Jackson County, Minnesota
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 27063 · population 9,986 · 703 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 696 records for Jackson County, Minnesota from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 530 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (205 records). The deadliest single record is the March 24, 1996 blizzard, filed for the forecast zone Jackson, which covers the county: 1 death and $19,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 18 declarations naming the county since 1965, 16 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
- 696on 530 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 112 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $77Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 21strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 18latest 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 Jackson County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 205 since 1996. 47% 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 | 205 | 204 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 8 | $26M | 11 of 87 |
| Hail | 161 | 96 | 1955-2026 | 0 | 0 | $16M | 35 of 87 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 113 | 74 | 1956-2026 | 0 | 0 | $957K | 54 of 87 |
| Floods | 55 | 45 | 1997-2024 | 0 | 0 | $17M | 13 of 87 |
| High wind and dust storms | 44 | 43 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $377K | 8 of 87 |
| Extreme cold | 40 | 39 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 35 of 87 |
| Drought | 28 | 28 | 1999-2024 | 0 | 0 | $3.1M | 13 of 87 |
| Heat | 21 | 21 | 2011-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 11 of 87 |
| Tornadoes | 21 | 14 | 1971-2013 | 0 | 4 | $14M | 66 of 87 |
| Heavy rain | 4 | 4 | 1998-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | 44 of 87 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 3 | 3 | 2009-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 67 of 87 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2001-2001 | 0 | 0 | $33K | 55 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 Jackson County had?
NOAA records 21 tornadoes in Jackson County from 1971 to 2013, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 4 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 22 tornadoes whose track touched Jackson County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 21: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971-05-31 13:15, as SPC files it | AshtonCrossed IA, MN | F3 | 46.5 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Minnesota.
Every tornado record filed for Jackson County (21)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-05-17 | Miloma, Jackson County | EF0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2012-05-04 | Lakefield, Jackson County | EF0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2012-05-04 | Lakefield, Jackson County | EF0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2012-05-04 | Lakefield, Jackson County | EF0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-09-05 | Lakefield, Jackson County | F0 2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2002-07-10 | Jackson County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-07-20 | Okabena, Jackson County | F0 2 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-08-07 | Lakefield, Jackson County | F1 1 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $171K |
| 2000-08-07 | Bergen, Jackson County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $51K |
| 2000-08-07 | Bergen, Jackson County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $34K |
| 2000-08-07 | Lakefield, Jackson County | F1 2 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $686K |
| 1998-06-27 | Lakefield, Jackson County | F0 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $190K |
| 1994-04-25 | Lakefield, Jackson County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1986-04-26 | Jackson County | F1 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1985-05-30 | Jackson County | F1 20 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 1 | $2.5M step |
| 1984-07-16 | Jackson County | F1 2.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1978-05-27 | Jackson County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1976-06-14 | Jackson County | F2 6.4 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 3 | $250K step |
| 1971-05-31 | Jackson County | F1 2.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1971-05-31 | Jackson County | F1 5.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1971-05-31 | Jackson County | F3 10 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
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 Jackson County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 21, 2024 flood ($334,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
Rainfall amounts across Jackson County from June 20-22 ranged from 4 to 6 inches. Farther north and upstream, 6 to 9 inches of rain fell across portions of southwest Minnesota. This rainfall resulted in widespread overland flooding and major flooding along the West Fork Des Moines River. At peak flooding, the city of Heron Lake became surrounded by flood water, resulting in an evacuation notice for 16 homes. Flood water impacted approximately 120 homes in Heron Lake, one of which was declared destroyed. Municipal crews worked 24/7 to keep water from shutting down the sewer system. In the city of Jackson, a temporary levee was breached on June 22, allowing flood water from the West Fork Des Moines River to inundate the community. Approximately 12 homes were evacuated with many others taking on water or sewage in their basements. …
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1196641)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindSwastika Beach, Jackson County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindBergen, Jackson County | 62 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindLakefield, Jackson County | 54 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindJackson Airport, Jackson County | 63 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindJackson Airport, Jackson County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindBergen, Jackson County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindSwastika Beach, Jackson County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindMiloma, Jackson County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-29 | HeatJackson County · forecast zone Jackson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-17 | HailOkabena, Jackson County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-13 | HailJackson Airport, Jackson County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-13 | HailJackson Airport, Jackson County | 1.00 in hail | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-03-24 | BlizzardJackson County · forecast zone Jackson 3 to 6 inches of snow combined with winds gusting over 50 mph to produce widespread whiteout conditions. The drifting...slippery conditions...and low visibility contributed to people stranded in vehicles and several accidents. A fatality occurred near Heron Lake in Jackson County when a man left his car and died of ... | 1 | 0 | $19K | |
