Meeker County, Minnesota
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 27093 · population 23,394 · 608 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 532 records for Meeker County, Minnesota from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 341 days; the most frequent are hail reports (188 records). The most damaging was the June 11, 2001 thunderstorm wind ($21.7 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 11 declarations naming the county since 1965, 9 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms and Flooding” on July 6, 2012.
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
- 532on 341 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 08 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $30Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 26strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 11latest 2020
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 Meeker County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 188 since 1963. 50% of its hail reports since 1963 fell in June and July. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 188 | 101 | 1963-2026 | 0 | 1 | $2.9M | 22 of 87 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 140 | 90 | 1956-2025 | 0 | 6 | $24M | 28 of 87 |
| Winter storms | 101 | 101 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 56 of 87 |
| Extreme cold | 28 | 28 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $26K | 56 of 87 |
| Tornadoes | 26 | 21 | 1963-2020 | 0 | 1 | $2.4M | 34 of 87 |
| Heat | 12 | 12 | 1999-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 33 of 87 |
| Floods | 11 | 10 | 1997-2011 | 0 | 0 | $992K | 67 of 87 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 11 | 11 | 1998-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 20 of 87 |
| High wind and dust storms | 9 | 9 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $14K | 62 of 87 |
| Heavy rain | 5 | 5 | 2005-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 34 of 87 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2011-2011 | 0 | 0 | $20K | 50 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 Meeker County had?
NOAA records 26 tornadoes in Meeker County from 1963 to 2020, the strongest rated EF2, with 0 deaths and 1 injury recorded in the county. That is 34th of 87 Minnesota counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. 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 26 tornadoes whose track touched Meeker County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 26, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Minnesota.
Every tornado record filed for Meeker County (26)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-08-14 | Strout, Meeker County | EF0 0.95 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-08-14 | Crow River, Meeker County | EF0 0.31 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-08-14 | Crow River, Meeker County | EF0 1.97 mi x 85 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2018-08-03 | Grove City, Meeker County | EF0 9.48 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $118K |
| 2016-07-11 | Watkins, Meeker County | EF2 2.09 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2016-07-11 | Litchfield, Meeker County | EF2 3.1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-05-16 | Darwin, Meeker County | EF0 5.02 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $62K |
| 2008-07-11 | Dassel, Meeker County | EF0 0.78 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $274K |
| 2006-09-16 | Darwin, Meeker County | F0 3.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $293K |
| 2003-06-24 | Grove City, Meeker County | F0 0.4 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-06-11 | Litchfield, Meeker County | F1 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-05-07 | Cosmos, Meeker County | F0 0.2 mi x 15 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-06-30 | Kingston, Meeker County | F0 0.5 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-07-01 | Dassel, Meeker County | F0 3 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-07-01 | Grove City, Meeker County | F0 0.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-06-28 | Kingston, Meeker County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-06-27 | Cedar Mills, Meeker County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1994-07-07 | Greenleaf, Meeker County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-06-18 | Meeker County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-05-30 | Meeker County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-05-30 | Meeker County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1978-07-12 | Meeker County | F1 8.5 mi x 90 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1977-07-27 | Meeker County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1969-06-25 | Meeker County | F1 2.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1968-04-20 | Meeker County | F0 0.1 mi x 7 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1963-10-21 | Meeker County | F0 0.2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K 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 Meeker County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 4, 2024 thunderstorm wind (1 injury).
