Morrison County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Minnesota Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Morrison County is about the same as Minnesota average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Morrison County is lower than Minnesota average and is lower than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #12
| Morrison County | 0.01 |
| 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
| Morrison 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, #57
| Morrison County | 105.19 |
| 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 8,524 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Morrison 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: | 43 | Cold: | 36 | Dense Fog: | 2 | Drought: | 14 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 296 | Hail: | 4,072 | Heat: | 8 | Heavy Snow: | 47 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 4 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 43 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 3,487 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 0 | Winter Storm: | 114 | Winter Weather: | 1 |
| Other: | 357 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Morrison County.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Morrison County.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Morrison County.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 40 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Morrison County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 8.0 | 1961-06-30 | 2 | 46°01'N / 94°06'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Morrison | |||
| 10.0 | 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. | |||||||||||
| 10.4 | 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. | |||||||||||
| 13.5 | 1981-03-25 | 2 | 45°50'N / 94°11'W | 3.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Morrison | |
| 15.4 | 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 | |||||||||||
| 18.7 | 1970-07-18 | 2 | 45°45'N / 94°15'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Benton | |
| 23.7 | 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. | |||||||||||
| 24.6 | 1982-09-12 | 2 | 45°45'N / 93°56'W | 0.80 Mile | 3 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Benton | |
| 25.1 | 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. | |||||||||||
| 25.4 | 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 |
| 26.4 | 1977-06-17 | 2 | 45°42'N / 93°58'W | 0.70 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Benton | |
| 28.2 | 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 |
| 28.7 | 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 |
| 28.9 | 1959-07-08 | 2 | 46°04'N / 93°40'W | 0.50 Mile | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Mille Lacs | |
| 29.1 | 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 |
| 29.2 | 1992-06-16 | 2 | 45°40'N / 93°56'W | 0.30 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Benton | |
| 30.2 | 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 |
| 30.9 | 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 |
| 31.0 | 1991-07-05 | 3 | 46°28'N / 94°21'W | 46°28'N / 94°20'W | 1.00 Mile | 43 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Cass |
| 31.2 | 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 |
| 31.4 | 1953-03-21 | 2 | 45°35'N / 94°05'W | 1 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Stearns | |||
| 32.2 | 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 |
| 33.1 | 1996-10-26 | 2 | 45°35'N / 94°38'W | 45°38'N / 94°36'W | 5.00 Miles | 350 Yards | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Stearns |
| Brief Description: House collapsed on top of family. Outbuildings destroyed. | |||||||||||
| 33.7 | 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 |
| 34.6 | 2000-07-08 | 2 | 46°22'N / 94°49'W | 46°21'N / 94°47'W | 2.00 Miles | 20 Yards | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Todd |
| Brief Description: Roofs blown off homes and one business. At least one dozen homes damaged. Numerous large trees down. One minor injury in Staples due to flying glass. Tornado crossed over from Wadena county. | |||||||||||
| 35.1 | 1977-08-26 | 2 | 46°28'N / 94°46'W | 46°31'N / 94°19'W | 21.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Cass |
| 36.6 | 1964-05-05 | 3 | 45°35'N / 94°47'W | 45°39'N / 94°44'W | 4.30 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Stearns |
| 38.4 | 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 |
| 38.6 | 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 |
| 39.9 | 1980-09-03 | 2 | 45°38'N / 94°53'W | 1.00 Mile | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Stearns | |
| 40.5 | 2000-07-08 | 2 | 46°24'N / 95°01'W | 46°21'N / 94°52'W | 8.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 3 | 500K | 0 | Wadena |
| Brief Description: A tornado that formed near Verndale intensified as it reached the Aldrich area. A mobile home, garage, barn, and 3 vehicles were destroyed 3 miles east of Aldrich. Two people, inside the mobile home when the tornado hit, suffered cuts, bruises, and a sprained ankle. The couples' son, sitting inside a car parked outside the mobile home, also sustained cuts and bruises. A horse trailer was pushed into his car and then into some nearby trees. Quite a bit of tree damage occurred along the damage path. The tornado then passed out of Wadena county and into Todd county. | |||||||||||
| 41.7 | 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 |
| 42.9 | 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. | |||||||||||
| 43.1 | 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 |
| 43.1 | 1966-06-11 | 4 | 46°38'N / 94°22'W | 46°39'N / 94°21'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Crow Wing | ||
| 44.7 | 1977-08-26 | 2 | 46°26'N / 95°10'W | 46°28'N / 94°46'W | 19.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Wadena |
| 45.0 | 2001-06-13 | 3 | 46°16'N / 95°09'W | 46°17'N / 95°07'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 10K | 0 | Todd |
| Brief Description: NWS Grand Forks damage survey revealed an F3 tornado touch down in Otter Tail County, one mile NW of Parkers Prairie at 1753 CST. It tracked to just southeast of Wrightstown, for an 11 mile path in Otter Tail County. It then continued on for one mile in Todd County where it dissipated 3 WNW of Bertha. Total path length 12 miles. | |||||||||||
| 45.4 | 1966-07-10 | 2 | 46°26'N / 95°07'W | 46°20'N / 95°00'W | 8.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Wadena |
| 48.9 | 1981-06-13 | 2 | 45°35'N / 93°28'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Isanti | |
| 49.7 | 2010-06-17 | 4 | 46°25'N / 95°09'W | 46°31'N / 95°01'W | 8.00 Miles | 1936 Yards | 0 | 20 | 0K | 0K | Wadena |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This multi-vortex wedge tornado began in Otter Tail County about 3 miles southwest of the city of Wadena at 459 PM CDT. It tracked for about 2 miles in Otter Tail County, then it continued for another 8 miles in Wadena County. The tornado ravaged the western half of the community of Wadena. Numerous homes were flattened to the ground and at least one was completely swept from its foundation and destroyed. Public and industrial buildings were wrecked, the fairgrounds were damaged, and headstones in the cemetery were overturned. School buses and vehicles were propelled through the air for hundreds of yards. The tornado hit on the day of the Wadena all-school reunion, so many additional people were in the area. Roughly 100 people were displaced from their homes. Peak winds were estimated at 170 mph. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Conditions were ripe by the afternoon of the 17th for a major severe weather outbreak. A surface low had moved into east central North Dakota with an occluded front extending to the southeast. Warm and humid air was in place ahead of the front, with a much drier airmass pushing in behind it. The 500mb low was located over northwest North Dakota with a nice southwest to northeast upper jet pushing into eastern North Dakota. Two lines of convection formed by late afternoon, one from Roseau County down toward Eastern Otter Tail County and the other over east central North Dakota. Nearly all the cells that formed took on a classic hook shape with rotation very evident on radar imagery. Multiple tornado warnings were issued before the event wound down by mid evening. The strongest tornadoes were determined to be EF4 tornadoes, two in west central Minnesota and one in northeast North Dakota. | |||||||||||
* 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.