Steele County, Minnesota
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1957 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
28
Tornado reports
80
Hail reports
29
Floods since 1996
420
All events
0
Deaths
$99.1M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Steele County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 28 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 EF3 Tornado
This tornado developed just north of the Steele/Freeborn County line, shortly after the dissipation in Freeborn County of the Newry tornado. This new tornado moved northeast, and initially, occasional trees were broken. Damage intensified somewhat when it hit a farm on State High…
Tornado F3 Tornado
Tornado F3 Tornado
Flood waters from the Straight River impacted businesses in Owatonna.
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. Residents in Owatonna, Minnesota,…
Three to five inches of rain fell over Owatonna, resulting in flooding of roads, homes and businesses. A city storm sewer also backed up, causing basements to flood in about 40 homes. This event began September 30, 2007 at 2200 CST (see September 2007 Storm Data).
A Presidential Disaster Declaration was signed for Steele County in the wake of major flooding and damage. Large areas of Owatonna were reported under two to three feet of water. Water completely covered a few roads, and was above car doors in some areas. Maple Creek at Dartt's P…
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rainfall caused flooding at the intersection of 4th Ave SW and 3rd St SW. County dispatch advised that the intersection was closed off. Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor radar analysis recorded rainfall rates between 1.75 to 2 inches per hour in a short duration of time.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
A photo provided via social media showed water flowing over the road at the intersection of 88th St and CR-45, south of Steele Center. Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor radar analysis recorded rainfall rates between 1.8 to 2 inches per hour in a short duration of time.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Blizzard Blizzard
Visibilities were dramatically reduced, 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 at KOWA. The 2-day snowfall reports ranged from about 10 to 13 inches throughout the county, with the highest r…
High Wind High Wind
Strong northwest winds were sustained around 30 to 40 mph overnight, with frequent gusts over 45 mph. A max wind gust of 57 mph was recorded at nearby KOWA around 5:30am.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall measurements ranged between 3 to 6 inches across the county with the highest being located in the northern portion of the county. The highest snowfall observation was 5.5 inches in Owatonna.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The AWOS station located at the Owatonna Degner Regional Airport reported multiple hours of reduced visibility between one quarter to one half mile from falling blowing snow. Additionally, the max wind gust was near 35 mph. 4 inches of snow was measured 3.5 miles ESE of Faribault…
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
KOWA reported wind gusts as high as 35mph during the evening as air temperatures dropped from -15F to -22F overnight. The lowest measured wind chill was -49F at 2:30AM on the 23rd.
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. The worst conditions were during the afternoon of the 16th. Total snowfall accumulation was under an inch.
Blizzard Blizzard
Strong winds and heavy snow resulted in blizzard conditions throughout the county, with the worst conditions during the evening of the 28th. MNDoT road and plow cameras showed several hours of near zero visibility in the southern portion of the county, and winds gusted around 35 …
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The AWOS at Owatonna Degner Regional Airport reported an hour of freezing precipitation which made for slippery travel conditions for the morning commute. A CoCoRaHS observer reported in Owatonna that their snowboard as glazed over with ice.
Blizzard Blizzard
Light snow combined with strong 35 to 40 mph wind gusts caused blowing snow and reduced visibility to near zero for several hours. Emergency Management reported that whiteout conditions led to two jackknifed semis and a five-vehicle crash on I-35 SB, leading to the closure of bot…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Light snow fell across the county during the afternoon and evening hours. An inch of snow was measured in Owatonna.
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 9 inches. The highest report was 8.4 inches in Ellendale.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
A combination of snow and strong winds impacted the county Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning. Snowfall amounts around 1 to 3 inches were estimated across the county, and wind gusts around 35 to 45 mph were measured throughout the event at Owatonna Regional Airport.
Hail Hail
Report of a large amount of hail, the largest around quarter sized.
Hail Hail
Golf ball size hail on Hwy 30 west of Blooming Prairie.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
The city of Ellendale conducted emergency pumping for their sewer treatment plant over night Saturday into Sunday. One house was barricaded with sandbags due to rising flood waters.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
The Emergency Manager reported that Hoffman Drive in Owatonna had emergency barricading in place due to water over the road Saturday night. The water had since receded by Sunday morning.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Cocorahs station MN-SE-3 Ellendale 0.3 SW. 72 hour storm total of 5.31 inches.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Hail Hail
Measurement provided via social media.
Hail Hail
Hail measurement provided via phone.
Blizzard Blizzard
An estimated 0 to 4 inches of snow fell across the county with the highest amounts in the southern portion. There was a very stark difference in conditions across the county with areas north of Owatonna observing little to no impact from the snow, and areas south observing heavy …
Blizzard Blizzard
An estimated 7 to 12 inches of snow fell across the county. 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 county roads becoming impassable or travel not advised (including MN-14) Tue…
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Several hours with wind chill ranging from -39 to -35 observed at KOWA each morning.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The AWOS located at the Owatonna Degner Regional Airport recorded several hours of extreme wind chills with a minimum recording of -42 degrees.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Interpolated snowfall analysis from CoCoRaHS reports showed four to five inches accumulation across the county.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
A band of 1 to 2 inches fell across the county.
Hail Hail
A picture on X showed 1 inch hail in Owatonna.
Hail Hail
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Maple Creek overflowed and flooded roads in and around Mineral Springs Park.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
A total of 3 to 5 inches of rain fell from multiple rounds of thunderstorms. CoCoRaHS observers measured 4.07 inches near Owatonna.
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
A video was provided showing a brief funnel cloud north of Medford. It was not possible to determine if there was any ground contact.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees were downed along County Road 3.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 12 | 0 |
| 2025 | 18 | 0 |
| 2024 | 11 | 0 |
| 2023 | 9 | 0 |
| 2022 | 14 | 0 |
| 2021 | 14 | 2 |
| 2020 | 9 | 0 |
| 2019 | 15 | 2 |
| 2018 | 11 | 2 |
| 2017 | 12 | 1 |
| 2016 | 10 | 0 |
| 2015 | 6 | 0 |
| 2014 | 22 | 0 |
| 2013 | 9 | 0 |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 |
| 2011 | 6 | 0 |
| 2010 | 21 | 5 |
| 2009 | 12 | 0 |
| 2008 | 13 | 0 |
| 2007 | 15 | 0 |
| 2006 | 15 | 0 |
| 2005 | 11 | 0 |
| 2004 | 14 | 0 |
| 2003 | 3 | 0 |
| 2002 | 14 | 1 |
| 2001 | 14 | 1 |
| 2000 | 5 | 0 |
| 1999 | 13 | 1 |
| 1998 | 10 | 0 |
| 1997 | 10 | 1 |
| 1996 | 20 | 0 |
| 1995 | 5 | 2 |
| 1994 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 | 3 | 1 |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 2 | 0 |
| 1986 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 4 | 2 |
| 1983 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 | 2 | 2 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979 | 2 | 0 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 2 | 0 |
| 1973 | 2 | 1 |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 |
| 1969 | 4 | 0 |
| 1968 | 2 | 1 |
| 1967 | 4 | 2 |
| 1966 | 1 | 0 |
| 1965 | 1 | 0 |
| 1962 | 1 | 1 |
| 1957 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Steele County, measured to its path.
We couldn’t get your location. Check that location access is allowed for this site, or type an address.