Minnesota, 1999

Strong Wind in Minnesota, December 25 to 26, 1999

December 25 to 26, 1999 · NWS DLH · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

Extreme northeastern Minnesota experienced strong, sustained winds of 25 to 40 MPH from late Christmas afternoon into the morning of the 26th. Gusts were measured around 50 mph, especially near Lake Superior, with unofficial estimates as high as 60 mph.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS DLH wrote it up.

Extreme northeastern Minnesota experienced strong, sustained winds of 25 to 40 MPH from late Christmas afternoon into the morning of the 26th. Gusts were measured around 50 mph, especially near Lake Superior, with unofficial estimates as high as 60 mph. The strong winds caused near-whiteout conditions in blowing snow in some locations and knocked down trees and power lines, causing widespread power outages. Several large trees were blown down on the Gunflint Trail. A few businesses in Ely suffered sign damage. Some homes in International Falls had shingles and Christmas lights blown away. Near Ray, some farm buildings had roof damage.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Strong Wind, Koochiching

When
December 25, 3:00 PM CST to December 26, 10:30 AM CST
Where
Koochiching forecast zone
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
48.245, -93.783 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Northern St. Louis

When
December 25, 3:00 PM CST to December 26, 10:30 AM CST
Where
Northern St. Louis forecast zone
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
47.590, -92.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Central St. Louis

When
December 25, 3:00 PM CST to December 26, 10:30 AM CST
Where
Central St. Louis forecast zone
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
47.590, -92.461 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Northern Cook / Northern Lake

When
December 25, 3:00 PM CST to December 26, 10:30 AM CST
Where
Northern Cook / Northern Lake forecast zone
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
47.670, -90.975 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Southern Cook

When
December 25, 3:00 PM CST to December 26, 10:30 AM CST
Where
Southern Cook forecast zone
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
47.817, -90.541 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Southern Lake

When
December 25, 3:00 PM CST to December 26, 10:30 AM CST
Where
Southern Lake forecast zone
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
47.557, -91.935 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Strong Wind
Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Minnesota in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Minnesota, December 1999

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: 5720818, 5720819, 5720820, 5720821, 5720822, 5720823.