140
Recorded events
0
Direct deaths
6
Direct injuries
$11.4M
Property damage
Thunderstorm Wind in Meeker County, Minnesota: 140 recorded events between 1956 and 2025. The strongest on record measured 80. That places the county #1,658 nationally and #40 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Thunderstorm Wind in Meeker County, Minnesota: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for thunderstorm wind in Meeker County is the 2010s, when 33 of the county's 140 recorded events were logged. Comparing decades is useful for spotting active periods, but the earliest years are thin because systematic reporting for this hazard began later.
Within the Meeker County archive, thunderstorm wind makes up 37.5% of all recorded severe weather across 7 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #1,658 for this hazard and #40 within Minnesota, putting it in the 47.5 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
Jul is the peak month for thunderstorm wind in Meeker County with 42 recorded events, while Jan is the quietest. Seasonality here is a property of the archive as much as the climate: reports cluster where population and spotter networks are densest.
Significant events
Deadliest on record
| Date | Location | Scale | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 3, 2005 | LITCHFIELD | 52 | 0 | 3 | $0 |
| Jun 11, 2017 | KINGSTON | 56 | 0 | 2 | $0 |
| Jun 4, 2024 | GREENLEAF | 55 | 0 | 1 | $0 |
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 29, 2025 | LITCHFIELD | 56 | $0 |
| Jul 29, 2025 | COSMOS | 54 | $0 |
| Jul 15, 2025 | WATKINS | 56 | $0 |
| Jun 2, 2025 | COSMOS | 52 | $0 |
| Aug 29, 2024 | LITCHFIELD MUNI ARPT | 52 | $0 |
| Aug 26, 2024 | DASSEL | 50 | $0 |
| Aug 26, 2024 | FOREST CITY | 50 | $0 |
| Jul 31, 2024 | CROW RIVER | 56 | $0 |
| Jun 4, 2024 | GREENLEAF | 55 | $0 |
| Jul 26, 2023 | LITCHFIELD | 50 | $0 |
Other hazards here
More from Meeker County
- Hail 185
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
The storm complex moved into Meeker County, producing a 4 to 5 mile wide swath of damage from northwest to southeast across the county. The most severe damage was in Grove City and Litchfield. The Grove City High School auditorium roof collapsed, and light towers and other structures were destroyed at the Grove City race track. Hundreds of trees were toppled in Litchfield, many onto homes and vehicles. Dozens of barns, grain bins, and outbuildings sustained damage across the county. Homes were pummeled by wind-driven hail. Damage amount listed is for all events in Meeker County.
Estimated severe straight-line winds of 75 mph caused major damage centered one mile south of Grove City, approximately 5 miles wide (east & west) to 6 miles north of Grove City. Damage was associated with dozens of trees, multiple power lines snapped and blown down, 14 buildings reported or found damaged moderately to severe to include over 1 half dozen metal barns, sheds, grain bins and one house with 1/2 roof torn off. Grove City High School bleachers blown over as well.
Numerous trees down in a wide swath that originated in Kandiyohi County and extended into Meeker, Renville and McLeod Counties. Sheds and outbuildings were blown over across an approximate area of 40 to 50 square miles. Several grain bins were damaged, and the roof of the Cedar Mills liquor store was removed. The damage survey revealed that winds were from the north-northwest.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many thunderstorm wind events are on record in Meeker County, Minnesota?
140 thunderstorm wind events are recorded in Meeker County between 1956 and 2025, causing 0 direct deaths.
What is the strongest thunderstorm wind recorded in Meeker County?
The strongest thunderstorm wind on record in Meeker County measured 80.
Where does the thunderstorm wind data for Meeker County come from?
All events come from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of severe weather reports. Dates are UTC, damage is as reported and not inflation-adjusted, and the most recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Thunderstorm Wind in Meeker County, Minnesota.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/minnesota/meeker-county/thunderstorm-wind/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.