Swift 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.
51
Tornado reports
97
Hail reports
13
Floods since 1996
485
All events
1
Deaths
$17.3M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Swift County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 51 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.
Several sources from surface observations, to local officials, media and health organizations indicated that the combination of heat and humidity, from a large dome of high pressure, allowed for excessive heat to cause significant problems for several days. Local observations aro…
After several brief tornadoes around Danvers, a much larger tornado struck the east side of Benson and travelled southeast along Highway 212. 71 structures were damaged, including 4 homes and 7 businesses that had to be demolished. The tornado lifted off in DeGraff, but not befor…
A tornado touched down in a corn field northwest of Murdock and moved northeast. The first structure that was hit was a church, which lost part of its roof. Along the way, the tornado destroyed corn fields, knocked down or broke many trees, and blew apart six empty grain bins tha…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorm downed trees and powerlines in Benson. The AWOS station located at the Benson Municipal Airport measured a 69mph thunderstorm wind gust.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorm winds downed trees and powerlines in Appleton. Wind speeds are estimated based off of surrounding wind observations. The AWOS station located at the Benson Municipal Airport measured a 69mph thunderstorm wind gust. Meanwhile at 72mph wind gust was measured in …
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorm winds downed trees and powerlines in Halloway. Wind speeds are estimated based off of surrounding wind observations. The AWOS station located at the Benson Municipal Airport measured a 69mph thunderstorm wind gust. Meanwhile at 72mph wind gust was measured in …
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong thunderstorm wind gusts downed trees and powerlines in Danvers. Wind speeds are estimated based off of surrounding wind observations. The AWOS station located at the Benson Municipal Airport measured a 69mph thunderstorm wind gust. Meanwhile at 72mph wind gust was measured…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
AWOS station located at Benson Municipal Airport recorded a 69mph thunderstorm wind gust.
Hail Hail
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. Snowfall accumulations ranged between 1 to 5 inches across the county. A CoCoRaHS observer in…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Visibilities were dramatically reduced, reaching below 1/2 mile at times, as heavy snow fell and sustained winds were 15 to 20 mph with frequent gusts over 25 mph. The 2-day snowfall estimates ranged from about 5 to 9 inches throughout the county, with the highest report being 8.…
High Wind High Wind
Strong northwest winds were sustained around 35 to 50 mph overnight, with frequent gusts over 50 mph. A max wind gust of 70 mph was recorded at KBBB around 1:15am.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The AWOS at KBBB reported several on and off hours of light freezing precipitation from the morning of the 6th through the morning of the 7th. A CoCoRaHS observer reported freezing precipitation resulting in 0.1 of ice on everything the morning of the 7th.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The AWOS station located at the Benson Municipal Airport observed approximately an hour of freezing rain. There was less than one tenth of ice accretion but did make travel conditions incredibly slippery.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Several hours of light snow and freezing precipitation reports at the Benson Municipal Airport. CoCoRaHS observers measured 4.8 inches of snowfall in Benson.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
KBBB reported wind gusts as high as 25 mph overnight as air temperatures dropped from -15F to -20F. The lowest measured wind chill was -45F at 1AM on the 23rd.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Strong winds gusting to 45 mph and scattered snow showers resulted in periodic reductions in visibility as low as a 1/4 mile at times, though generally remained around 2 to 4 miles.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Strong winds gusting to 40 mph 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.
Blizzard Blizzard
Heavy falling snow and strong winds resulted in prolonged blizzard conditions throughout the county. Surface visibilities dropped to 1/4 mile or less for several hours at the RWIS site near Murdock, and winds gusted around 35 to 45 mph at KBBB in Benson while snow was falling thr…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
The AWOS located at the Benson Municipal Airport reported gusty winds of 36 mph and visibility below one-half mile due to blowing snow.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Between 1-2 inches of snow fell with the highest totals being observed in the eastern region of the county. CoCoRaHS observers measured one inch of in Benson. Additionally, the AWOS station located at the Morris Airport reported less than one-quarter mile of visibility due to fal…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totals across the county were estimated around 2 to 4 inches. The snow was generally light and fluffy, and fell over a period longer than 24 hours.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A combination of heavy snow and strong winds impacted the county Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning. Snowfall amounts around 1 to 4 inches were estimated across the county, and wind gusts around 35 to 50 mph were measured throughout the event at Benson Municipal Airport. Th…
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
Funnel cloud reported by a couple spotters. We have no report of it reaching the ground.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured by a MNDOT road weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured by a MNDOT road weather station. It mainly recorded gusts near 59 mph between 15:25 and 15:55, but measured a 71 mph gust between 15:30 and 15:35.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
A tornado developed just west of a farm and tracked east-southeast, before turning to the southeast and dissipating. At the farm, it damaged outbuildings, taking portions of the roofs and walls. It mangled trees, knocked over three irrigation pivots, and ripped through three turk…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Sherriff Dispatch reported tree damage 1 mile S of Murdock.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A 61 mph gust was measured with personal weather station as a line of storms moved through western Swift County.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gust of 78 mph measured by MNDOT RWIS along Hwy 9.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
Video provided from storm chaser showed a condensation funnel and ground circulation. The tornado moved across a grove of trees and knocked down large trees. Its maximum wind was estimated at 75 mph.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
A tornado developed approximately 3 miles to the SSE of Benson. Visible debris was reported by trained spotters and law enforcement. The tornado caused damage to some farm outbuildings before lifting just north of the intersection of US-12 and 10th St NE. Multiple damage photos a…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
An estimated 5 to 9 inches of snow fall across the county, with the bulk of the snow falling on April 2nd. The highest reported snowfall total was 8.0 inches in Benson.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Several hours of light freezing rain resulted in accumulations up to 0.15 inch of flat ice across the county. Additional snow accumulations around 2 to 4 inches fell on top of the ice resulted in hazardous travel conditions Saturday into Sunday.
