Steele County, Minnesota
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 27147 · population 37,400 · 430 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 420 records for Steele County, Minnesota from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 340 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (124 records). The most damaging was the September 23, 2010 flood ($38.4 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 17 declarations naming the county since 1965, 15 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
- 420on 340 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 01 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $535Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 28strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 17latest 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 Steele County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 124 since 1996. 51% 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 | 124 | 124 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 12 of 87 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 86 | 67 | 1957-2025 | 0 | 0 | $9.5M | 20 of 87 |
| Hail | 80 | 60 | 1965-2026 | 0 | 0 | $995 | 31 of 87 |
| Floods | 29 | 24 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $71M | 17 of 87 |
| Tornadoes | 28 | 20 | 1962-2021 | 0 | 1 | $454M | 10 of 87 |
| Extreme cold | 23 | 22 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $26K | 44 of 87 |
| High wind and dust storms | 17 | 17 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $6K | 17 of 87 |
| Heat | 11 | 11 | 1999-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 21 of 87 |
| Heavy rain | 11 | 10 | 2004-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 of 87 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 10 | 8 | 1997-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 17 of 87 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2006-2006 | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | 38 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 Steele County had?
NOAA records 28 tornadoes in Steele County from 1962 to 2021, the strongest rated F4, with 0 deaths and 1 injury recorded in the county. That is 10th 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 28 tornadoes whose track touched Steele County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 28, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 5 people, 0 of them in Steele County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967-04-30 18:23, as SPC files it | Albert Lea to Owatonna | F4 | 38.7 mi | 5 |
| 2010-06-17 18:05, as SPC files it | Manchester | EF3 | 18.15 mi | 0 |
| 2010-06-17 19:10, as SPC files it | Blooming Prairie | EF3 | 4.32 mi | 0 |
| 1982-05-17 15:02, as SPC files it | Glenville to Hollandale | F3 | 46 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Minnesota.
Every tornado record filed for Steele County (28)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-12-15 | Blooming Prairie, Steele County | EF0 6.42 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $114K |
| 2021-05-19 | Medford, Steele County | EF0 0.8 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-08-13 | Lemond, Steele County | EF0 5.89 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2019-06-17 | Owatonna, Steele County | EF0 0.02 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2018-09-20 | Meriden, Steele County | EF1 8.12 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2018-09-20 | Meriden, Steele County | EF1 7.22 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-03-06 | Ellendale, Steele County | EF0 2.21 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-06-17 | Blooming Prairie, Steele County | EF2 2.49 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2010-06-17 | Blooming Prairie, Steele County | EF0 0.64 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-06-17 | Blooming Prairie, Steele County | EF3 4.32 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-06-17 | Ellendale, Steele County | EF1 5.68 mi x 600 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-06-17 | Ellendale, Steele County | EF2 7.04 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-07-18 | Medford, Steele County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-05-01 | Hope, Steele County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-08-09 | Merton, Steele County | F0 1.5 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-07-20 | Blooming Prairie, Steele County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-09-06 | Clinton Falls, Steele County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-09-06 | Morristown, Steele County | F0 3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-05-24 | Steele County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1984-07-16 | Steele County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1984-06-07 | Steele County | F1 2 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1982-05-17 | Steele County | F3 10 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1982-05-17 | Steele County | F3 16 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1973-07-23 | Steele County | F0 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1968-05-15 | Steele County | F1 15.3 mi x 27 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1967-04-30 | Steele County | F4 17 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25M step |
| 1967-04-30 | Steele County | F1 0.2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25M step |
| 1962-05-22 | Steele County | F1 8 mi x 33 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 Steele County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the December 15, 2021 tornado ($114,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
A narrow path of mostly tree damage was found just to the west of SE 89th Ave. An irrigation system was overturned, some farm outbuildings were damaged, and a small shed was tossed.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 994708)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-07 | Flash FloodSteele Center, Steele County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-07 | Flash FloodBlooming Prairie, Steele County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-13 | HailHavana, Steele County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-13 | HailMeriden, Steele County | 3.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-13 | HailOwatonna, Steele County | 2.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-13 | HailOwatonna, Steele County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-15 | BlizzardSteele County · forecast zone Steele | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-12 | High WindSteele County · forecast zone Steele | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-28 | Winter WeatherSteele County · forecast zone Steele | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-18 | Winter WeatherSteele County · forecast zone Steele | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-22 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillSteele County · forecast zone Steele | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-16 | Winter WeatherSteele County · forecast zone Steele | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-06-17 | TornadoBlooming Prairie, Steele County This EF-2 tornado touched down and tracked east-northeast, and soon crossed the path of the Blooming Prairie EF-3 that had moved north-northeast about 10 minutes earlier. A manufactured home was obliterated by the EF-2. A woman inside the home was blown about 20 feet, but was found under debris, rescued by law ... | EF2 2.49 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-09-23 | FloodEllendale, Steele County | 0 | 0 | $38M | |
| 2004-09-14 | FloodSteele County · forecast zone Steele | 0 | 0 | $21M | |
| 1996-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindOwatonna, Steele County | 0 | 0 | $9.4M | |
| 2007-10-01 | Flash FloodOwatonna, Steele County | 0 | 0 | $4.3M | |
| 2007-08-18 | Flash FloodOwatonna, Steele County | 0 | 0 | $3.6M | |
| 2014-06-18 | FloodOwatonna Airport, Steele County | 0 | 0 | $3.0M | |
| 2006-06-06 | LightningHavana, Steele County | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | |
| 2006-06-09 | Flash FloodOwatonna, Steele County | 0 | 0 | $732K |
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 $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 30, 1967 (tornado, Steele County); April 30, 1967 (tornado, Steele 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 Steele 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 | – | – | – | – | 19 | 33 | 39 | 33 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 22 | 27 | 5 |
| Hail | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 27 | 12 | 21 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 11 | 10 | 6 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 2 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 5 | 3 | 8 | 7 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
51% 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 48 · Feb 28 · Mar 32 · Apr 31 · May 36 · Jun 72 · Jul 54 · Aug 35 · Sep 29 · Oct 10 · Nov 11 · Dec 34 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Steele County
FEMA's register lists 17 declarations that include Steele County: 14 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (6) 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 |
| 2016-11-02 | DR-4290 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2014-07-21 | DR-4182 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2010-10-13 | DR-1941 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2010-07-02 | DR-1921 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2007-08-23 | DR-1717 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3242 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-10-07 | DR-1569 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1997-01-16 | DR-1158 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 1996-06-01 | DR-1116 | Flood | Flooding and Severe Storms |
| 1993-06-11 | DR-993 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1991-12-26 | DR-929 | Severe Ice Storm | Ice Storm |
| 1976-06-17 | EM-3013 | Drought | Drought |
| 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 Steele County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 29 flood or flash flood records for Steele County from 1997 to 2026, on 24 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Steele County ranks 1360th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.0 million on 90 claims filed in Steele County; the most in one year was 53 in 2010. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 2 · 1981: 1 · 1983: 2 · 1991: 1 · 1999: 1 · 2000: 1 · 2001: 2 · 2004: 4 · 2007: 2 · 2010: 53 · 2014: 3 · 2016: 13 · 2019: 3 · 2024: 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 Steele County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Steele County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $21.6 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 | $2.4M | 4.1 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $1.4M | 5.1 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $4.8M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $696K | 14 modeled event-days a year |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $2.1M | 10 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $96K | 20 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $9.7M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $636 | once in about 19 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Steele 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 Steele CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Steele County's FEMA declarations (CSV)17 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis