Cook County, Minnesota
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 27031 · population 5,590 · 1,453 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 559 records for Cook County, Minnesota from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 347 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (258 records). 473 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the June 19, 2016 thunderstorm wind: 1 death and 1 injury. FEMA has issued 10 declarations naming the county since 1976, 8 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms and Flooding” on June 28, 2024.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 559on 347 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 45 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $1.6Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 4strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 10latest 2024
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Cook County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 258 since 1996. 46% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. The rank column places the county among Minnesota's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 258 | 168 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $6K | 67 of 87 |
| Extreme cold | 114 | 62 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 59 of 87 |
| Drought | 77 | 40 | 2006-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 22 of 87 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 33 | 22 | 1983-2025 | 1 | 2 | – | 87 of 87 |
| Hail | 25 | 21 | 1984-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 87 of 87 |
| Floods | 21 | 16 | 1999-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | 78 of 87 |
| High wind and dust storms | 17 | 15 | 1999-2026 | 1 | 0 | $123K | 70 of 87 |
| Wildfires | 5 | 5 | 2006-2021 | 0 | 2 | – | 1 of 87 |
| Tornadoes | 4 | 4 | 1991-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 86 of 87 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 1 | $20K | 44 of 87 |
| Rip currents and high surf | 1 | 1 | 2025-2025 | 1 | 0 | – | 3 of 87 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2011-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 64 of 87 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Cook County had?
NOAA records 4 tornadoes in Cook County from 1991 to 2021, the strongest rated EF2, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 4 tornadoes whose track touched Cook County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 4, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Minnesota.
Every tornado record filed for Cook County (4)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-10-10 | Hovland, Cook County | EF2 4 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-06-18 | Marais, Cook County | EFU 0.1 mi x 5 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1992-09-16 | Cook County | F0 1 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-06-09 | Cook County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Cook County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the September 8, 2025 lightning ($20,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-16 | High WindCook County · forecast zone Southern Cook | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-12 | BlizzardCook County · forecast zone Southern Cook | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-12 | Heavy SnowCook County and Lake County · forecast zone Northern Cook / Northern Lake | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-18 | BlizzardCook County · forecast zone Southern Cook | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-18 | Heavy SnowCook County and Lake County · forecast zone Northern Cook / Northern Lake | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-22 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillCook County · forecast zone Southern Cook | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-22 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillCook County and Lake County · forecast zone Northern Cook / Northern Lake | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-19 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillCook County · forecast zone Southern Cook | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-19 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillCook County and Lake County · forecast zone Northern Cook / Northern Lake | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-16 | Heavy SnowCook County and Lake County · forecast zone Northern Cook / Northern Lake | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-04 | Heavy SnowCook County · forecast zone Southern Cook | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-04 | Heavy SnowCook County and Lake County · forecast zone Northern Cook / Northern Lake | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-06-19 | Thunderstorm WindMarais, Cook County A large tree trunk was snapped several feet above ground level and the tree landed on a man and his son who were camping on Duncan Lake. The tree killed the father, Craig Walz, the brother of Minnesota Representative Tim Walz, as well as seriously injuring Craig's son. The son was airlifted to a hospital in Duluth. | 61 kt wind | 1 | 1 | – |
| 1996-08-06 | LightningGrand Marais, Cook County A 12-year-old girl died near Gunflint Lake after being struck by lightning. She and her family were walking back to their cabin and were about 20 yards from the building when the strike occurred. The girl's mother was knocked unconscious and did not have a pulse. She was revived by cardiopulmonary resuscitation and ... | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2025-08-12 | High SurfCook County · forecast zone Southern Cook A man was washed into Lake Superior by a wave on the shore near Solbakken Resort in Lutsen, Minnesota. He was walking along the shore and was knocked over by a large wave and pulled out into Lake Superior and was not moving. His body was recovered by United States Border Patrol who responded to a mutual aid call by ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2020-05-20 | Strong WindCook County and Lake County · forecast zone Northern Cook / Northern Lake A canoe with three people aboard capsized on Tuscarora Lake within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness at around 2PM the afternoon of the 20th. Winds at the time were from the south and gusting to 15 to 20 mph. Water temperatures were also extremely cold. All three occupants were wearing life jackets and two ... | 17 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 2006-07-13 | WildfireCook County and Lake County · forecast zone Northern Cook / Northern Lake Lightning caused a wildfire to breakout two miles south of Seagull Lake on the Gunflint Trail in the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). The fire was eventually called the "Cavity Lake Fire" and has been the largest fire in the area in one hundred years. The fire spread quickly and eventually consumed 31,830 ... | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 2016-06-19 | Thunderstorm WindMarais, Cook County Cook County authorities received a report that a tree fell on a man at Clove Lake, along the Canadian border northwest of Gunflint Lake. The man suffered injuries to his upper body and was transported by ambulance to the hospital in Grand Marais. | 52 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-06-06 | Flash FloodHovland, Cook County | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2025-09-08 | LightningMarais, Cook County | 0 | 0 | $20K | |
| 2025-08-09 | Flash FloodHovland, Cook County | 0 | 0 | $10K | |
| 2025-07-23 | Flash FloodMarais, Cook County | 0 | 0 | $10K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Cook County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 38 | 72 | 74 | 74 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 2 | 20 | 54 | 38 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 26 | 31 | 20 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 12 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 2 | 10 | 8 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
46% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 119 · Feb 76 · Mar 50 · Apr 52 · May 22 · Jun 24 · Jul 33 · Aug 20 · Sep 20 · Oct 20 · Nov 36 · Dec 87 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Cook County
FEMA's register lists 10 declarations that include Cook County: 7 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (4) and flood (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-06-28 | DR-4797 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2022-07-13 | DR-4659 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2020-04-07 | DR-4531 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3453 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2012-07-06 | DR-4069 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2009-04-09 | DR-1830 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2008-06-25 | DR-1772 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3242 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1999-07-28 | DR-1283 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Winds, and Flooding |
| 1976-06-17 | EM-3013 | Drought | Drought |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Cook County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 21 flood or flash flood records for Cook County from 1999 to 2025, on 16 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Cook County ranks 2212th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $64,000 on 15 claims filed in Cook County; the most in one year was 3 in 1994. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1986: 2 · 1987: 1 · 1989: 1 · 1992: 2 · 1994: 3 · 2008: 1 · 2010: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2019: 2; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Cook County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Cook County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $4.5 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $543K | 23 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $343K | once in about 377 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.3M | 18 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $61K | 25 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $513 | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Very Low | $6K | 17 modeled event-days a year |
| Riverine Flooding | Very Low | $2.1M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Coastal Flooding | Very Low | $0 | once in about 56,035,923 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Cook County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in MinnesotaEvery Minnesota tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Winter storms in MinnesotaThe state's winter storm records, by county, year and month
- The Minnesota recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Cook CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Cook County's FEMA declarations (CSV)10 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis