Pipestone County, Minnesota
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 27117 · population 9,414 · 465 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 673 records for Pipestone County, Minnesota from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 510 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (204 records). 337 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 December 9, 2023 strong wind, filed for the forecast zone Pipestone, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 14 declarations naming the county since 1969, 12 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
- 673on 510 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 10 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $77Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 15strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 14latest 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 Pipestone County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 204 since 1996. 44% 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 | 204 | 203 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $4.9M | 2 of 87 |
| Hail | 138 | 73 | 1955-2026 | 0 | 0 | $11M | 26 of 87 |
| Floods | 91 | 57 | 1997-2024 | 0 | 0 | $18M | 2 of 87 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 89 | 69 | 1955-2025 | 0 | 0 | $260K | 27 of 87 |
| High wind and dust storms | 39 | 39 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $178K | 2 of 87 |
| Extreme cold | 38 | 37 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 11 of 87 |
| Drought | 35 | 35 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $23M | 2 of 87 |
| Heat | 17 | 17 | 2011-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 of 87 |
| Tornadoes | 15 | 14 | 1966-2022 | 0 | 0 | $20M | 43 of 87 |
| Heavy rain | 4 | 4 | 1997-2018 | 0 | 0 | $18K | 32 of 87 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 1996-2011 | 0 | 0 | $34K | 17 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 Pipestone County had?
NOAA records 15 tornadoes in Pipestone County from 1966 to 2022, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 43rd 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 15 tornadoes whose track touched Pipestone County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 15, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985-04-20 20:19, as SPC files it | Edgerton to Lake Wilson | F3 | 8 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Minnesota.
Every tornado record filed for Pipestone County (15)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-05-30 | Ihlen, Pipestone County | EFU 0.38 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-06-11 | Pipestone County | EF0 0.08 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-06-14 | Pipestone Airport, Pipestone County | EF0 3.78 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-06-03 | Cazenovia, Pipestone County | EF0 0.05 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-07-01 | Ruthton, Pipestone County | EF1 0.95 mi x 220 yd | 0 | 0 | $66K |
| 2005-06-20 | Ihlen, Pipestone County | F0 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-07-26 | Pipestone County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1993-05-07 | Pipestone County | F2 8 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $10M |
| 1992-06-16 | Pipestone County | F1 0.5 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1985-04-20 | Pipestone County | F3 0.8 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1979-06-16 | Pipestone County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1979-06-16 | Pipestone County | F1 0.3 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1971-05-31 | Pipestone County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1969-06-25 | Pipestone County | F2 17 mi x 120 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1966-06-05 | Pipestone County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $3K 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 Pipestone County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the December 9, 2023 strong wind (1 death).
Sustained winds were frequently from 30 to 35 mph with gusts measured as high as 49 mph at Minnesota Road Weather Information System site MN154 near Trosky.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1151913)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-29 | HeatPipestone County · forecast zone Pipestone | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtPipestone County · forecast zone Pipestone | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-24 | HailWoodstock, Pipestone County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-24 | HailPipestone County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtPipestone County · forecast zone Pipestone | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtPipestone County · forecast zone Pipestone | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-31 | DroughtPipestone County · forecast zone Pipestone | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-28 | High WindPipestone County · forecast zone Pipestone | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-15 | High WindPipestone County · forecast zone Pipestone | 37 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-15 | BlizzardPipestone County · forecast zone Pipestone | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-12 | High WindPipestone County · forecast zone Pipestone | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-18 | High WindPipestone County · forecast zone Pipestone | 40 kt wind | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-12-09 | Strong WindPipestone County · forecast zone Pipestone Sustained winds were frequently from 30 to 35 mph with gusts measured as high as 49 mph at Minnesota Road Weather Information System site MN154 near Trosky. | 43 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-06-01 | FloodIhlen, Pipestone County | 0 | 0 | $15M | |
| 2023-10-01 | DroughtPipestone County · forecast zone Pipestone | 0 | 0 | $14M | |
| 1993-05-07 | TornadoPipestone County | F2 8 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $10M |
| 1997-06-22 | HailPipestone County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $9.4M |
| 2022-09-20 | DroughtPipestone County · forecast zone Pipestone | 0 | 0 | $7.7M | |
| 1996-11-14 | Ice StormPipestone County · forecast zone Pipestone | 0 | 0 | $2.8M | |
| 2013-04-09 | Winter StormPipestone County · forecast zone Pipestone | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2019-03-13 | FloodIhlen, Pipestone County | 0 | 0 | $888K |
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: April 20, 1985 (tornado, Pipestone 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 Pipestone 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 | – | – | – | – | 16 | 52 | 89 | 47 |
| Hail | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 16 | 53 | 32 | 23 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 5 | 72 | 12 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 2 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 18 | 15 | 22 | 19 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 8 | 6 | 4 | 21 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 1 | 2 | 19 | 16 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
44% 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 63 · Feb 55 · Mar 54 · Apr 62 · May 66 · Jun 105 · Jul 75 · Aug 39 · Sep 36 · Oct 19 · Nov 31 · Dec 68 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Pipestone County
FEMA's register lists 14 declarations that include Pipestone County: 11 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (5) and severe storm (5).
| 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 |
| 2011-07-28 | DR-4009 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 2010-10-13 | DR-1941 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3242 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 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 |
| 1969-04-18 | DR-255 | 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 Pipestone County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 91 flood or flash flood records for Pipestone County from 1997 to 2024, on 57 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Pipestone County ranks 2155th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $357,000 on 17 claims filed in Pipestone County; the most in one year was 10 in 2010. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1993: 2 · 2010: 10 · 2012: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 3; 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 Pipestone County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Pipestone County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $7.8 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 | $216K | 21 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $580K | 11 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $765K | 5.3 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $129K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.3M | 12 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $317K | 3.4 modeled event-days a year |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.0M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $435K | 3.7 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Pipestone 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 Pipestone CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Pipestone County's FEMA declarations (CSV)14 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis