Minnesota, 1997

Hail and Damaging Winds in Minnesota, October 8, 1997

October 8, 1997 · NWS FGF · 18 events in 6 counties and zones

16 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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
$310,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
18

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 Fargo/Grand Forks radar (KMVX), 48 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:28 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

16 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Norman

When
October 8, 2:30 PM CST
Where
Norman County, Hendrum
Property damage
$10,000
Coordinates
47.270, -96.820

The strong wind blew the roof off a school bus garage.

Hail, Polk

When
October 8, 2:45 PM CST
Where
Polk County, 1 mi E of Nielsville
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
47.530, -96.800

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When
October 8, 2:50 PM CST
Where
Polk County, 5 mi NE of Nielsville
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
47.580, -96.730

A large farm garage was blown over, tipping over a large truck inside. Another shed was slightly damaged.

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When
October 8, 2:55 PM CST
Where
Polk County, 4 mi SE of Climax
Property damage
$30,000
Coordinates
47.580, -96.780

A pole barn was destroyed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When
October 8, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Polk County, 3 mi E of Climax
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
47.620, -96.770

A grove of mature pine trees was flattened.

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When
October 8, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Polk County, 3 mi E of Climax
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
47.620, -96.770

The wind blew out a window on a tractor, injuring the man inside.

Hail, Polk

When
October 8, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Polk County, 3 mi E of Climax
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
47.620, -96.770

The hail covered the ground.

Thunderstorm Wind, Grant

When
October 8, 7:30 PM CST
Where
Grant County, 2 mi E of Wendell
Property damage
$50,000
Coordinates
46.030, -96.050

Two metal grain bins were blown across Highway 55 and into a field. Three others were blown into a shelterbelt.

Thunderstorm Wind, Otter Tail

When
October 8, 8:20 PM CST
Where
Otter Tail County, 20 mi SE of Fergus Falls
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
46.080, -95.770

Strong winds toppled trees.

Thunderstorm Wind, Otter Tail

When
October 8, 8:25 PM CST
Where
Otter Tail County, 1 mi N of Underwood
Property damage
$20,000
Coordinates
46.300, -95.870

A metal quonset shed was destroyed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Becker

When
October 8, 8:50 PM CST
Where
Becker County, 5 mi NE of Rochert
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
46.950, -95.650

Trees were blown down at Height of Land Lake.

Thunderstorm Wind, Becker

When
October 8, 8:50 PM CST
Where
Becker County, Detroit Lakes
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
46.820, -95.830

Trees were blown down in the Detroit Lakes area by the strong wind.

Thunderstorm Wind, Becker

When
October 8, 8:50 PM CST
Where
Becker County, 10 mi S of Audubon
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
46.720, -95.970

Trees were blown down south of Audubon.

Thunderstorm Wind, Becker

When
October 8, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Becker County, 10 mi SSW of Lake Park
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
46.750, -96.180

Some weather equipment was damaged and large trees were uprooted.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hubbard

When
October 8, 9:15 PM CST
Where
Hubbard County, Nevis
Property damage
$30,000
Coordinates
46.970, -94.830

Many large trees were blown down around Nevis. One tree fell on a house.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hubbard

When
October 8, 9:15 PM CST
Where
Hubbard County, Nevis
Property damage
$50,000
Coordinates
46.970, -94.830

Three buildings at Nevis Lumber sustained damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hubbard

When
October 8, 9:22 PM CST
Where
Hubbard County, Nevis
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$70,000
Coordinates
46.970, -94.830

A large recreational vehicle was overturned a complete revolution in the wind with 2 people inside. The woman sustained a cut on her head.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hubbard

When
October 8, 9:22 PM CST
Where
Hubbard County, 7 mi NW of Nevis
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
47.030, -94.930

A large pine tree fell on a lake cabin, damaging the roof and destroying the deck. A van parked next to the cabin was also damaged.

What these are

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.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

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 historyWarnings in Minnesota, October 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5616981, 5616990, 5616996, 5616991, 5616989, 5616992, 5616993, 5617054, 5616987, 5616997, 5616985, 5616986, 5616988, 5616983, 5616982, 5616994, 5616984, 5616995.