Wadena County, Minnesota
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1959 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
22
Tornado reports
170
Hail reports
14
Floods since 1996
529
All events
0
Deaths
$9.8M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Wadena County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 22 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
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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.
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…
Hail Hail
Report of half dollar size hail.
Hail Hail
Report from mPING of quarter size hail.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public report of estimated wind gust. Also reported half inch half inch hail during same thunderstorm.
Hail Hail
Report of half dollar size hail. Also reported an estimated wind gust of 75 mph.
Hail Hail
Photos received of multiple 2 inch hailstones, with many more around a golf ball in size.
Hail Hail
Report of 2 inch hail, with smaller hail mixed in.
Hail Hail
Report of golf ball size hail, with smaller hail mixed in.
Hail Hail
Report of 2 inch hail.
Hail Hail
Ping pong to golf ball sized hail relayed by broadcast media.
Frost/Freeze Frost/Freeze
A low temperature of 32 was reported at the Verndale, MN DOT site at 4:35 AM CST.
Frost/Freeze Frost/Freeze
A low temperature of 29 was reported by the Verndale, MN DOT site at 5:20 AM CST.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The KADC AWOS at Wadena, MN reported frequent wind chill values -40 or lower from early afternoon on January 22 through the morning of January 23. The lowest wind chill value at this site was -52.
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.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 12 | 0 |
| 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 | 6 | 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 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Wadena County, measured to its path.
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