High Surf in Minnesota
Every high surf event the National Weather Service has filed in Minnesota, year by year, with the most significant episodes. Large waves breaking on the shore that caused damage, erosion or casualties.
The most significant on the map
The most significant high surf episodes in Minnesota.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 3
- Deaths
- 3
- Injuries
- 0
- Damage
- $200,000
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- High Surf in Minnesota, June 24 to 25, 2023A period of strong winds and waves led to hazardous swimming conditions along the North Shore of Lake Superior the weekend of the 24th and 25th. Two cliff jumpers drowned in the waters near Black Beach in Silver Bay after jumping due to the waves and cold water temperatures.
- High Surf in Minnesota, August 12, 2025Onshore winds led to waves of around 2 to 4 feet with occasional higher waves along the North Shore of Lake Superior during the day on August 12th. A man walking on the beach at a resort in Lutsen was knocked over by the waves and subsequently drowned.
- Ice Storm and High Surf in Minnesota, November 10, 2022A strong Colorado low brought anomalously high moisture to the region on the 10th.
More
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.