Sheriff's Office reported that a large pole barn had its roof blown off with all sides collapsing, resulting in one injury.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1184939)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-23 | HailCorvuso, Meeker County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-23 | HailRosendale, Meeker County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-23 | HailRosendale, Meeker County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-23 | HailCedar Mills, Meeker County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-01 | Winter WeatherMeeker County · forecast zone Meeker | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-14 | Winter StormMeeker County · forecast zone Meeker | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-12 | High WindMeeker County · forecast zone Meeker | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-06 | Winter WeatherMeeker County · forecast zone Meeker | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-24 | Winter WeatherMeeker County · forecast zone Meeker | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-18 | Winter StormMeeker County · forecast zone Meeker | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-22 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillMeeker County · forecast zone Meeker | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-28 | Winter StormMeeker County · forecast zone Meeker | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-09-03 | Thunderstorm WindLitchfield, Meeker County Fire and rescue officials reported that high winds overturned a trailer camper at Lake Ripley Campground. Three people were pined inside and were transported to the hospital after rescue. A woman and a man in the trailer suffered minor injuries and the third victim, a retired police officer, suffered cracked ribs and ... | 52 kt wind | 0 | 3 | – |
| 2017-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindKingston, Meeker County There were 18 inch diameter trees fallen on the highway. In addition, the Minnesota State Patrol reported two people were hurt when wind gusts flipped a pickup and camper as the driver was moving onto the shoulder on a county road in Meeker County. They were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. | 56 kt wind | 0 | 2 | – |
| 2024-06-04 | Thunderstorm WindGreenleaf, Meeker County Sheriff's Office reported that a large pole barn had its roof blown off with all sides collapsing, resulting in one injury. | 55 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2016-07-11 | TornadoWatkins, Meeker County The tornado near Watkins was also rated an EF-2 with peak winds of 125 mph. It had a maximum width of 400 yards and traveled approximately 2.1 miles. One injury occurred with this tornado. The first significant damage was to a business along Highway 55 on the south side of town. The tornado then tracked across the ... | EF2 2.09 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2011-07-01 | HailDassel, Meeker County In addition, a driver was injured when hail the size of a baseball hit his vehicle's windshield. | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 1 | $656 |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindGrove City, Meeker County | 80 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $22M |
| 2005-09-21 | HailDassel, Meeker County | 3.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.2M |
| 2003-06-24 | Thunderstorm WindCosmos, Meeker County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $802K |
| 1997-06-22 | HailCosmos, Meeker County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $735K |
| 2010-07-17 | HailKingston, Meeker County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $711K |
| 2012-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindGrove City, Meeker County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $643K |
| 2001-04-22 | Flash FloodCountywide, Meeker County | 0 | 0 | $500K | |
| 2002-06-25 | Flash FloodCountywide, Meeker County | 0 | 0 | $328K |
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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 12, 1978 (tornado, Meeker 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 Meeker 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 36 | 78 | 43 | 20 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 4 | 11 | 22 | 25 | 29 | 33 | 15 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 11 | 29 | 33 | 28 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 5 | 3 | 11 | 9 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
50% of its hail reports since 1963 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 28 · Feb 31 · Mar 28 · Apr 42 · May 46 · Jun 113 · Jul 97 · Aug 61 · Sep 42 · Oct 7 · Nov 11 · Dec 26 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Meeker County
FEMA's register lists 11 declarations that include Meeker County: 8 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (4) and flood (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2011-07-28 | DR-4009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3242 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2001-05-16 | DR-1370 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 1997-01-16 | DR-1158 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 1993-06-11 | DR-993 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1976-06-17 | EM-3013 | Drought | Drought |
| 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 Meeker County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 11 flood or flash flood records for Meeker County from 1997 to 2011, on 10 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Meeker County ranks 2523rd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $142,000 on 6 claims filed in Meeker County; the most in one year was 2 in 1984. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1984: 2 · 2002: 1 · 2003: 1 · 2010: 1 · 2018: 1; 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 Meeker County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Meeker County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $11.9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $1.3M | 3.9 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $131K | 18 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $800K | 5.9 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.7M | 12 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.6M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $124K | 9.2 modeled event-days a year |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $364K | 3.5 modeled event-days a year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $5.7M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Meeker 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
- Hail in MinnesotaThe state's hail reports, 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 Meeker CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Meeker County's FEMA declarations (CSV)11 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis