Mille Lacs County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Minnesota Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Mille Lacs County is about the same as Minnesota average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Mille Lacs County is lower than Minnesota average and is lower than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #34
| Mille Lacs County | 0.00 |
| Minnesota | 0.01 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| Mille Lacs County | 0.0000 |
| Minnesota | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #58
| Mille Lacs County | 104.00 |
| Minnesota | 135.90 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 8,432 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Mille Lacs County were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 42 | Cold: | 51 | Dense Fog: | 3 | Drought: | 21 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 272 | Hail: | 3,806 | Heat: | 19 | Heavy Snow: | 115 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 12 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 47 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 3,554 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 1 | Winter Storm: | 146 | Winter Weather: | 3 |
| Other: | 340 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Mille Lacs County.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Mille Lacs County.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Mille Lacs County.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 36 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Mille Lacs County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 9.6 | 1959-07-08 | 2 | 46°04'N / 93°40'W | 0.50 Mile | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Mille Lacs | |
| 12.0 | 1997-09-18 | 3 | 46°05'N / 93°50'W | 46°05'N / 93°40'W | 8.00 Miles | 800 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Mille Lacs |
| Brief Description: Several buildings destroyed and numerous other buildings damaged. Hundreds of trees down. A number of cattle killed in barn collapse. Damage estimate included in entry for Morrison county. Total path length from 1 NE of Lastup to Onamia was 17 miles. | |||||||||||
| 17.1 | 1985-07-03 | 2 | 46°07'N / 93°27'W | 46°05'N / 93°18'W | 8.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Kanabec |
| 17.6 | 1997-09-18 | 3 | 46°04'N / 94°03'W | 46°03'N / 93°51'W | 9.00 Miles | 800 Yards | 1 | 1 | 1.7M | 0 | Morrison |
| Brief Description: Several buildings destroyed and numerous other buildings damaged. Hundreds of trees down. A number of cattle killed in barn collapse. One man injured when the tornado engulfed his car and threw it into a nearby woods. A second man critically injured when his garage collapsed. He died several weeks later. Total path length of tornado from 1 NE of Lastrup to Onamia was 17 miles. M57PH | |||||||||||
| 18.2 | 1985-07-03 | 2 | 46°16'N / 93°46'W | 46°07'N / 93°27'W | 22.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Mille Lacs |
| 19.0 | 1982-09-12 | 2 | 45°45'N / 93°56'W | 0.80 Mile | 3 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Benton | |
| 22.5 | 1997-09-18 | 2 | 46°07'N / 93°26'W | 46°07'N / 93°04'W | 17.00 Miles | 450 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Kanabec |
| Brief Description: 2 homes severely damaged. Large barn destroyed. Numerous trees and power lines down. | |||||||||||
| 22.5 | 1977-06-17 | 2 | 45°42'N / 93°58'W | 0.70 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Benton | |
| 23.2 | 1992-06-16 | 2 | 45°40'N / 93°56'W | 0.30 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Benton | |
| 23.2 | 1961-06-30 | 2 | 46°01'N / 94°06'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Morrison | |||
| 25.1 | 1985-07-03 | 2 | 46°17'N / 93°49'W | 46°16'N / 93°46'W | 2.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Aitkin |
| 25.2 | 1981-06-13 | 2 | 45°35'N / 93°28'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Isanti | |
| 26.7 | 1985-07-03 | 2 | 46°18'N / 93°50'W | 46°17'N / 93°49'W | 1.00 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Crow Wing |
| 27.3 | 1981-03-25 | 2 | 45°50'N / 94°11'W | 3.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Morrison | |
| 27.4 | 1997-09-18 | 2 | 45°53'N / 94°18'W | 45°53'N / 94°06'W | 8.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Morrison |
| Brief Description: Several buildings severely damaged. Numerous trees and power lines down. | |||||||||||
| 32.2 | 1970-07-18 | 2 | 45°45'N / 94°15'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Benton | |
| 32.3 | 1953-03-21 | 2 | 45°35'N / 94°05'W | 1 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Stearns | |||
| 33.0 | 1968-06-30 | 3 | 46°12'N / 93°04'W | 0.10 Mile | 10 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Aitkin | |
| 35.4 | 1973-06-25 | 3 | 46°24'N / 94°02'W | 46°24'N / 93°49'W | 10.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Crow Wing |
| 36.9 | 1980-09-03 | 3 | 45°32'N / 94°13'W | 45°35'N / 94°09'W | 3.80 Miles | 60 Yards | 1 | 15 | 25.0M | 0 | Stearns |
| 37.1 | 1967-07-22 | 2 | 45°28'N / 94°08'W | 45°26'N / 93°50'W | 14.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 1 | 12 | 2.5M | 0 | Sherburne |
| 39.6 | 2001-06-13 | 2 | 46°21'N / 94°12'W | 46°22'N / 94°10'W | 5.00 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Crow Wing |
| Brief Description: The tornado tore roofs off houses and blew out exterior walls. Pole barns and sheds were destroyed, and windows were blown out. Thousands of trees were knocked down, and 41 head of livestock were killed. The average path width was 1/4 mile, with the widest being 1/2 mile. | |||||||||||
