzard
MNDOT RWIS sites reported visibilities at or below 1/4 mile for several hours as heavy snow fell and sustained winds were 15 to 25 mph with frequent gusts over 35 mph. The 2-day snowfall reports ranged from about 6 to 11 inches throughout the county, with the highest report being…
High Wind High Wind
Strong northwest winds were sustained around 35 to 45 mph overnight, with frequent gusts over 50 mph. A media partner reported damaged power lines due to the high winds. Two poles were leaning at a 45 degree angle near the Mankato Airport.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall measurements ranged between 4 to 6 inches across the county. The highest snowfall observation was 6 inches in Mankato.
Blizzard Blizzard
Emergency management reported that several vehicles went into ditches. The worst visibility impacts less than one-half mile was located in the western half of the county. The Mankato Regional Airport reported a max wind gust of 44 mph.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
KMKT reported wind gusts as high as 30 mph during the evening as air temperatures dropped from -15F to -20F overnight. The lowest measured wind chill was -45F at 12AM on the 23rd.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The combination of very strong winds and light snow showers resulted in reduced visibility from blowing snow. Occasional near blizzard conditions were reported at the height of the storm. The AWOS at KMKT noted visibility as low as 1/2 mile and wind gusts between 30 to 40 mph dur…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Strong winds gusting to 35 mph and scattered snow showers resulted in periodic reductions in visibility as low as a 1/2 mile at times, though generally around 2 to 3 miles. Total snowfall accumulation was under an inch.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The AWOS at KMKT reported several hours of freezing precipitation during the evening of January 5th. Several CoCoRaHS observers reported freezing rain and ice covered sidewalks and driveways near Mankato, Lake Crystal, and Minnesota Lake.
Blizzard Blizzard
The combination of falling snow and strong winds resulted in blizzard conditions throughout the county. Surface visibilities dropped to 1/4 mile or less for several hours at the RWIS site near Mapleton, and winds gusted around 35 to 45 mph at KMKT in Mankato while snow was fallin…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The AWOS at Mankato Regional Airport reported an hour of light rain, however it froze on contact with the ground. A CoCoRaHS observer reported that the ground was solid ice.
Blizzard Blizzard
Light snow combined with strong wind gusts caused blowing snow and reduced visibility to below one-quarter mile for several hours. The AWOS station located at the Mankato Regional Airport recorded several hours of falling snow with wind gusts ranging between 35 to near 50 mph tha…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Light snow fell across the county during the afternoon and evening hours. Snowfall rates forced visibilities to fall to 1.5 miles at times at the Mankato Regional Airport. An inch of snow was measured in Mankato.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Persistent light snow lasted for over 24 hours, with strong winds gusting to 35 mph near the end of the event. Snowfall totals across the county were estimated around 6 to 10 inches. The highest report was 7.6 inches 3 miles SW of Mankato.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
A combination of snow and strong winds impacted the county Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning. Snowfall amounts around 1 to 2 inches were estimated across the county, and wind gusts around 35 to 45 mph were measured throughout the event at Mankato Regional Airport.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 58 mph snapped a large tree branch that fell onto a truck in Judson Township.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Cocorahs station MN-BU-2 Mapleton 4N. 72 hour total of 5.70 inches.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Cocorahs station MN-BU-74 Eagle Lake 0.2 WSW. 72 hour storm total of 5.34 inches.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Cocorahs station MN-BU-85 Lake Crystal 0.2 NW. 72 hour storm total of 5.19 inches.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Cocorahs station MN-BU-23 Mankato 1ESE. 72 hour storm total of 5.15 inches.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Cocorahs station MN-BU-45 Good Thunder 2.0 W. 72 hour storm total of 5.05 inches.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
A few local county roads closed and minor debris was deposited on rural roads due to flooding. Main areas impacted were south of MSU-Mankato and along County Road 1.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Delayed report of widespread damage to public infrastructure throughout portions of Blue Earth County due to heavy rainfall and flooding. There was damage to several roads, culverts, and trails, as well as severe erosion to bridge R0410.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A 61 mph wind gust was measured using a personal weather instrument by a storm chaser.
Blizzard Blizzard
An estimated 5 to 8 inches of snow fell across the county with the greatest amounts across the southeast portion. Frequent gusts over 35 mph and heavy snowfall rates resulted in several hours of 1/2 mile visibility or less. These conditions resulted in many roads becoming impassa…
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Several hours with wind chill ranging from -37 to -35 observed at KMKT each morning.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The AWOS located at the Mankato Regional Airport recorded several hours of extreme wind chills with a minimum recording of -40 degrees.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 17 | 1 |
| 2025 | 23 | 0 |
| 2024 | 13 | 1 |
| 2023 | 13 | 0 |
| 2022 | 26 | 0 |
| 2021 | 12 | 0 |
| 2020 | 18 | 0 |
| 2019 | 20 | 0 |
| 2018 | 14 | 2 |
| 2017 | 15 | 1 |
| 2016 | 34 | 2 |
| 2015 | 11 | 0 |
| 2014 | 43 | 1 |
| 2013 | 13 | 0 |
| 2012 | 7 | 0 |
| 2011 | 7 | 0 |
| 2010 | 48 | 6 |
| 2009 | 12 | 0 |
| 2008 | 12 | 1 |
| 2007 | 20 | 0 |
| 2006 | 12 | 0 |
| 2005 | 24 | 1 |
| 2004 | 20 | 0 |
| 2003 | 22 | 7 |
| 2002 | 10 | 0 |
| 2001 | 20 | 1 |
| 2000 | 15 | 0 |
| 1999 | 12 | 0 |
| 1998 | 16 | 1 |
| 1997 | 16 | 0 |
| 1996 | 25 | 0 |
| 1995 | 3 | 0 |
| 1994 | 11 | 3 |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 | 1 | 1 |
| 1991 | 7 | 2 |
| 1990 | 5 | 0 |
| 1989 | 2 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 | 1 |
| 1986 | 4 | 0 |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 |
| 1983 | 5 | 1 |
| 1982 | 3 | 0 |
| 1981 | 7 | 2 |
| 1980 | 5 | 1 |
| 1979 | 2 | 0 |
| 1978 | 2 | 0 |
| 1977 | 1 | 1 |
| 1976 | 1 | 1 |
| 1975 | 2 | 0 |
| 1974 | 6 | 0 |
| 1973 | 3 | 0 |
| 1972 | 1 | 1 |
| 1971 | 4 | 0 |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | 4 | 1 |
| 1965 | 1 | 1 |
| 1964 | 1 | 1 |
| 1963 | 1 | 0 |
| 1962 | 1 | 0 |
| 1959 | 1 | 0 |
| 1958 | 1 | 0 |
| 1957 | 1 | 0 |
| 1953 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Blue Earth County, measured to its path.
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