Houston County, Minnesota
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1955 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
14
Tornado reports
79
Hail reports
46
Floods since 1996
422
All events
2
Deaths
$68.9M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Houston County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 14 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.
A man was killed when he attempted to cross flood waters with two others in his vehicle. The car was washed away on County Road 6 near Pine Creek. His two female companions were rescued but the victim's legs were pinned under a part of the car and rescue workers could not save hi…
A 55-year old man was killed near Storer Creek when his mobile home was swept away by flash flooding. The man had been asked to evacuate twice before flood waters swept him and his home away. The normally tranquil trout stream was about 80 yards wide and 7 to 8 feet above nearby …
At least 50 mudslides were reported across the county with four state highways and eight county roads closed. At one point 20 roads were closed across the county. Some homes collapsed or were carried away by mudslides. Numerous railroad tracks and bridges washed out. There were n…
A lightning strike hit a transformer in La Crescent and the resulting damage also took out a nearby substation. Around 3,400 customers were without power until the next day.
Very heavy rain caused widespread flash flooding across a good portion of Houston County. Roads around the town of Houston became covered with water and impassable. Rapidly rising water along Riceford Creek caused a campground to be evacuated. A mudslide occurred just outside of …
Widespread flooding forced the closure of virtually all roads across the county. Several civil emergency messages were sent by request of county officials for evacuations in mainly the southern half of the county. An estimated 9300 acres of corn and 5400 acres of beans were lost.…
Very heavy rain led to flash flooding through much of the county. A rainfall total of 7.18 inches was measured 3 miles southwest of Reno. The bridge over Clear Creek was reported damaged and unsafe for use. In addition, highway 26 was closed due to mudslides. County Highways 5, 2…
Tremendous flash flooding and mudslides covered many highways in the area, including Highway 76 between Money Creek and Houston. Highway bridges were completely blown out and sections of roads were quickly eroded away. Other mudslides were reported on county highways 9, 13 and 26…
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Extreme heat moved into the region for the afternoon and early evening hours on June 29th bringing heat indices of 105 to 114 degrees across Houston County. The highest heat index in the county of 114 degrees was reported in Hokah.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snowfall totals from this winter storm ranged from 4 to 7 inches across Houston County. The highest snowfall total in the county was 2 miles east-northeast of Mound Prairie where 7.2 inches of snow was measured.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
This very narrow snow band brought heavy snow to Houston County where snowfall totals ranged from 4 to 9 inches. The highest reported snowfall total in the county was 8.8 inches 1 mile north of New Albin.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
This snow band brought heavy snow to Houston County with snowfall totals ranging from 8 to 10 inches. The highest snowfall report was 6 miles south of Reno where 10 inches was measured.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
A period of extreme cold moved into the region late on January 22nd and continued into the morning hours on January 23rd. In Houston County, dangerously cold wind chills of around 30 to 40 degrees below zero were observed during this period with a coldest observed wind chill in t…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
This winter storm brought snow and gusty winds to Houston County with storm total snow accumulations ranging from 3 to 4 inches across the county. The highest report in the county was in Caledonia where 4 inches of snow was observed. In addition to the falling snow, wind gusts of…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
This significant winter storm brought between 6 and 10 inches of snow to Houston County between November 28th and November 30th. The highest report in the county was 1 mile west of La Crescent where 9.4 inches was reported.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The public reported numerous trees down 1 mile east-southeast of Houston.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
This tornado crossed into Houston County from Fillmore County and produced EF-1 damage to trees and one outbuilding roof. This tornado was embedded within a larger area of strong downburst winds that resulted in extensive tree damage.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
This brief tornado developed in rural areas south of Hokah before quickly dissipating over County Road 20 where some damage to trees was noted.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
This weak tornado continued into Houston County from Allamakee County where it produced additional minor tree damage. Much of this tree damage occurred within the proximity of structures but no structural damage was observed.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Amateur radio groups reported a utility pole down on main street in Hokah near the post office.
Hail Hail
Quarter sized hail was reported by the public in Spring Grove, Minnesota.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
This winter system brought gusty winds and intense snow to Houston County on March 19th. Snowfall totals between 5 to 10 inches across the county with the highest reported total being 10 inches in Caledonia.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Minimum wind chills on the morning of February 18th fell to between 25 to 35 degrees below zero.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Dangerously cold wind chills began on the evening of the 20th and continued through noon on the 21st in Houston County where values dropped between 25 to 40 degrees below zero.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snowfall amounts across Houston County ranged between 4 and 7 inches as a result of this system. The highest storm total snow accumulation in the county of 7.0 was reported 3 miles west-northwest of La Crescent.
Drought Drought
Throughout the entirety of September and through October 29th, only 2 to 2.5 inches of precipitation fell in Winona County. This 4 to 5 inch deficit for this period resulted in the development of short-lived severe drought conditions by late October. Severe drought conditions end…
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Anomalously warm air temperatures and high humidity allowed the heat index to reach up to 116 degrees on August 26th across Houston County.
Flood Flood
Significant rainfall throughout June pushed the Mississippi River at La Crescent into flood stage of 641.0 ft on June 25th. The river stage continued to rise through the end of the month while remaining in minor flood stage.
Flood Flood
Significant rainfall later into June pushed the Root River at Houston into flood stage on June 23rd. The river stage crested during the late morning on June 24th in minor flood stage at 16.57 ft.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Law enforcement reported power lines down in Spring Grove.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The public reported a tree down in Houston.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Volunteer observers reported 2 to 4 of snow accumulation in Houston County with a maximum of 8.0 in Caledonia.
Drought Drought
Slightly above normal monthly rainfall totals alleviated severe (D2) drought along the southwestern periphery of Houston County towards the end of April.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Volunteer observers reported 3 to 5 of snowfall across Houston County from March 23rd through March 24th with the highest amount of 5.0 in Caledonia.
Drought Drought
Near to slightly below normal monthly total liquid precipitation of 1 to 2 resulted in recession of severe (D2) drought from most of far southern Houston County through March.
Drought Drought
Less than 0.5 of total liquid precipitation fell in Houston County through February, up to 1.0 below normal, resulting in severe (D2) and extreme (D3) drought persisting.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
An automated weather observation station reported a wind chill of 20 degrees below zero in Hokah.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A volunteer observed reported 6.8 of snowfall near the Town of Houston.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A volunteer observer reported 6.0 of snowfall in Caledonia.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought persisted for most of Houston County through January. While 1 to 1.5 of monthly total liquid precipitation were near normal, long-standing abnormally dry conditions, 6 to 12 below normal since June 1st 2023, resulted in severe (D2) drought persisting.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought persisted for parts of Houston County through December. While monthly rainfall near 1 was only slightly below normal, the long-standing abnormally dry conditions, 8 to 12 below normal since July 1st, resulted in the severe (D2) drought persisting.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Volunteer observers reported 1.1 to 1.5 inches of snowfall, highest recorded near Caledonia.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) to extreme (D3) drought persisted across the southern half of Houston County through November. The combination of total monthly precipitation near 0.25 inches, near 2 inches below normal, and anomalously warm temperatures for several days according resulted in 30% bel…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
While volunteer observers only reported 1 to 3 inches of snowfall from late on October 30th into the morning of October 31st, the combination of snow and 40 mph wind gusts rapidly worsened road conditions. Slippery to hazardous travel conditions resulted in multiple slide offs re…
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Volunteer observers reported 0.1 of rainfall from bands of rain that moved through southeast Minnesota on October 6th. During the afternoon of October 6th, a tractor and pickup truck collided along Minnesota Highway 16 and Redding Road in Houston Township resulting in an injured …
Drought Drought
Long-standing drier than normal conditions, comprised of 13 weeks of at least severe drought (D2), slightly eased in parts of Houston County through October. While several storms provided monthly rainfall totals slightly above normal, the ongoing rainfall deficit since summer all…
Drought Drought
Ongoing drier than normal conditions, comprised of 10 weeks of at least severe drought (D2), worsened to exceptional drought (D4) for parts of Houston County through the middle of September. By September 11th, under a quarter of an inch of rain fell, resulting in top soil moistur…
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 0 |
| 2025 | 11 | 3 |
| 2024 | 16 | 0 |
| 2023 | 16 | 0 |
| 2022 | 6 | 1 |
| 2021 | 9 | 1 |
| 2020 | 7 | 0 |
| 2019 | 16 | 0 |
| 2018 | 22 | 0 |
| 2017 | 15 | 0 |
| 2016 | 11 | 0 |
| 2015 | 6 | 0 |
| 2014 | 6 | 0 |
| 2013 | 18 | 0 |
| 2012 | 19 | 0 |
| 2011 | 24 | 1 |
| 2010 | 28 | 0 |
| 2009 | 6 | 0 |
| 2008 | 20 | 1 |
| 2007 | 21 | 0 |
| 2006 | 7 | 0 |
| 2005 | 9 | 0 |
| 2004 | 8 | 0 |
| 2003 | 8 | 0 |
| 2002 | 2 | 0 |
| 2001 | 12 | 0 |
| 2000 | 14 | 0 |
| 1999 | 8 | 0 |
| 1998 | 18 | 0 |
| 1997 | 15 | 1 |
| 1996 | 10 | 0 |
| 1994 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | 1 | 1 |
| 1990 | 3 | 0 |
| 1989 | 2 | 0 |
| 1986 | 1 | 0 |
| 1983 | 2 | 0 |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 1 | 1 |
| 1977 | 2 | 1 |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 3 | 0 |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 |
| 1967 | 1 | 0 |
| 1965 | 2 | 2 |
| 1960 | 1 | 1 |
| 1955 | 3 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Houston County, measured to its path.
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