| 40.8 | 1967-07-22 | 2 | 45°28'N / 94°11'W | 45°28'N / 94°08'W | 1.90 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Stearns |
| 41.0 | 2010-06-17 | 2 | 45°43'N / 92°52'W | 45°48'N / 92°46'W | 7.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 2 | 283K | 0K | Pine |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: 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 path width was a quarter mile, or 400 yards, with an average path width of 400 to 600 ft. The tornado exited Pine County at around 1955 CST, continuing on in Burnett County, WI, where it lifted at 2001 CST, about 3.5 miles northwest of Grantsburg, WI. The total path length was about 6.5 miles. The worst of the damage occurred in far southeast Pine County and was evidence of a strong EF2 tornado with estimated winds of 110-135 mph. This rating was based on the total destruction of a strapped down mobile home and the extensive uprooting/snapping of trees where the tornado crossed Minnesota State Highway 70. Two people in a mobile home were injured. Multiple homes sustained significant damage. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A significant, widespread severe weather outbreak occurred across a large portion of central and east central Minnesota. A powerful mid summer storm system over the western Dakotas, combined with warm moist air surging northward from the Gulf of Mexico, provided the ingredients for tornadoes, destructive winds, and large hail across parts of the Northland. In addition, several storms in the Cass Lake and Lake Winnibigoshish area of north central Minnesota produced a large amount of one to two inch diameter hail, which is about quarter to slightly larger than golf ball size. | |||||||||||
| 41.3 | 2001-06-13 | 2 | 45°59'N / 94°32'W | 46°04'N / 94°26'W | 4.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 200K | 0 | Morrison |
| Brief Description: One home lost its roof. Several sheds and outbuildings blown down. Two additional homes sustained minor damage. | |||||||||||
| 41.6 | 1957-05-21 | 4 | 45°35'N / 92°52'W | 45°43'N / 92°52'W | 9.20 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Chisago |
| 44.8 | 1977-08-26 | 3 | 46°24'N / 94°19'W | 46°32'N / 94°00'W | 17.40 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 11 | 2.5M | 0 | Crow Wing |
| 45.1 | 1958-06-04 | 2 | 45°36'N / 94°35'W | 45°36'N / 94°18'W | 13.30 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Stearns |
| 45.5 | 1997-07-01 | 2 | 45°16'N / 93°49'W | 45°18'N / 93°49'W | 2.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Wright |
| 45.5 | 1997-07-01 | 2 | 45°18'N / 93°56'W | 45°17'N / 93°49'W | 5.00 Miles | 550 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Wright |
| Brief Description: Two tornadoes converged on the Prairie Acres housing development 1 south of Monticello at about the same time. Extensive damage in area. | |||||||||||
| 46.7 | 1996-10-26 | 2 | 46°35'N / 93°53'W | 46°35'N / 93°53'W | 0.70 Mile | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 50K | 0 | Crow Wing |
| Brief Description: A marginally F2 tornado made two brief touchdowns in a rural area of east central Crow Wing County. The tornado was confirmed by the county's Emergency Services Coordinator and trained spotters. Damage was concentrated on a cluster of farms near the Mississippi River. About ten buildings on one farm suffered extensive damage. The roof and doors were torn off a hay barn, and a dump truck was pushed about six feet into the side of a shed. Other outbuildings were knocked down, and a garage was shifted on its foundation. There was some structural damage and many uprooted trees on two nearby farms. Length and width of path and dollar amount of damage are estimated. | |||||||||||
| 47.3 | 1992-06-16 | 2 | 45°14'N / 94°04'W | 45°20'N / 93°51'W | 10.00 Miles | 80 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Wright |
| 47.6 | 1991-07-05 | 3 | 46°28'N / 94°20'W | 46°25'N / 94°16'W | 5.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 3 | 2.5M | 0 | Crow Wing |
| 48.2 | 1977-08-26 | 3 | 46°21'N / 94°30'W | 46°24'N / 94°19'W | 8.90 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Cass |
| 49.3 | 2006-09-16 | 2 | 45°12'N / 93°38'W | 45°14'N / 93°31'W | 7.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 1 | 0 | 30.0M | 0 | Hennepin |
| Brief Description: A tornado touched down on the western edge of Sylvan Lake and moved quickly northeast. It produced F0 damage to some farms and rural residences in Hassan Township before strengthening and entering the northwest corner of Rogers. It gained F2 status briefly as it moved through a residential neighborhood in Rogers, where it took the life of a 10 year old girl in a home. A home weather station 2/3 mile southeast of the tornado at this point measured 65 mph inflow winds. The tornado crossed Interstate 94 and entered another neighborhood, where F1 damage was produced. One house with significant damage had a home weather station in the back yard. Once the data were retrieved, its peak gust was found to have reached 105 mph. The tornado then moved into the northern tip of Dayton, alternating between F0 and F1 damage, then exited Hennepin County, crossed the Mississippi River and entered the city of Ramsey in Anoka County (see separate entry). The maximum width in Hennepin County was 100 yards, although its maximum width in Anoka County was only 25 yards. F10PH | |||||||||||
| 49.7 | 1977-08-26 | 2 | 46°31'N / 94°19'W | 46°37'N / 93°55'W | 19.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Crow Wing |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.