Wadena storm history
Storm events recorded in Wadena, Minnesota between 1950 and 2025.
514
Total events
22
Tornadoes
162
Hail
14
Floods
0
Deaths
$9.8M
Property damage
Most significant events
Strongest tornadoes, deadliest events, and biggest damage in this county. Up to 50 shown.
This multi-vortex wedge tornado began in Otter Tail County about 3 miles southwest of the city of Wadena at 459 PM CDT. It tracked for about 2 miles in Otter Tail County, then it continued for another 8 miles in Wadena County. The tornado ravaged the western half of the community…
The tornado touched down near the south end of Stocking Lake and tracked north-northeast for nearly 14 miles. It crossed into Hubbard County about 4 miles north-northeast of Menagha by 920 am CDT. It then tracked an additional 9 miles and lifted about 3 miles northeast of Park Ra…
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Measurement of 6.5 inches of snow 3 N of Menahga in far northwest Wadena County at CoCoRaHS station MN WD-11. Other nearby reports in surrounding counties allow us to extrapolate that 50 percent of Wadena County received 6-6.5 inches of snow including along the US 71 corridor nor…
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Wadena observer 1mi NE reported a 7.4 inch storm total.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Large trees snapped.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Large trees snapped SSW of Wadena.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Wadena report of 10.3 inches of snow.
Blizzard Blizzard
Blizzard conditions began at 8am.
High Wind High Wind
Flagpole snapped at base and fell between two vehicles.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Mesonet station MN063 Verndale MN DOT reported a wind chill of minus 47.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Mesonet reported a wind chill of negative 40 degrees.
Drought Drought
D2 drought persisted all month.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Wind and cold air temperatures combined to create excessive cold conditions with apparent temperature as cold as -44F on the morning of the 20th at the Verndale MN DOT sensor.
Drought Drought
Southern Beltrami county was in D2 drought for the entire month of January in 2025.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Received a report of 6 inches of snow, storm total. Report received at 0950 on 12/20 as a delayed report. Wadena, MN.
Drought Drought
Wadena county was in D2 drought for the entire month of December in 2024.
Drought Drought
Portions of Wadena County was in D2 Drought through the entire month of November. Mainly all but the SE corner of the county.
Drought Drought
Wadena county experienced drought for 3 weeks in October. Ongoing at the end of the month.
Hail Hail
Via Facebook, public reports quarter sized hail.
Hail Hail
Law Enforcement reports golf ball sized hail around Staples. Delayed report.
Hail Hail
Golf ball sized hail ongoing in Staples, MN.
Hail Hail
Trained Spotter reports quarter sized hail north of Wadena, MN.
Hail Hail
Facebook report of mostly baseball sized hail, with a few as large as softballs. No stones smaller than golf balls.
Hail Hail
Trained spotter reports 3 inch hail in Wadena. Largest hailstones only lasted 3 minutes, but hail still ongoing at time of report.
Hail Hail
Public reports golf ball sized hail near the Wadena airport, with heavy rain.
Hail Hail
Law Enforcement reports quarter sized hail around Verndale MN.
Hail Hail
Public reports golf ball sized hail north of Verndale, MN.
Hail Hail
Public reports 2.5 inch hail around Wadena.
Hail Hail
Public reports up to 4 inch hail. Mostly ping pong balls but the largest stones were up to softball sized.
Drought Drought
For the month of April, Wadena county was in D2 drought.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
CoCoRaHS 3 N Menahga reports 9.2 inches of storm total snow.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
CoCoRaHS 1 NE Wadena reports 10.2 inches of storm total snow.
Drought Drought
D2 drought persisted through the month of March in eastern Wadena County.
Drought Drought
D2 Drought persisted in far eastern portions of Wadena county through the month of February.
Drought Drought
D2 Drought was in Wadena county for the entire month of January.
Drought Drought
Wadena county remained in D2 drought through December 26th, when it was removed from D2 except a little sliver in eastern Wadena.
Drought Drought
D2 drought detected in Wadena county from November 1st through the 30th.
Drought Drought
D2 drought in Wadena county from October 1st through October 31st.
Drought Drought
Wadena county experienced D2 drought for the entire month of September, with 4 weeks having portions of the county in D3 drought.
Drought Drought
D2 drought continued in Wadena county from July. It continued through the end of the month, and worsened to D3 on August 29th.
Drought Drought
Drought Monitor went to D2 in Wadena county from July 25th through the end of the month.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Public reports 6 inches of snow in Menahga.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
CoCoRaHS station in Wadena reports 6.1 inches of snow.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Public reports 5 inches of snow with 1/4 inch of ice.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
CO-OP Observer in Sebeka reports storm total snow of 8.5 inches.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Storm total snow of 8.5 inches in Sebeka.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Storm total snow of 12 inches in Verndale.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
At 335 PM, Public reports 9.0 inches of storm total snow in Menahga. This snow has been falling since noon on February 28th.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
At 5 PM, Public reports 10.0 inches of storm total snow in Menahga. This snow has been falling since noon on February 28th.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Verndale RWIS reported wind chills below -40F for multiple hours, with the lowest of those being -41F.
Events by year
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | 0 |
| 2024 | 21 | 0 |
| 2023 | 15 | 0 |
| 2022 | 24 | 3 |
| 2021 | 11 | 0 |
| 2020 | 19 | 0 |
| 2019 | 20 | 0 |
| 2018 | 20 | 0 |
| 2017 | 5 | 0 |
| 2016 | 18 | 1 |
| 2015 | 18 | 1 |
| 2014 | 20 | 1 |
| 2013 | 19 | 0 |
| 2012 | 16 | 1 |
| 2011 | 6 | 0 |
| 2010 | 30 | 4 |
| 2009 | 16 | 0 |
| 2008 | 21 | 1 |
| 2007 | 21 | 0 |
| 2006 | 14 | 0 |
| 2005 | 22 | 1 |
| 2004 | 13 | 0 |
| 2003 | 16 | 0 |
| 2002 | 12 | 0 |
| 2001 | 19 | 0 |
| 2000 | 11 | 1 |
| 1999 | 5 | 0 |
| 1998 | 11 | 0 |
| 1997 | 3 | 0 |
| 1996 | 14 | 1 |
| 1991 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 2 | 0 |
| 1986 | 2 | 0 |
| 1985 | 2 | 0 |
| 1984 | 3 | 0 |
| 1983 | 2 | 0 |
| 1980 | 2 | 0 |
| 1978 | 3 | 1 |
| 1977 | 2 | 1 |
| 1975 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 4 | 0 |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 |
| 1969 | 2 | 0 |
| 1968 | 3 | 1 |
| 1967 | 3 | 0 |
| 1966 | 3 | 2 |
| 1964 | 2 | 2 |
| 1962 | 1 | 0 |
| 1959 | 1 | 0 |