Pine County, Minnesota
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 27115 · population 28,831 · 1,411 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 534 records for Pine County, Minnesota from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 322 days; the most frequent are hail reports (191 records). The deadliest single record is the December 31, 2006 winter storm, filed for the forecast zone Pine, which covers the county: 1 death and 4 injuries. FEMA has issued 15 declarations naming the county since 1965, 13 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms and Flooding” on July 19, 2023.
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
- 534on 322 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 27 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $4.1Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 13strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 15latest 2023
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 Pine County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 191 since 1956. 55% of its hail reports since 1956 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 | 191 | 97 | 1956-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 77 of 87 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 148 | 79 | 1965-2026 | 0 | 1 | $1.1M | 78 of 87 |
| Winter storms | 98 | 95 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 4 | – | 79 of 87 |
| Drought | 35 | 35 | 2006-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 24 of 87 |
| Floods | 23 | 14 | 1997-2019 | 0 | 0 | $2.4M | 79 of 87 |
| Extreme cold | 21 | 21 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 87 of 87 |
| Tornadoes | 13 | 11 | 1968-2022 | 0 | 2 | $643K | 82 of 87 |
| Heat | 2 | 2 | 2011-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 76 of 87 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 2013-2020 | 1 | 0 | $6K | 56 of 87 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2011-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 63 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 Pine County had?
NOAA records 13 tornadoes in Pine County from 1968 to 2022, the strongest rated EF2, with 0 deaths and 2 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 14 tornadoes whose track touched Pine County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 13: 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.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Minnesota.
Every tornado record filed for Pine County (13)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-07-11 | Nickerson, Pine County | EF1 4.63 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-05-30 | Hinckley, Pine County | EF1 3.3 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-07-14 | Cloverdale, Pine County | EF0 0.25 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-06-17 | Rock Creek, Pine County | EF2 6.67 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 2 | $383K |
| 2005-06-11 | Askov, Pine County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-06-11 | Hinckley, Pine County | F1 6 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-06-11 | Rock Creek, Pine County | F0 8 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-07-01 | Pine City, Pine County | F0 4 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1994-06-27 | Hinckley, Pine County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $100 |
| 1989-06-12 | Pine County | F0 8 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1986-07-05 | Pine County | F0 1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1970-07-07 | Pine County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1968-06-30 | Pine County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 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 Pine County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the August 26, 2013 lightning (1 death).
The Pine County Sheriff reported that a male was struck by lightning about 4 miles east-southeast of Sturgeon Lake, MN on Alder Loop in a development called Hogan's Acres. The individual passed away from his injuries after being taken by ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Moose Lake, MN. The investigation showed that the 53 year old male victim was standing in a large puddle of water near a tree when the tree and victim were struck by lightning.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 474795)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-19 | HailGreely, Pine County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-10 | HailAskov, Pine County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-05 | Thunderstorm WindMission Creek, Pine County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-02 | Heavy SnowPine County · forecast zone Pine | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtPine County · forecast zone Pine | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-14 | Heavy SnowPine County · forecast zone Pine | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-12 | Heavy SnowPine County · forecast zone Pine | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtPine County · forecast zone Pine | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-17 | Heavy SnowPine County · forecast zone Pine | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | DroughtPine County · forecast zone Pine | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-22 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillPine County · forecast zone Pine | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-01 | DroughtPine County · forecast zone Pine | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-12-31 | Winter StormPine County · forecast zone Pine Rain changed to snow during the early afternoon hours of the 31st. The snow ended right at midnight as the new year began. The heaviest totals occured in western Pine County, where 6 to 8 inches fell. Bruno reported 7 inches, while the Hinckley area got 3.7 inches. | 1 | 4 | – | |
| 2013-08-26 | LightningSturgeon Lake, Pine County The Pine County Sheriff reported that a male was struck by lightning about 4 miles east-southeast of Sturgeon Lake, MN on Alder Loop in a development called Hogan's Acres. The individual passed away from his injuries after being taken by ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Moose Lake, MN. The investigation showed that the ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2010-06-17 | TornadoRock Creek, Pine County The severe storm that produced the tornado tracked northeast along the Saint Croix River Valley on the Minnesota-Wisconsin state border. Although the tornado crossed through mostly recreational land, residents between Rush City and Rock Creek in MN, as well as Grantsburg to Yellow Lake in WI were impacted. The maximum ... | EF2 6.67 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 2 | $383K |
| 1986-04-25 | Thunderstorm WindPine County | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-04-06 | FloodPine County · forecast zone Pine | 0 | 0 | $2.3M | |
| 2010-06-17 | TornadoRock Creek, Pine County | EF2 6.67 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 2 | $383K |
| 2005-08-09 | Thunderstorm WindSturgeon Lake, Pine County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $302K |
| 1994-06-27 | TornadoHinckley, Pine County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $100 |
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 $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 7, 1970 (tornado, Pine County); July 5, 1986 (tornado, Pine 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 Pine 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 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 19 | 50 | 60 | 49 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 1 | 6 | 15 | 22 | 27 | 43 | 34 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 10 | 29 | 34 | 25 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 12 | 7 | 16 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 2 | 20 | 0 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 1 | 6 | 9 | 5 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
55% of its hail reports since 1956 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 26 · Feb 30 · Mar 23 · Apr 27 · May 49 · Jun 77 · Jul 138 · Aug 71 · Sep 41 · Oct 8 · Nov 15 · Dec 29 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Pine County
FEMA's register lists 15 declarations that include Pine County: 11 major disasters, 3 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for flood (7) and severe storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-07-19 | DR-4722 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2022-08-09 | DR-4666 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2020-04-07 | DR-4531 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3453 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-09-05 | DR-4390 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 2000-10-20 | FM-2345 | Fire | Mn - Carlos Edge Fire Complex - 10/19/2000 |
| 1976-06-17 | EM-3013 | Drought | Drought |
| 1972-08-25 | DR-350 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1972-08-01 | DR-347 | Flood | Severe Storms & 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 Pine County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 23 flood or flash flood records for Pine County from 1997 to 2019, on 14 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Pine County ranks 1569th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.4 million on 60 claims filed in Pine County; the most in one year was 22 in 2016. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1986: 1 · 1997: 3 · 2001: 8 · 2005: 1 · 2009: 1 · 2010: 4 · 2011: 1 · 2012: 5 · 2014: 4 · 2016: 22 · 2019: 1 · 2023: 9; 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 Pine County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Pine County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $21.5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $6.0M | 11 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $721K | 2.9 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $510K | 31 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $12M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $120K | once in about 1,940 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.3M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $73K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $271K | 1.8 modeled event-days a year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Pine 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 Pine CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Pine County's FEMA declarations (CSV)15 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis