Hail and Damaging Winds in Minnesota, July 16 to 17, 1997

Name: Hail and Damaging Winds in Minnesota, July 16 to 17, 1997
Start: 1997-07-16T21:41
End: 1997-07-17T03:00
Location: Minnesota

July 16 to 17, 1997 · NWS MPX · 39 events in 14 counties and zones

24 thunderstorm wind, 13 hail, 2 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 3
Property damage: $88,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 39

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

The radar

The Aberdeen radar (KABR), 194 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 03:40 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

24 thunderstorm wind, 13 hail, 2 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Stevens

When: July 16, 9:41 PM CST
Where: Stevens County, 6 mi S of Morris
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 45.500, -95.930

Hail, Swift

When: July 16, 10:13 PM CST
Where: Swift County, 10 mi NE of Appleton
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 45.300, -95.870

Hail, Dakota

When: July 16, 10:58 PM CST
Where: Dakota County, Farmington
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 44.630, -93.150

Hail, Dakota

When: July 16, 11:15 PM CST
Where: Dakota County, Inver Grove Heights
Measured: 2.75 in hail
Coordinates: 44.850, -93.050

Hail, Dakota

When: July 16, 11:30 PM CST to 11:45 PM CST
Where: Dakota County, Inver Grove Heights
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 44.850, -93.050

Thunderstorm Wind, Lac Qui Parle

When: July 16, 11:40 PM CST
Where: Lac Qui Parle County, Madison
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 45.020, -96.200

Thunderstorm Wind, Chippewa

When: July 16, 11:55 PM CST
Where: Chippewa County, Clara City
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 44.950, -95.370

Trees blown down. Estimated windspeed.

Hail, Dakota

When: July 16, 11:55 PM CST
Where: Dakota County, Eagan
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Coordinates: 44.800, -93.170

Hail, Dakota

When: July 17, 12:27 AM CST
Where: Dakota County, Inver Grove Heights
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 44.850, -93.050

Thunderstorm Wind, McLeod

When: July 17, 12:35 AM CST
Where: McLeod County, Hutchinson
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates: 44.880, -94.370

Trees blown down. Estimated windspeed.

Hail, Dakota

When: July 17, 12:39 AM CST
Where: Dakota County, Inver Grove Heights
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 44.850, -93.050

Hail, Hennepin

When: July 17, 12:42 AM CST
Where: Hennepin County, Minneapolis
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 45.000, -93.280

Thunderstorm Wind, Renville

When: July 17, 12:45 AM CST
Where: Renville County, Danube
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 44.780, -95.100

Large branches down. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hennepin

When: July 17, 12:45 AM CST
Where: Hennepin County, Edina
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 44.900, -93.350

Power lines and trees blown down. Estimated windspeed.

Hail, Hennepin

When: July 17, 12:47 AM CST
Where: Hennepin County, Minneapolis
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 45.000, -93.280

Hail reported near intersection of Interstate 35W and 54th st.

Hail, Wright

When: July 17, 12:48 AM CST
Where: Wright County, Cokato
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 45.080, -94.200

Thunderstorm Wind, Carver

When: July 17, 12:50 AM CST
Where: Carver County, Watertown
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates: 44.970, -93.850

Large branches down. Estimated windspeed.

Hail, Hennepin

When: July 17, 12:51 AM CST
Where: Hennepin County, Richfield
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 44.880, -93.250

Hail reported at intersection of Interstate 35W and highway 62. Strong winds also knocked down numerous trees.

Hail, Hennepin

When: July 17, 12:59 AM CST
Where: Hennepin County, Richfield
Measured: 1 in hail
Coordinates: 44.880, -93.250

Hail reported just west of MSP International Airport.

Thunderstorm Wind, Carver

When: July 17, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Carver County, Waconia
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates: 44.850, -93.780

Large branches down. Estimated windspeed.

Lightning, Carver

When: July 17, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Carver County, Norwood
Coordinates: 44.821, -93.803 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Large tree fell on garage after being struck by lightning.

Thunderstorm Wind, Carver

When: July 17, 1:05 AM CST
Where: Carver County, 5 mi W of Watertown
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates: 44.970, -93.950

Two garages blown down. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Carver

When: July 17, 1:06 AM CST
Where: Carver County, Cologne
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates: 44.770, -93.780

Large branches down. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Carver

When: July 17, 1:08 AM CST
Where: Carver County, Mayer
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates: 44.880, -93.870

2 foot diameter trees blown down. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wright

When: July 17, 1:12 AM CST
Where: Wright County, 3 mi S of Delano
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates: 45.020, -93.800

Barn destroyed. Scattered damage across southeastern Wright county. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wright

When: July 17, 1:15 AM CST
Where: Wright County, Delano
Measured: 70 kt (81 mph)
Coordinates: 45.050, -93.800

Roof damage to high school. Numerous large trees blown down onto homes and power lines. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hennepin

When: July 17, 1:17 AM CST
Where: Hennepin County, Maple Plain
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Injuries: 3 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 45.000, -93.670

Three young girls injured at YMCA camp when tree blown over onto tent. Barn also blown down in vicinity. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hennepin

When: July 17, 1:19 AM CST
Where: Hennepin County, Minnetrista
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph)
Property damage: $88,000
Coordinates: 44.950, -93.700

27 homes damaged by winds or fallng trees. Neighboring city of Independence also experienced scattered home damage due to down trees and power lines. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, McLeod

When: July 17, 1:20 AM CST
Where: McLeod County, Winsted
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates: 44.970, -94.050

Trees and power lines down. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, McLeod

When: July 17, 1:20 AM CST
Where: McLeod County, 3 mi W of Lester Prairie
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates: 44.880, -94.100

Barn blown over. Trees and power lines down. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hennepin

When: July 17, 1:23 AM CST
Where: Hennepin County, Mound
Measured: 72 kt (83 mph)
Coordinates: 44.930, -93.670

Numerous trees blown down, damaging 50 homes.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hennepin

When: July 17, 1:45 AM CST
Where: Hennepin County, Bloomington
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates: 44.820, -93.320

Large tree branches down. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dakota

When: July 17, 1:54 AM CST
Where: Dakota County, Farmington
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates: 44.630, -93.150

Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When: July 17, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Washington County, Oakdale
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Coordinates: 44.980, -92.950

Siding ripped off house. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Dakota

When: July 17, 2:08 AM CST
Where: Dakota County, 3 mi S of Hastings
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates: 44.680, -92.850

Tree blown down onto road. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Goodhue

When: July 17, 2:15 AM CST
Where: Goodhue County, Cannon Falls
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates: 44.520, -92.900

Trees blown down. Estimated windspeed.

Lightning, Rice

When: July 17, 2:17 AM CST
Where: Rice County, Northfield
Coordinates: 44.354, -93.297 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Goodhue

When: July 17, 2:30 AM CST
Where: Goodhue County, Zumbrota
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates: 44.300, -92.670

Large tree blown over. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Steele

When: July 17, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Steele County, Blooming Prairie
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates: 43.870, -93.070

Repair shop toppled by high winds. Several trees uprooted. Estimated windspeed.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Minnesota in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Minnesota, July 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5615007, 5615233, 5615008, 5615235, 5615009, 5615010, 5615011, 5615012, 5615013, 5615014, 5615015, 5615016, 5615242, 5615245, 5615017, 5615018, 5615019, 5615020, 5615021, 5615022, 5615240, 5615236, 5615023, 5615024, 5615239, 5615025, 5615026, 5615237, 5615027, 5615106, 5615229, 5615230, 5615234, 5615231, 5615232, 5615238, 5615243, 5615241, 5615244.