| 2020-02-17 | Winter WeatherJackson County · forecast zone Jackson A brief period of light freezing rain with a few hundredths of an inch precipitation resulted in spotty slick roadways. At 840CST, a vehicle just north of the Iowa-Minnesota state line on Highway 86 lost control on icy roadways, entered the ditch and rolled, resulting in (indirect) injuries to the driver and two ... | 0 | 3 | – | |
| 1976-06-14 | TornadoJackson County | F2 6.4 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 3 | $250K step |
| 2011-11-19 | Winter WeatherJackson County · forecast zone Jackson Light freezing rain and freezing drizzle made roads icy. Accumulations of ice were less than one tenth of an inch. The icy roads led to at least two accidents, one of which caused two injuries. | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 2020-01-12 | Winter WeatherJackson County · forecast zone Jackson Moderate snowfall during the afternoon accumulated to 2.8 inches 2 miles northeast of Lakefield, and resulted in hazardous road conditions. Continued slick roads due to drifting snow resulted in a rollover accident around 0900CST January 14 on State Highway 60 near mile marker 38 that resulted in an (indirect) injury ... | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2019-11-28 | Winter StormJackson County · forecast zone Jackson Winter weather commenced late evening on Thursday, November 28 with a mix of light snow and freezing rain, which produced up to a tenth of an inch ice accumulation before surface temperatures warmed above freezing on the morning of November 30. A narrow band of moderate to heavy snowfall enhanced over the area during ... | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2010-02-07 | Winter WeatherJackson County · forecast zone Jackson Snowfall of 2 to 5 inches over 3 days, and previously existing deep snow cover, resulted in drifting and areas of blowing snow when moderately strong northwest winds developed. Several accidents, including vehicles sliding into ditches, were reported during and after the event, including two people who sustained minor ... | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1985-05-30 | TornadoJackson County | F1 20 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 1 | $2.5M step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-04-09 | Winter StormJackson County · forecast zone Jackson | 0 | 0 | $19M | |
| 2019-06-01 | FloodSpafford, Jackson County | 0 | 0 | $15M | |
| 1995-07-19 | HailJackson County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $5.8M |
| 2000-07-02 | HailOkabena, Jackson County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $3.6M |
| 2001-06-12 | HailSpafford, Jackson County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $3.3M |
| 2019-04-10 | Ice StormJackson County · forecast zone Jackson | 0 | 0 | $3.2M | |
| 2020-07-11 | HailSpafford, Jackson County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.9M |
| 1995-07-21 | HailOkabena/Lakefield, Jackson County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $968K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 30, 1985 (tornado, Jackson County).
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 Jackson 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 | – | – | – | – | 15 | 53 | 93 | 44 |
| Hail | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 20 | 58 | 36 | 37 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 20 | 34 | 25 | 18 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 13 | 33 | 7 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 7 | 11 | 7 | 19 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 1 | 2 | 21 | 16 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
47% 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 72 · Feb 56 · Mar 43 · Apr 72 · May 65 · Jun 119 · Jul 87 · Aug 45 · Sep 17 · Oct 19 · Nov 33 · Dec 68 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Jackson County
FEMA's register lists 18 declarations that include Jackson County: 15 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (7) and severe storm (6).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-06-28 | DR-4797 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2020-04-07 | DR-4531 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3453 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-06-12 | DR-4442 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2018-09-05 | DR-4390 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2014-07-21 | DR-4182 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2013-05-03 | DR-4113 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2010-10-13 | DR-1941 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2007-08-23 | DR-1717 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3242 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1998-06-23 | DR-1225 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 1997-01-16 | DR-1158 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 1997-01-07 | DR-1151 | Severe Storm | Severe Ice Storm |
| 1993-06-11 | DR-993 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1976-06-17 | EM-3013 | Drought | Drought |
| 1969-08-05 | DR-268 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
| 1969-04-18 | DR-255 | Flood | Flooding |
| 1965-04-11 | DR-188 | Flood | Flooding |
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 Jackson County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 55 flood or flash flood records for Jackson County from 1997 to 2024, on 45 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Jackson County ranks 2085th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $366,000 on 20 claims filed in Jackson County; the most in one year was 8 in 2024. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 1 · 1986: 1 · 1993: 2 · 2001: 3 · 2010: 2 · 2011: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2024: 8; 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 Jackson County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Jackson County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $9.8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $197K | 21 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $215K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $750K | 4.7 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $448K | 8.8 modeled event-days a year |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.8M | 12 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.1M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $249K | 3.4 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $577 | once in about 13 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Jackson 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 Jackson CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Jackson County's FEMA declarations (CSV)18 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis