Olmsted County, MN Tornadoes

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Background Information	Statistics (1850-Present)	Records (1850-Present)

Olmsted County (MN) Tornadoes*
1850-2020

Date			Time	Location	Other Counties Affected	Length (miles)	Width (yards)	Deaths**	Injuries**	EF-Scale
Month	Day	Year	Time	Location	Other Counties Affected	Length (miles)	Width (yards)	Deaths**	Injuries**	EF-Scale
6	4	2019	16:48-16:52 CST	Rochester 3.2SSW to Rochester 3.6SSW	None	1.25	75	0	0	EF1
			A short-lived tornado moved through the southwest portions of Rochester. The roof of one home was partially removed and numerous trees were damaged along the path of the tornado. This tornado caused $40,000 in property damage. More on this tornado can be found at: http://www.weather.gov/arx/jun0419
7	19	2017	1607-1608 CST	Chester 1.6ESE to Chester 2.3ESE	None	0.77	25	0	0	EF1
			An EF-1 tornado touched down southeast of Rochester and produced intermittent damage as it moved east through Chester Woods Park. Extensive tree damage occurred along parts of the short path in the wooded areas of the park. The park superintendent estimated between 4 and 10 acres of trees were flattened in the park. Near the park's beach, downed trees landed on the beach house and a fence. More on this tornado can be found at: https://www.weather.gov/arx/jul1917
6	28	2017	18:07-1812 CST	Chester 2E to Chester 2.3E	None	0.48	25	0	0	EF0
			An EF-0 tornado touched down in Chester Woods Park east of Chester and then traveled northeast for about a half mile. The tornado did some minor tree damage along its path. This tornado caused $3,000 in property damage. More on this tornado can be found at: https://www.weather.gov/arx/jun2817
6	28	2017	17:42-17:44 CST	Dover 2.1NNE to Dover 2.3N	None	0.42	25	0	0	EF0
			An EF-0 tornado touched down north of Dover and then traveled southeast for about a half-mile. The tornado damaged some corn and trees. This tornado caused $5,000 in property damage. More on this tornado can be found at: https://www.weather.gov/arx/jun2817
6	28	2017	17:22 CST	Viola 2WSW	None	0.01	25	0	0	EF0
			An EF-0 tornado briefly touched down southwest of Viola. Little to no damage was reported with the tornado. More on this tornado can be found at: https://www.weather.gov/arx/jun2817
8	13	2010	1640 CST	Rock Dell 0.7S	None	0.02	25	0	0	EF0
			No damage was found after the tornado touched down briefly in a field.
6	17	2010	2003-2010 CST	Douglas 9 WNW to Rochester 3.7NNW	None	2.38	150	0	0	EF1
			An EF1 tornado produced intermittent damage starting near 50th Ave NW just south of the Northern Hills Golf Course northeast almost to the intersection of 55th St NW and 23rd Ave NW in the city of Rochester. The path of the tornado took it through a residential area where several homes were damaged. It also struck a Menards store doing extensive damage before dissipating a few minutes later. According to media reports, the tornado damaged at least 30 homes, one of which was destroyed. This tornado was the first to occur within the Rochester city limits since August 1995. (Property Damage: $1.9 million)
5	1	2001	1906-1908 CST	Stewartville 5E to Stewartville 6E	None	1	50	0	0	F0
			This brief tornado touched down in a field.
6	24	1998	2033-2036 CST	Byron 2S	None	0.2	50	0	0	F0
			This brief touchdown occurred in a cornfield.
5	15	1998	1600-1612 CST	Eyota 2NW to Viola 3N	None	8	75	0	0	F1
			This tornado formed very quickly, moved north along Highway 42, and damaged several farms and trees before lifting along the Olmsted-Wabasha County line just south of Elgin (Wabasha Co.)
8	13	1995	2220 CST	Rochester 1SW	None	3	20	0	0	F0
			This brief touchdown resulted in extensive damage to an office plaza roof. Several large trees were uprooted and power lines knocked down.
6	8	1993	1408 CST	Dover	None	0.2	5	0	0	F0
			Brief touchdown without damage.
6	8	1993	1328 CST	Pleasant Grove	None	0.1	10	0	0	F0
			Brief touchdown without damage.
6	7	1984	1915 CST	Douglas 3E	None	1	50	0	0	F1
			A tornado touched down at a farm site and moved north. The tornado ripped one barn apart and scattered debris for 300 yards. A second barn was lifted from its foundation and destroyed. Trees were uprooted at the farm site and debris was found twisted.
5	17	1982	1645 CST	Kalmar Township	None	4	8	0	0	F0
			This tornado northwest of Rochester lifted off the ground repeatedly and was accompanied by 1/4 inch hail that caused crop damage.
5	17	1982	1632-1715 CST	Chatfield (MN) to Buffalo City	Buffalo (WI) Wabasha Winona	29	800	0	3	F2
			This tornado originally touched down near Chatfield (Olmsted Co.) and moved northeast through sections of Winona and Wabasha Counties in southeast Minnesota before crossing into western Wisconsin. Eleven barns were destroyed, 12 homes were damaged, and three people were injured from flying glass. All 3 people injured were in Buffalo County.
4	29	1981	1530 CST	?	None	?	?	0	0	F0
4	29	1981	1528 CST	?	None	?	?	0	0	F0
4	29	1981	1455 CST	Pine Island 1.5S	None	3	100	0	2	F2
			Several homes and two silos were destroyed, barns demolished, outbuildings shattered and farm machinery strewn about. Livestock was killed.
6	5	1980	1954 CST	?	None	?	?	0	0	F1
7	3	1979	1550 CST	Simpson 1N	None	0.5	100	0	0	F2
			There was extensive damage to four farms and transmission towers.
6	18	1974	1730 CST	?	None	?	?	0	2	F1
6	9	1974	1457 CST	?	None	?	?	0	0	F1
9	26	1973	0530 CST	Eyota 1E	None	2	50	0	1	F1
			Tornado moved northeasterly on a well-defined path remaining near the ground to 20 to 30 feet above the ground. Three farms incurred damage to buildings and trees. One minor injury occurred when a teenage boy was sucked out of a barn.
6	7	1971	1630 CST	?	None	?	?	0	0	F0
6	7	1971	1630 CST	?	None	?	?	0	0	F0
4	30	1967	2010 CST	Marion to Eyota 1NE	None	8	?	0	0	F2
			A trailer and a barn were destroyed.
6	25	1966	1625 CST	?	None	?	?	0	0	F0
5	25	1964	1900 CST	?	None	?	?	0	0	F0
4	13	1964	0300 CST	?	None	?	?	0	0	F2
10	4	1962	1550 CST	?	None	?	?	0	0	F0
9	16	1962	0416 CST	Pleasant Grove 2W to Pleasant Grove 2NNE	None	4	35	0	0	F2
			Five barns were destroyed and two homes damaged from this northeast moving tornado.
9	16	1962	0410 CST	Rochester 4SE	None	1	75	0	34	F4
			This brief touchdown level four homes and destroyed seven others. Damage estimates were $200,000.
6	17	1962	1720 CST	?	None	?	?	0	0	F1
5	22	1962	1800 CST	?	None	?	?	0	0	F2
5	22	1962	1800 CST	?	None	?	?	0	0	F0
6	30	1956	1300 CST	?	None	?	?	0	0	F0
5	10	1953	1715-1810 CST	Chester 5SW to Chatfield 4NE	Fillmore Howard (IA)	40	400	1	8	F4
			Eleven farms were heavily damaged in northern Iowa before this tornado crossed into Fillmore County. Twenty barns were damaged or destroyed in Minnesota and one man was killed as his barn was destroyed 1 mile southeast of Wykoff. A rural school was leveled 3 miles south of Chatfield as well. The only death occurred in Olmsted County. Six injuries occurred in Olmsted County and 2 injuries in Howard County.
5	10	1953	1810-1820 CST	St. Charles 2NW	Winona	18	400	1	11	F4
			This tornado moved northeast and passed about 2 miles northwest of St.Charles (Winona Co.). Farms were torn up all along the track. An infant was killed (Olmsted County) and 4 other people were injured in a car that was thrown 100 feet, about 1.5 miles west of St.Charles. Four more injuries occurred in a barn, and three more in another car. Hundreds of trees were snapped at Whitewater State Park. Overall this tornado killed one person (Olmsted County) and injured 11 people (6 in Olmsted and 5 in Winona).
4	23	1948	1710 CST	Rochester 5NE	None	5	200	0	9	F2
			Barns, silos, windmills, and machinery were destroyed on four farms as this tornado tracked north.
7	27	1935	1715 CST	Chatfield 2S to Lewiston 3N	Fillmore Winona	20	?	0	8	F2
			This tornado moved northeast, accompanied by a five-mile-wide downburst. Every home was damaged at Utica (Winona Co.) and barns were swept away on at least 4 farms. Wind-related damage totaled $350,000, with flooding also causing damage.
10	3	1903	1350 CST	Chatfield 3W to Independence (WI)	Buffalo (WI) Trempealeau (WI) Winona	55	300	9	45	F4
			This tornado moved northeast from west of Chatfield (Olmsted County), passing through and devastating St.Charles (Winona County). Seven people were killed and 30 injured as 50 homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed. Homes were also swept away in Wisconsin, where two people died in Independence (Trempealeau Co.) and half of the town was torn apart. Damage for both states totaled $400,000.
9	21	1894	2300 CST	Laird Station (3 miles south Eyota)	None	4	?	0	0	F2
			The railroad depot was destroyed at Laird Station (3 miles south Eyota). Seven farms were hit in the area and barns were destroyed on three of them.
7	8	1885	1830 CST	Rochester 4S	None	4	50	0	2	F2
			This tornado moved east northeast from 4 miles south of Rochester damaging buildings on 2 farms. The roof and part of a home was torn off. Two members of a family were injured as they ran for cover. Another farm home was shifted and torn apart and the adjoining barn was destroyed.
8	21	1883	1730 CST	Hayfield 4NW to Rochester	Dodge	25	1500	37	200	F5
			The tornado moved east northeast from 4 miles northwest of Hayfield passing through and devastating Rochester. At least 10 of the 40 farms hits in Dodge County were leveled and at least 5 people were killed. The enormous roar was said to have warned most Rochester residents as the massive tornado cut through the north side of town. Over 135 homes were destroyed and another 200 damaged. Many of the injuries were very serious and other deaths probably occurred, but are not listed in the total. The tornado derailed a train causing many injuries. At least one crew member was killed. This tornado was a large factor in the subsequent development of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Total damage was estimated at $700,000.
8	21	1883	1530 CST	Pleasant Grove (10 miles south of Rochester)	None	?	3	2	10	F3
			This tornado moved northeast at Pleasant Grove (10 miles south of Rochester). This tornado hit two hours before the major event to the north (tornado listed above this one). Few details are available, because the press reports concentrated on Rochester. Most of the damage occurred on four farms and at least one was completely destroyed.
7	21	1883	1200 CST	Elgin	Wabasha	7	300	1	8	F2
			The tornado moved northeast through the town of Elgin. There was $60,000 damage as about 20 homes and 8 businesses were torn apart. Every building in town was damaged to some degree.
7	21	1883	1130 CST	Dodge Center 4SE to Douglas	Dodge	16	800	4	30	F4
			It moved east northeast from 4 miles southeast of Dodge Center to just south of Kasson and passing 1 mile north of Byron. The tornado turned to the north and dissipated after passing southeast of Douglas. About 20 homes, 30 barns, and three schools were damaged or destroyed. Three people were killed as two of "the finest homes in the county" were leveled in Dodge County. A half dozen farms "not a wall left standing." The damage may have been from two parallel tracks. This event was either a family of tornadoes on parallel tracks eight miles apart. Resolving the time and position conflicts is probably not possible.
8	26	1880	1500 CST	Dodge Center to Kalmar Township	Dodge	10	100	0	2	F2
			The tornado moved east northeast from the east edge of Dodge Center, 2 miles south of Mantorville to Kalmar Township. Twenty buildings were destroyed on nine farms.
* The data in this table came from *Storm Data* and *Significant Tornadoes--1680-1991* by Thomas P. Grazulis. ** Injuries and Deaths are for the entire tornado track.

Last Updated Friday, April 24, 2020 - Jeff Boyne

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