Brown County, Minnesota
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1952 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
32
Tornado reports
119
Hail reports
19
Floods since 1996
519
All events
3
Deaths
$59.5M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Brown County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 31 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
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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 began 7 miles east of Avoca in Murray county, continued through Cottonwood, Brown, extreme Northwest Watonwan, Northwest Blue Earth, and finally lifted off 4 miles east of Courtland in Nicollet county. Total storm track was 67 miles. The tornado ripped through the village…
A man apparently fell outside his New Ulm home during the afternoon and died that evening due to exposure from the cold. The high temperature at New Ulm that afternoon was Zero degrees F, and a few hours later, the temperature fell to -18 F during the evening of the 2nd. The wind…
A strong arctic cold front moved into central and southern Minnesota on January 1, dropping temperatures below zero. A two year old boy in New Ulm wandered into the cold sometime Wednesday morning, January 2, and was found by his mother at 0745 CST, less than one block from home.…
4,000 trees blown down. 10 businesses lost portions of their roof. Mobile home destroyed. Maintenance hangar at airport destroyed, damaging several airplanes. 400 ft TV tower blown down. Poultry bldg levelled at fairgrounds. Reception hall lost its roof. Large trees blown down at…
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Photo measurement provided via NWS Chat.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Winter Weather Winter Weather
A long duration winter weather event produced two rounds of rain/freezing rain/snow mix which lasted several hours each. A CoCoRaHS observes reported icing on elevated surfaces.
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 5 to 8 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 max wind gust of 63 mph was recorded at KULM around 2:15am. A trained spotter reported tree damage due to the high winds. A large branch snapped off a mature tree and fell onto…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall measurements ranged between 5 to 7 inches across the county. The highest snowfall observation was 6.5 inches in New Ulm.
Blizzard Blizzard
The RWIS Station located in Springfield reported several hours of blizzard conditions with visibility less than one tenth mile and a max wind gust of 50 mph. Additionally, Emergency Management reported that whiteout conditions and snow-covered roads led to 3 accidents which 2 inc…
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
KULM reported wind gusts as high as 25 mph during the evening as air temperatures dropped from -15F to -20F overnight. The lowest measured wind chill was -42F 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 KULM noted visibility as low as 1/4 mile and wind gusts between 30 to 40 mph.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Strong winds gusting to 45 mph and scattered snow showers resulted in periodic reductions in visibility as low as a 1/2 mile at times. Total snowfall accumulation was under an inch.
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 Springfield, and winds gusted around 35 to 45 mph while snow was falling throughout muc…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The AWOS at New Ulm Municipal Airport reported two hours of light rain that froze on contact with the ground. A CoCoRaHS observer reported in Comfrey that a glaze of ice was on walkways and around their yard.
Blizzard Blizzard
Light snow combined with strong 40 to 50 mph wind gusts caused blowing snow and whiteout conditions for several hours. Emergency Management reported that, there were jack knifed semis, vehicles in ditches, and accidents.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Light snow fell across the county during the afternoon and evening hours. Around one inch of snow was measured in New Ulm by CoCoRaHS observers.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Persistent light snow lasted for over 24 hours. Snowfall totals across the county were estimated around 5 to 9 inches. The highest report was 8.3 inches 3 miles W of New Ulm.
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 New Ulm Municipal Airport.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Cocorahs station MN-BW-22 Sleepy Eye 7.7 NNW. 72 hour storm total of 5.69 inches.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several large tree branches snapped at a home west of Leavenworth.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gust estimated at 70 mph blew over 6 trees on a wind break at a farm on 220th Ave.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tin roofing removed from a shed.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Large tree branch down in Sleepy Eye MN.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 mph snapped several large trees snapped at their base in German Park, downed a dead, 2 foot diameter tree along 5th North Street, and downed several trees near the New Ulm Medical Center.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gust of 58 mph measured at AWOS station KULM New Ulm AP.
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
Multiple trained spotters provided photos of funnel cloud 5 miles SE of Sleepy Eye, MN.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Several hours of light freezing rain resulted in accumulations up to 0.15 inches of flat ice across the county. Additional snow accumulations around up to 2 inches fell on top of the ice resulted in hazardous travel conditions Saturday into Sunday.
Blizzard Blizzard
An estimated 3 to 6 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 3/4 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 -38 to -35 observed at KULM each morning.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The AWOS located at the New Ulm Municipal Airport recorded several hours of extreme wind chills with a minimum recording of -39 degrees.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Interpolated snowfall analysis from CoCoRaHS reports showed three to five inches accumulation across the county.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
A band of 2 to 3 inches fell across the county. 2.3 inches of snow was measured 6.5 miles ENE of Comfrey, MN.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple downed trees blocked roads throughout New Ulm.
Tornado EFU Tornado
A storm chaser took video of a tornado and a nearby resident confirmed its specific location. The tornado moved across open fields before dissipating.
Hail Hail
Delayed report of picture from via social media, time estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
Delayed report, time estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
A total of 3 to 4 inches of rain fell from multiple rounds of thunderstorms. CoCoRaHS observers measured 3.81 inches near Hanska.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
The storm total was 2.5 inches of rainfall.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Multiple bands of snow moved through and produced generally 6 to 8 inches of heavy wet snow and 35 mph wind gusts. CoCoRaHS observers measured 6.5 inches of snow accumulation in New Ulm, MN.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 17 | 0 |
| 2025 | 18 | 0 |
| 2024 | 14 | 1 |
| 2023 | 16 | 0 |
| 2022 | 16 | 1 |
| 2021 | 30 | 4 |
| 2020 | 9 | 0 |
| 2019 | 11 | 1 |
| 2018 | 12 | 0 |
| 2017 | 9 | 1 |
| 2016 | 21 | 0 |
| 2015 | 6 | 0 |
| 2014 | 18 | 1 |
| 2013 | 11 | 0 |
| 2012 | 11 | 0 |
| 2011 | 6 | 0 |
| 2010 | 21 | 1 |
| 2009 | 9 | 1 |
| 2008 | 18 | 3 |
| 2007 | 15 | 0 |
| 2006 | 7 | 1 |
| 2005 | 21 | 0 |
| 2004 | 14 | 1 |
| 2003 | 12 | 3 |
| 2002 | 12 | 0 |
| 2001 | 13 | 0 |
| 2000 | 11 | 0 |
| 1999 | 17 | 0 |
| 1998 | 17 | 1 |
| 1997 | 15 | 0 |
| 1996 | 22 | 1 |
| 1995 | 3 | 1 |
| 1994 | 7 | 0 |
| 1992 | 3 | 1 |
| 1991 | 2 | 0 |
| 1990 | 6 | 0 |
| 1989 | 2 | 0 |
| 1988 | 2 | 0 |
| 1986 | 4 | 0 |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 2 | 0 |
| 1983 | 6 | 1 |
| 1981 | 6 | 2 |
| 1980 | 2 | 0 |
| 1979 | 3 | 0 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 | 2 | 0 |
| 1975 | 2 | 0 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 | 2 | 0 |
| 1971 | 2 | 1 |
| 1968 | 1 | 0 |
| 1967 | 1 | 0 |
| 1965 | 4 | 3 |
| 1962 | 1 | 0 |
| 1959 | 1 | 0 |
| 1957 | 1 | 1 |
| 1956 | 1 | 0 |
| 1952 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Brown County, measured to its path.
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