Minnesota, 1997

Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Minnesota, June 28 to 29, 1997

June 28 to 29, 1997 · NWS MPX · 87 events in 36 counties and zones

49 hail, 33 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado, 2 flash flood, 1 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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
2
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
87

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 Minneapolis radar (KMPX), 183 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 10:37 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

49 hail, 33 thunderstorm wind, 2 tornado, 2 flash flood, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Todd

When
June 28, 4:40 AM CST
Where
Todd County, Philbrook to 5 mi NW of Lincoln
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
46.280, -94.720

Hail, Morrison

When
June 28, 5:00 AM CST
Where
Morrison County, 1 mi SW of Cushing
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
46.130, -94.600

Some crop damage.

Hail, Morrison

When
June 28, 5:15 AM CST
Where
Morrison County, Flensburg
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
45.950, -94.530

Hail, Morrison

When
June 28, 5:28 AM CST
Where
Morrison County, 14 mi W of Little Falls
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
45.980, -94.670

Hail, Morrison

When
June 28, 5:30 AM CST
Where
Morrison County, 1 mi W of Flensburg
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
45.950, -94.550

Some crop damage.

Hail, Benton

When
June 28, 6:25 AM CST
Where
Benton County, Rice
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
45.750, -94.230

Thunderstorm Wind, Benton

When
June 28, 6:25 AM CST
Where
Benton County, 3 mi N of Sauk Rapids
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
45.650, -94.170

Power lines down.

Hail, Benton

When
June 28, 6:50 AM CST
Where
Benton County, 5 mi NW of Gilman
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
45.780, -94.030

Hail, Benton

When
June 28, 7:05 AM CST
Where
Benton County, Glendorado
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
45.580, -93.780

Hail, Hennepin

When
June 28, 7:55 AM CST
Where
Hennepin County, Brooklyn Park
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
45.120, -93.330

Hail, Anoka

When
June 28, 7:55 AM CST
Where
Anoka County, Coon Rapids
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
45.170, -93.320

Hail, Ramsey

When
June 28, 8:25 AM CST
Where
Ramsey County, Mounds View
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
45.120, -93.230

Hail, Ramsey

When
June 28, 8:56 AM CST
Where
Ramsey County, St Paul
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
44.970, -93.150

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When
June 28, 9:04 AM CST
Where
Washington County, Woodbury
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
44.900, -92.950

4 inch diameter tree limbs down. Estimated windspeed.

Hail, Washington

When
June 28, 9:15 AM CST
Where
Washington County, Woodbury
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
44.900, -92.950

Three inches of rain and street flooding reported in area.

Hail, Washington

When
June 28, 9:40 AM CST
Where
Washington County, Cottage Grove
Measured
1.5 in hail
Coordinates
44.830, -92.880

Thunderstorm Wind, Stevens

When
June 28, 11:25 AM CST
Where
Stevens County, Morris
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
45.580, -95.930

Trees blown down. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Douglas

When
June 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where
Douglas County, Miltona to 2 mi of Rose City
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
46.080, -95.300

Numerous trees down. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Pope

When
June 28, 11:30 AM CST
Where
Pope County, Sedan
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
45.580, -95.250

Large branches down. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kandiyohi

When
June 28, 12:25 PM CST
Where
Kandiyohi County, 2 mi W of Willmar
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates
45.130, -95.080

Roof off building. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kandiyohi

When
June 28, 12:35 PM CST
Where
Kandiyohi County, Willmar
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates
45.130, -95.050

Large tree blown onto hood of car. One passenger injured.

