Stearns 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.
57
Tornado reports
431
Hail reports
24
Floods since 1996
1,055
All events
7
Deaths
$63.3M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Stearns County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 57 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 F3 Tornado
An 83 year old woman was last seen leaving her home in Melrose on the afternoon of January 9. It appears as if her car got stuck in a snow bank near a farm and she began walking for help. She was found dead the next day. Relatives stated she had a history of dementia. The high te…
A man died of a heart attact after snow-blowing his driveway after the snow storm. Snowfall amounts averaged around 8 inches in the southeast part of the county, to around 6 inches in the northwest.
Several thunderstorms developed across the St. Cloud area the afternoon of May 6th. An individual was working in his backyard at the time one of the thunderstorms moved through and was struck by lightning. The injuries related to the lightning strike caused his unfortunate death …
Man struck by lightning while working in his hay field.
Tornado struck outdoor flea market in Albany, blowing numerous recreational vehicles over. One man was killed when a recreational vehicle was blown on top of him. 30 others were injured. A farmstead was severely damaged northeast of St. Francis just before liftoff of the tornado.
More then a thousand vehicles and many homes in Sartell were damaged by the storm. Hail measured by trained spotter. All injuries were minor. The hail fell when winds were not too strong, so crop damage in the area was limited.
A tornado moved south-southeast through the west side of Melrose. The worst structural damage took place in the northwest side of town. The tornado destroyed a large metal building system and peeled the roof off of several other buildings. Portions of the roof were torn off some …
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Delayed photo report showing large ash tree snapped near base. Time estimated from radar.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
A long duration winter weather event produced two rounds of precipitation. The first round produced mixed precipitation across the county. The second round fell as mostly wet heavy snow that melted on contact with the ground. Snow accumulations measured 2 to 4 inches across the c…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Visibilities were dramatically reduced, reaching below 3/4 mile at times, as heavy snow fell and sustained winds were 15 to 20 mph with frequent gusts over 25mph. The 2-day snowfall reports ranged from about 4 to 7 inches throughout the county, with the highest report being 7 inc…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The AWOS at KPEX reported several on and off hours of freezing precipitation during the evening of the 6th into the morning of the 7th. Several CoCoRaHS observers reported freezing rain with a layer of ice as thick at 0.1 covered with light snow. There was also thunder reported a…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The ASOS station located at St. Cloud Regional Airport observed approximately an hour of freezing rain. There was less than one tenth of ice accretion but did make the morning commute incredibly slippery.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Several hours of light snow fell and mixed precipitation fell at the Paynesville Municipal Airport. CoCoRaHS observers measured a trace to 4 inches of snow with the highest amounts falling across the southern half of the county. 3.7 inches of snow was measured 2 miles SSW of Payn…
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
KD39 reported wind gusts as high as 25 mph overnight as air temperatures dropped from -15F to -23F. The lowest measured wind chill was -47F at 9PM on the 22nd.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Strong winds gusting to 35 mph and scattered snow showers resulted in periodic reductions in visibility as low as a 1/4 mile at times, though generally remained around 1 to 2 miles. The worst conditions were during the afternoon.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Strong winds gusting to 30 mph at KD39 and scattered snow showers resulted in periodic reductions in visibility as low as a 1/4 mile at times. Total snow accumulation was under an inch, which limited overall impacts from the storm.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
CoCoRaHS observers reported freezing rain and dense fog that resulted in light ice accumulation overnight, mainly in the southeast portion of the county. Untreated surfaces were covered with a thin layer of ice. The ASOS at nearby KSTC also reported a few hours of freezing precip…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
The combination of falling snow and breezy winds resulted in winter storm conditions throughout the county. Snowfall totals ranged from 4 to 7 inches, with the highest totals in the southern portion of the county. The highest report was 6.5 inches near Fairhaven. Surface visibili…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Between 4 to 7 inches of snow fell across the county with the highest amounts occurring in the eastern region of the county. A CO-OP observer measured, 6.0 inches 3 miles N of Kimball and 6.2 inches miles S of Saint Augusta.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totals across the county were estimated around 2 to 4 inches, with the highest amounts across the southeastern portion of the county. The highest report was 3.8 inches 3 miles SE of Luxemburg. The snow was generally light and fluffy, and fell over a period longer than 24…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A combination of heavy snow and strong winds impacted the county Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning. The greatest impacts were in the northern and eastern portions of the county. Snowfall amounts around 2 to 5 inches were reported, and wind gusts around 35 to 45 mph were me…
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple trees down in Brooten.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Photos provided via social media of multiple trees down with trunks split at base.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple reports of trees down in the southern part of Stearns County, including Cold Spring.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Emergency manager reported major impacts in the city of Albany due to heavy rain and flash flooding. This was supported by several public reports of urban and county road flooding, including CR 157 northwest of Albany and at the I-94 underpass.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Reported via Stearns Co EM.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Most hailstones were between quarter and half dollar with several being golf ball to lime sized.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple large tree branches snapped 4 miles south of Luxemburg.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gust of 66 mph measured at the Sauk Centre airport.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 70 mph blew in a garage bay door and downed a tree, causing structural damage to MnDOT facility.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 58 mph downed a tree in a residential area.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 mph downed several large tree limbs, blocking trailway.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 mph downed a large pine tree down in southern Waite Park.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds estimated at 65 mph downed several large trees near CR4 north of Waite Park.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
A tornado was spotted about 4.5 miles east-northeast of Spring Hill. A virtual storm survey was performed using storm chaser video. It was determined that the tornado was an EF-0 with approximate maximum wind estimated at 75 mph.
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
A trained spotter reported seeing a funnel cloud to the southwest of their location in Sartell as a line of storms approached from St. Joseph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured at the Sauk Centre airport KD39.
Hail Hail
Photo measurement of quarter-size provided.
Hail Hail
Photo submitted on social media of ping pong ball size hail three miles north of Clearwater.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10 | 0 |
| 2025 | 36 | 1 |
| 2024 | 21 | 1 |
| 2023 | 27 | 0 |
| 2022 | 56 | 1 |
| 2021 | 18 | 2 |
| 2020 | 14 | 0 |
| 2019 | 24 | 0 |
| 2018 | 13 | 0 |
| 2017 | 22 | 2 |
| 2016 | 35 | 4 |
| 2015 | 19 | 1 |
| 2014 | 19 | 0 |
| 2013 | 29 | 0 |
| 2012 | 42 | 2 |
| 2011 | 44 | 1 |
| 2010 | 55 | 3 |
| 2009 | 32 | 1 |
| 2008 | 40 | 0 |
| 2007 | 38 | 0 |
| 2006 | 16 | 0 |
| 2005 | 52 | 4 |
| 2004 | 23 | 0 |
| 2003 | 22 | 0 |
| 2002 | 53 | 2 |
| 2001 | 21 | 0 |
| 2000 | 11 | 0 |
| 1999 | 32 | 2 |
| 1998 | 29 | 1 |
| 1997 | 14 | 0 |
| 1996 | 23 | 2 |
| 1995 | 4 | 0 |
| 1994 | 21 | 0 |
| 1993 | 2 | 0 |
| 1992 | 4 | 1 |
| 1991 | 5 | 2 |
| 1990 | 7 | 0 |
| 1989 | 6 | 0 |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 5 | 0 |
| 1986 | 1 | 0 |
| 1985 | 3 | 0 |
| 1984 | 6 | 1 |
| 1983 | 16 | 0 |
| 1982 | 3 | 0 |
| 1981 | 3 | 0 |
| 1980 | 10 | 4 |
| 1979 | 8 | 0 |
| 1978 | 3 | 2 |
| 1977 | 6 | 0 |
| 1976 | 3 | 0 |
| 1975 | 2 | 0 |
| 1974 | 8 | 0 |
| 1973 | 4 | 0 |
| 1972 | 2 | 0 |
| 1971 | 2 | 0 |
| 1970 | 4 | 0 |
| 1969 | 2 | 1 |
| 1968 | 4 | 3 |
| 1967 | 2 | 2 |
| 1966 | 2 | 0 |
| 1965 | 3 | 1 |
| 1964 | 2 | 2 |
| 1962 | 1 | 1 |
| 1958 | 3 | 3 |
| 1957 | 1 | 0 |
| 1956 | 1 | 0 |
| 1955 | 1 | 0 |
| 1954 | 2 | 2 |
| 1953 | 2 | 2 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Stearns County, measured to its path.
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