Blizzard Blizzard
An estimated 1 to 3 inches of snow fell across the county with the highest amounts in the eastern portion. Frequent gusts over 50 mph and heavy snowfall rates resulted in several hours of 1/4 mile visibility or less. These conditions resulted in hazardous travel while snow was fa…
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Several hours with wind chill ranging from -44 to -40 observed at KBBB each morning.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The AWOS located at the Benson Municipal Airport recorded several hours of extreme wind chills with a minimum recording of -44 degrees.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Interpolated snowfall analysis from CoCoRaHS reports showed four to six inches of accumulation across the county. The highest snowfall accumulation was six inches in Benson, MN.
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
Delayed report via X with photo attached. Time estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A semi was blown off Highway 29 just north of the Chippewa/Swift County line.
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
Funnel cloud photo submitted on social media. Time estimated via radar.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Multiple bands of snow moved through and produced generally 8 to 10 inches of heavy wet snow and 35 mph wind gusts. A CoCoRaHS observer measured 8.9 inches of snow in Benson, MN.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
CoCoRaHS observers measured three to five inches of snow that fell across the county.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
The ASOS station located at the Benson Municipal Airport recorded a low wind chill of -34 degrees.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The Benson airport observed a wind chill of -40 degrees.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Winds gusted to 38 mph at the Benson airport, with blowing snow and reduced visibilities.
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
A broadcast meteorologist photographed a funnel cloud and shared it on social media. The funnel did not appear to have made ground contact.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Warm environmental temperatures in the mid 90s combined with high dewpoint values in the upper 70s caused high heat indices exceeding 105F for approximately four hours. The AWOS station located in Benson, MN recorded an apparent temperature of 110F at 4:55 PM (CST).
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 | 0 |
| 2025 | 19 | 3 |
| 2024 | 10 | 0 |
| 2023 | 8 | 0 |
| 2022 | 27 | 4 |
| 2021 | 9 | 0 |
| 2020 | 10 | 0 |
| 2019 | 11 | 0 |
| 2018 | 10 | 0 |
| 2017 | 15 | 2 |
| 2016 | 12 | 2 |
| 2015 | 14 | 7 |
| 2014 | 23 | 3 |
| 2013 | 15 | 0 |
| 2012 | 9 | 1 |
| 2011 | 11 | 0 |
| 2010 | 15 | 0 |
| 2009 | 9 | 1 |
| 2008 | 19 | 0 |
| 2007 | 9 | 0 |
| 2006 | 4 | 0 |
| 2005 | 28 | 1 |
| 2004 | 11 | 0 |
| 2003 | 11 | 3 |
| 2002 | 9 | 0 |
| 2001 | 29 | 9 |
| 2000 | 6 | 0 |
| 1999 | 16 | 0 |
| 1998 | 8 | 1 |
| 1997 | 16 | 0 |
| 1996 | 25 | 2 |
| 1995 | 4 | 0 |
| 1994 | 5 | 1 |
| 1992 | 4 | 3 |
| 1991 | 2 | 0 |
| 1990 | 6 | 2 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 |
| 1983 | 5 | 0 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 2 | 0 |
| 1979 | 2 | 1 |
| 1977 | 2 | 1 |
| 1975 | 2 | 1 |
| 1974 | 3 | 0 |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | 2 | 1 |
| 1962 | 2 | 0 |
| 1960 | 1 | 0 |
| 1959 | 1 | 0 |
| 1954 | 1 | 1 |
| 1952 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Swift County, measured to its path.
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