Thunderstorm Wind, Todd

When
June 28, 12:45 PM CST
Where
Todd County, Browerville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
46.080, -94.870

Trees down. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Morrison

When
June 28, 12:50 PM CST
Where
Morrison County, Randall
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
46.100, -94.500

Trees blown down. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Meeker

When
June 28, 1:00 PM CST
Where
Meeker County, Eden Vly
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates
45.330, -94.550

Numerous trees and power lines down. Corn crib and shed blown over. Estimated windspeed. Damage extended across county line into Stearns county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Stearns

When
June 28, 1:10 PM CST
Where
Stearns County, Paynesville
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates
45.380, -94.730

Trees blown down. Roof ripped off garage and flipped onto nearby house. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Morrison

When
June 28, 1:10 PM CST
Where
Morrison County, 9 mi SE of Motley
Measured
61 kt (70 mph)
Coordinates
46.230, -94.520

Hail, Meeker

When
June 28, 1:20 PM CST
Where
Meeker County, 2 mi S of Cosmos
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
44.900, -94.700

Thunderstorm Wind, Wright

When
June 28, 1:25 PM CST
Where
Wright County, 4 mi NE of Annandale
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates
45.300, -94.080

One woman critically injured when a tree branch was blown off a tree and struck her in the head.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wright

When
June 28, 1:35 PM CST
Where
Wright County, 3 mi N of Cokato
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
45.130, -94.200

Power lines and large branches down. Trees also reported down in Waverly. Estimated windspeed.

Tornado, Meeker

When
June 28, 1:38 PM CST
Where
Meeker County, 2 mi NE of Kingston
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
50 yd
Coordinates
45.220, -94.280

Brief touchdown on northern bay of Lake Francis. Dock, boat and boat lift flipped over in water.

Tornado, Wright

When
June 28, 1:38 PM CST
Where
Wright County, 3 mi NW of French Lake
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
50 yd
Coordinates
45.230, -94.250

Brief touchdown on northern bay of Lake Francis. Dock, boat and boat lift flipped into water.

Hail, Renville

When
June 28, 1:40 PM CST
Where
Renville County, 4 mi NE of Fairfax
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
44.570, -94.670

Trees also blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, McLeod

When
June 28, 1:45 PM CST
Where
McLeod County, 1 mi N of Hutchinson
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
44.900, -94.370

Trees blown down. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mille Lacs

When
June 28, 1:45 PM CST
Where
Mille Lacs County, Onamia
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
46.080, -93.670

4 inch branches down. Outdoor furniture blown around.

Hail, Mille Lacs

When
June 28, 1:45 PM CST
Where
Mille Lacs County, 1 mi NW of Isle
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
46.150, -93.480

Hail pelted Scenic Bay resort launch about 1 mile from shore on Lake Mille Lacs. Strong winds accompanied the hail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Nicollet

When
June 28, 1:55 PM CST
Where
Nicollet County, 9 mi NW of St George
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
44.500, -94.670

Large branches and tents down in Fort Ridgely state park. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kanabec

When
June 28, 2:00 PM CST
Where
Kanabec County, 10 mi N of Mora
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
46.030, -93.300

Trees down. More trees down reported at same time 3 miles south of Mora.

Hail, Nicollet

When
June 28, 2:00 PM CST
Where
Nicollet County, Lafayette
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
44.450, -94.400

Hail lasted for 10 minutes. Some crop damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sibley

When
June 28, 2:00 PM CST
Where
Sibley County, 4 mi NW of Arlington
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
44.630, -94.130

5 inch branches down. 8 inches of rain also reported. Storm sewers were overflowing in Winthrop. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sherburne

When
June 28, 2:07 PM CST
Where
Sherburne County, 6 mi N of Zimmerman
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
45.530, -93.580

Large branches and power lines down. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Isanti

When
June 28, 2:10 PM CST
Where
Isanti County, 4 mi SE of Isanti
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
45.470, -93.180

Trees down. Also trees reported down at Cambridge state hospital.

Thunderstorm Wind, Isanti

When
June 28, 2:15 PM CST
Where
Isanti County, Braham
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates
45.730, -93.170

Large trees blown over. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Chisago

When
June 28, 2:30 PM CST
Where
Chisago County, 5 mi E of North Branch
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
45.520, -92.880

Trees blown down. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hennepin

When
June 28, 2:35 PM CST
Where
Hennepin County, St Bonifacius
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
44.900, -93.750

Power lines and trees down. Estimated windspeed.

Hail, Anoka

When
June 28, 2:45 PM CST
Where
Anoka County, Ramsey
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
45.250, -93.430

Hail, Anoka

When
June 28, 2:45 PM CST
Where
Anoka County, Andover to 1 mi of Oak Grove
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
45.250, -93.300

Thunderstorm Wind, Carver

When
June 28, 2:45 PM CST
Where
Carver County, Chaska
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
44.780, -93.600

6 inch branches down. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Anoka

When
June 28, 2:50 PM CST
Where
Anoka County, Coon Rapids
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
45.170, -93.320

Trees down. Several trees down also in Fridley. Estimated windspeed.

Hail, Le Sueur

When
June 28, 2:50 PM CST
Where
Le Sueur County, 9 mi S of Le Center
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
44.270, -93.730

Trees also reported down on south side of Jefferson Lake.

Hail, Scott

When
June 28, 2:55 PM CST
Where
Scott County, Marystown
Measured
2 in hail
Coordinates
44.720, -93.550

Thunderstorm Wind, Dakota

When
June 28, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Dakota County, South St Paul
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
44.880, -93.030

Trees down. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Ramsey

When
June 28, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Ramsey County, Maplewood
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
45.130, -93.350

Trees down at intersection of highways 36 and 61. Esimtated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Scott

When
June 28, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Scott County, Elko
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
44.570, -93.320

Shed damage. Also reported in New Market. Estimated windspeed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Brown

When
June 28, 3:15 PM CST
Where
Brown County, New Ulm
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
44.320, -94.470

Trees and large branches down on west side of city. Estimated windspeed. About one and one half inches of rain in one half hour resulted in minor flooding at a mobile home park.

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When
June 28, 3:15 PM CST
Where
Washington County, 1 mi S of Stillwater
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
45.050, -92.830

Power lines and large branches down. Estimated windspeed.

Flash Flood, Kandiyohi

When
June 28, 3:50 PM CST
Where
Kandiyohi County, Willmar
Coordinates
45.152, -95.005 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Streets flooded. Cars stranded.

Thunderstorm Wind, Goodhue

When
June 28, 4:00 PM CST
Where
Goodhue County, Cannon Falls
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
44.520, -92.900

Large tree branches blown down. Estimated windspeed.

Hail, Rice

When
June 28, 4:15 PM CST
Where
Rice County, 3 mi SE of Ruskin
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
44.230, -93.120

Hail, Blue Earth

When
June 28, 4:15 PM CST
Where
Blue Earth County, 2 mi E of Lake Crystal
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
44.120, -94.180

Hail, Watonwan

When
June 28, 4:30 PM CST
Where
Watonwan County, 2 mi W of La Salle
Measured
1.5 in hail
Coordinates
44.070, -94.600

Hail covered ground and lasted for 10 minutes.

Hail, Martin

When
June 28, 5:10 PM CST
Where
Martin County, Truman
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
43.830, -94.430

Hail, Blue Earth

When
June 28, 5:15 PM CST
Where
Blue Earth County, 6 mi SE of Mapleton
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
43.870, -93.880

About 6,000 acres of crops sustained severe hail damage in Blue Earth county.

Hail, Faribault

When
June 28, 5:20 PM CST
Where
Faribault County, Delavan
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
43.770, -94.030

Hail, Faribault

When
June 28, 5:30 PM CST
Where
Faribault County, 6 mi E of Blue Earth
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
43.630, -93.980

Hail, Kandiyohi

When
June 28, 5:40 PM CST
Where
Kandiyohi County, 6 mi NE of New London
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
45.370, -94.870

Hail, Martin

When
June 28, 5:40 PM CST
Where
Martin County, 2 mi N of Granada
Measured
1.5 in hail
Coordinates
43.730, -94.350

Hail, Kandiyohi

When
June 28, 6:13 PM CST
Where
Kandiyohi County, 10 mi S of Willmar
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
44.980, -95.050

Hail, McLeod

When
June 28, 6:15 PM CST
Where
McLeod County, Lester Prairie
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
44.880, -94.050

Hail, Meeker

When
June 28, 6:30 PM CST
Where
Meeker County, 2 mi S of Cosmos
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
44.900, -94.700

Some crop damage.

Hail, Renville

When
June 28, 7:00 PM CST
Where
Renville County, Churchill to 4 mi S of Cosmos
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
44.820, -94.670

Hail, Sibley

When
June 28, 7:27 PM CST
Where
Sibley County, 2 mi NE of Winthrop
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
44.570, -94.330

Hail, Renville

When
June 28, 7:50 PM CST
Where
Renville County, Hector Muni Arpt
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
44.730, -94.720

6 inches of rain also reported.

Hail, Nicollet

When
June 28, 8:30 PM CST
Where
Nicollet County, 7 mi W of Lafayette
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
44.450, -94.550

Hail, Renville

When
June 28, 8:49 PM CST
Where
Renville County, Hector
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
44.750, -94.720

Hail, Renville

When
June 28, 8:54 PM CST
Where
Renville County, Buffalo Lake
Measured
1.25 in hail
Coordinates
44.730, -94.620

Hail covered ground. Significant crop damage.

Hail, McLeod

When
June 28, 9:25 PM CST
Where
McLeod County, 3 mi E of Stewart
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
44.720, -94.420

Flash Flood, McLeod

When
June 28, 9:30 PM CST
Where
McLeod County, Brownton
Coordinates
44.824, -94.272 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flooded basement resulted in wall collapse. Water over highway 22.

Thunderstorm Wind, Yellow Medicine

When
June 28, 9:30 PM CST
Where
Yellow Medicine County, 6 mi W of Canby
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
44.700, -96.380

Trees down.

Hail, McLeod

When
June 28, 9:32 PM CST
Where
McLeod County, Brownton
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
44.730, -94.350

Hail, McLeod

When
June 28, 9:40 PM CST
Where
McLeod County, Brownton
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
44.730, -94.350

Hail, Lac Qui Parle

When
June 28, 9:45 PM CST
Where
Lac Qui Parle County, 5 mi S of Madison
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
44.950, -96.200

Hail, McLeod

When
June 28, 11:30 PM CST
Where
McLeod County, 4 mi S of Glencoe
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
44.720, -94.150

Hail damaged paint and shutters.

Hail, Stearns

When
June 29, 12:05 AM CST
Where
Stearns County, Paynesville
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
45.380, -94.730

Hail, Meeker

When
June 29, 12:30 AM CST
Where
Meeker County, Cosmos
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
44.930, -94.700

5 inches of rain also reported.

Hail, McLeod

When
June 29, 2:20 AM CST
Where
McLeod County, Stewart
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
44.720, -94.480

Hail, Renville

When
June 29, 2:30 AM CST
Where
Renville County, 6 mi NW of Lakeside
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
44.880, -94.630

Lightning, Nicollet

When
June 29, 3:00 AM CST
Where
Nicollet County, 1 mi E of Bernadotte
Coordinates
44.350, -94.247 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning struck tree, throwing chunks of wood airborne. One chunk broke a window on a nearby farmhouse.

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.
Tornado
A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
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

More

Every storm in Minnesota in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Minnesota, 1997Warnings in Minnesota, June 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: 5608065, 5608298, 5608066, 5608067, 5608299, 5608068, 5608069, 5608174, 5608181, 5608070, 5608071, 5608072, 5608073, 5608074, 5608075, 5608313, 5608076, 5608185, 5608303, 5608077, 5608413, 5608312, 5608078, 5608293, 5608159, 5608175, 5608294, 5608412, 5608410, 5608418, 5608421, 5608160, 5608161, 5608297, 5608417, 5608301, 5608188, 5608300, 5608311, 5608310, and more.