Minnesota Tornado. The history, the touchdowns, destruction, and fatalities.

Tornadoes have always had a presence here, in the state of Minnesota.The history books remember, and have documented plenty of them. It would be very interesting to go back even further, on what has been documented already, to see more of what these destructive storms were capable of. Old Sioux Indian legends claim tornadoes wider than a 3 mile path, in days long past.

Tornadoes were new to many settlers who first arrived out this way, and questions about tornadoes were first brought forth by the early European explorers, to the Native Americans in the region. Since then, or not much after, historical documentation of tornado touchdowns were recorded, in one way, or another. 

That is more so till the mid, to 19th century that documentation began taking place. Prior to that, little mention. That even goes for the Lewis & Clark Expedition, no mention in their journals, and that was also a scientific expedition as well. The odds are greater never encountering one, than seeing one in a lifetime.

Here we'll be discussing Minnesota tornadoes in past years, and be keeping a careful eye on the one's yet to come this 2020 year. We will be documenting yearly from now on, and putting an amateur sky watch group in place. More to come on that, so keep checking back if interested in joining.

Quick Tip. If you're driving in a vehicle, and in the vicinity of a tornado, here is a file to read, and could end up saving your life.  Tornado Driving Safety Tips

                                History Of Minnesota Tornado Reports

First Reported Minnesota Tornado - April 19th, 1820

This is certainly a history lesson on MN tornadoes. First reported sighting, by a government agency, or could say a soldier in uniform. So it's now official. Fort Snelling reported the first sighting. They also kept weather reports, but to limited degrees, and sometime error can be figured in, but they did the best they could, with what they could, and what you knew in those days.

Rochester Tornado - August 21, 1883

This struck with no warning, at about 7 PM. It sounded as if a freight train showed up out of no where and the sound was horrific. This unexpected storm was estimated to be an F5 tornado. It stayed on the ground, and traveling for 25 miles before letting up. Massive damage. 37 dead, over 200 injured, and perhaps many more unreported accounts. Over 135 homes destroyed, livestock lost, and a path of destruction 25 miles long. Perhaps the worst Rochester tornado in the books.

St. Cloud / Sauk Rapids Tornado - April 14th, 1886

The deadliest, and most fatalities. The Minnesota tornado of 1886. This tornado was estimated to be an F4. 72 people lost their life, with 200 injured. This storm is so heart breathtakingly hard to write about, on the horror the town of Sauk Rapids faced that day. Children buried alive calling out for help, mothers, fathers killed while protecting their young ones, and the horrific injuries of those who did survive. The town was wiped off the map, completely destroyed.

Ramsey County Tornado - July 13th, 1890

This tornado was a sad one also, with many deaths reported. I have got conflicting accounts on the number of fatalities, and injuries. Some reports are of 6 deaths, and 30 injured, and some reports mentioned in family history trees, mention up to 26 fatalities. This was also known as the Lake Gervais Tornado.

Minneapolis St Paul Tornado - August 21st, 1904  (Could Have Been Straight Line Winds)

This suspected Minneapolis tornado, caused the death of 14 people. Unknown amount of injuries, but suspected in the hundreds. Some reports differ from others, so information is still being determined. The damage this storm caused, may be the most significant in state history. Much was lost as far as trees, buildings, and homes. The geographical landscape was never quite the same either after this storm.

Tyler MN Tornado - August 21st 1918

This MN Tornado hit the town of Tyler, and is considered the fourth deadliest tornado to touchdown in the state. Debris from the storm, was found over 20 miles away. 36 fatalities were reported, with over 100 injuries. It was estimated it was an F4 class tornado. One of the very few buildings to survive the aftermath, was the town theater, where 100's of people were taking shelter at the time the storm struck. 18 people who were taking refuge in a restaurant, unfortunately did not survive.

Fergus Falls MN Tornado - June 22nd, 1919

The second deadliest storm, in the history of Minnesota. Known as the Fergus Falls tornado, that killed 57 people, injured 100's of others, and some say it could as been as many as 250. It leveled 44 square blocks. Railroad tracks were torn up from the ground, a passenger train thrown off the tracks. It's assumed this was an F5 category tornado. Just the year before, down in Tyler MN., a deadly tornado struck, and that storm was still freshly on their minds, after hearing word of it. This was a very destructive, and deadly tornado. Hopefully one we never see the likes of again.

Austin MN Tornado - August 20th, 1928

The Austin tornado caused 6 fatalities, and with as many as 60 injured. It started on the Iowa border in the county of Freeborn, and worked it's way to Austin. The town really came together after this one, as all communities do in time of crisis. Unknown In Strength

Anoka MN Champlin Tornado - June 18th, 1939

The Anoka / Champlain tornado wreaked a trail of destruction, and also claiming 9 lives, with over 225 injured. It also put an end to the belief, tornadoes won't jump water. The tornado started somewhere around Corcoran MN. Then made it's way through Maple Grove, Brooklyn Park, Champlain, and then jumped the river to Anoka. Unknown in strength.

Mankato MN Tornado - August 17th, 1946

This storm system claimed 11 lives, with over 100 injured. Part of the same storm system that developed tornadoes in Well MN. Some say one, some say twin, and some say multiple tornadoes that day. Regardless, the damage was horrific, and the path of this storm devastating. Multi county damage. Many of you, who have driven on Highway 169, between Mankato, and Minneopa State Park, there use to be a place called "Green Gables Cabins". Every one of the 22 cabins were destroyed. This was back in 1946, and bet it was a beautiful place. The roof of the theater in Wells, lifted right off while people were watching a western. The organization of the communities was really amazing afterwards, and that can't be said enough.

Moorhead - Fargo Tornado - June 20th, 1957

This tornado claimed 10-12 lives, with 103 reported injuries. The Fargo tornado had an F5 rating. The damage caused was devastating. 329 homes destroyed in Fargo alone, with 1035 homes damaged. There were multiple tornadoes in the area that day. I'm assuming the path of this tornado, ventured in to the MN side, or could have been another from the same storm system. Not much is mentioned. Moorhead is just 1 1/2 miles from Fargo. North Dakota gets the credit on this one.

South Central Minnesota Tornadoes - April 30th, 1967

A total of 8 tornadoes touchdown in 1967, with 13 fatalities, and 65 injuries. Three of the tornadoes were classed as F4. This one will always be remembered as Black Sunday. and a terrible sight it was gazing upon the aftermath. Waseca MN suffered the most casualties, along with the communities of Alden, Albert Lea, and Owatonna. with the dark skies, no one saw it coming, and the sirens did not activate, till after it struck Waseca. Traveling vehicles thrown into lakes, to decapitated bodies. Storms of this magnitude, and stronger are known to carry bodies 1/2 mile away. Some of those cases are from the MN tornadoes documented above.

Tracy MN Tornado - June 13th, 1968

The Tracy tornado was a Minnesota  F5 tornado, that caused widespread destruction, with 9 deaths, and 125 injuries. Some reports are conflicting, and could be up to 13 fatalities, and many of the reported injures severe. A farmer gave some early warning to the town, by calling the volunteer fire department, and warning them a tornado was approaching. Hope he got a medal for that, this man saved a lot of lives. There are many who still remember this tornado, and they have some stories to tell.

Outing MN Tornado - August 6th, 1969

With 12 dead, and 70 injured, the Outing Tornado is still remembered today, by those who went through it's destructive force. So many memories to tell on this one, and well documented by the survivors. This tornado was said to be 1 1/2 miles wide. The Outing tornado was an F5. It was an outbreak of tornadoes in the region that day. Ely Mn also had a tornado, which is extremely rare, and many other town up that way, experienced the same thing. Including Tower MN.

Chandler MN Tornado - June 16th, 1992

This is the last F5 Category Tornado in In Minnesota, that left a trail of destruction 25 miles long. Winds exceeding 260 MPH. This was just one of the 27 tornadoes that touched down in the state, and amazingly all in one day. for as powerful as this storm was, only 1 casualty, and 35 injured. 

Comfrey MN Tornado - March 29th, 1998

This is a well remembered tornado, in the southern part of the state. The extensive damage caused to the little town of Comfrey was heart breaking. It was an F4 category, and was also part of the same storm system that made it's way of to St Peter MN, later on in the day, and continued to wreak havoc 18 injuries were reported, with one serious case outside of town. The town has since rebuilt, but the eerie feeling remains.

St Peter MN Tornado - March 29th, 1998

The St. Peter tornado, was just one of many that day in Minnesota. Scores of injuries, and only 1 death reported. Sadly, just a young little boy, who was only 6 years of age. The tornado was unique, due to the fact it appeared as a dark black cloud, that touched the ground. The damage was extensive, for just an F3 size tornado. A mile wide, with 150 MPH winds destroying both homes, and whatever else was in it's path. The beautiful trees that St. Peter was known for, are now gone. The storm uprooted 1000's, of the older trees, and left many more damaged. 600 homes were lost, or nearly destroyed. Many to this day, still discuss the St. Peter tornado, every time going through the town.

Kasota MN Tornado - August 24th, 2006

The Kasota tornado, claimed 1 fatality, with 37 cases of reported injuries. This tornado caused much farm damage as well on it's path. Going through two counties. It clipped the north side of Kasota, damaging dozens of homes, and claims an elderly man in his 90's, as it's victim, when a tree fell through his room, landing on the poor man. It was an F3 tornado, with a path 33 miles long.

Wadena MN Tornado - Including Polk, Otter Tail, and Freeborn County - June 17th, 2010

Winds up to 170 MPH, leaving a trail 10 miles long, and a mile wide path of destruction. This is just one of the many tornadoes that day, and this particular one went right through Wadena. MN. Damaged more than 200 homes, and piked up school buses, and threw them 100's of feet. Significant property damage in the other counties as well. This was a mult-vortex storm system with several funnel clouds. The weakest ones alone were 86 MPH, and the larger ones had an F4 class rating. A total of 48 tornadoes were reported that day. There was 3 fatalities, and 45 injuries reported.

                  MN Tornado Q & A  ( Questions & Answers )

#1 Does Minnesota have tornadoes?

The answer to that question, is YES.

#2 How many tornadoes does Minnesota have a year?

The answer to that question, is about 28 tornadoes a year on average, but you have to remember, that's averaging out the last 70 years, due to the fact that's when these "averages" were put in place around 1950. Minnesota had 113 tornado touchdowns in 2010 alone, a record year of course, and best way of putting it, it all depends. One year, we had the most powerful F5 for the entire U.S. Minnesota Weather is very unpredictable, just as predicting a tornado, and it's averages. They really are not averages, but averages in the making.

The second answer, is

#3 Has Minnesota ever had an F5 tornado?

The answer to that question, is YES. We've had two F5 tornadoes since the 1950, and it's estimated several before that year. The Tracy Tornado 1968, and the Chandler Tornado 1992. Does Minnesota get F5 tornadoes? Absolutely. It's a safe bet, another one is not to far around the corner.