Winona County, Minnesota Tornadoes

Tornadoes in northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and southwest and central Wisconsin
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Background Information

Statistics (1850-Present)

Records (1850-Present)

Winona County (MN) Tornadoes*
1850-2006

Date			Time	Location	Other Counties Affected	Length (miles)	Width (yards)	Deaths**	Injuries**	F-Scale
Month	Day	Year	Time	Location	Other Counties Affected	Length (miles)	Width (yards)	Deaths**	Injuries**	F-Scale
7	8	1999	1820-1830 CST	Lewiston 1.5NW to Lewiston 2SE	None	3.5	100	0	2	F2
			This tornado touched down just northwest of Lewiston, then moved into the middle of town and intensified. Numerous homes along Main Street had extensive damage with broken windows, damaged roofs, and downed trees. One home had the entire roof taken off, while at least 4 cars were demolished from debris landing on them. A farm on the southeast corner of town had every building destroyed, except the house. Only two injuries were reported.
6	5	1997	1607-1612 CST	Utica 1NW to Utica 1NE	None	2	80	0	0	F0
			Reported by spotters in open fields.
7	27	1993	1544 CST	Altura 4N	None	0.1	16	0	0	F0
			There was a brief touchdown in a cornfield and cut a swath 1/8 mile by 50 feet wide near a farm home. The tornado ripped shingles and a large door from a building.
7	11	1987	1810 CST	Rollingstone 2.5SE	None	0.1	5	0	0	F0
			A brief touch down was reported in Hillsdale Township.
7	10	1984	1342 CST	Lewiston 1.5W	None	0.8	15	0	0	F0
			Touched down in a cornfield.
5	17	1982	1632-1715 CST	Chatfield (MN) to Buffalo City	Buffalo Olmsted Wabasha	29	800	0	3	F2
			This tornado originally touched down near Chatfield (Olmsted Co.) and moved northeast through sections of Winona (½ mile southwest of Nodine) and Wabasha Counties in southeast Minnesota before crossing into western Wisconsin. Eleven barns were destroyed, 12 homes were damaged, and three people were injured from flying glass. All 3 people injured were in Buffalo County.
5	17	1982	1632 CST	?	None	?	?	0	0	F2
6	5	1980	1952 CST	Lewiston 2SE	None	4.5	100	0	0	F2
			All barns and outbuildings were destroyed on a farm. Witnesses reported three funnels that traveled a wide area.
6	20	1968	2310 CST	?	None	?	?	0	0	F0
6	15	1967	0220 CST	?	None	?	?	0	0	F1
5	5	1965	2000-2020 CST	Money Creek 1NW to Mindoro 1W	Houston La Crosse	30	150	0	1	F3
			Moved east-northeast from northwest of Money Creek, crossing the Mississippi River near Dakota, MN, and passing between Mindoro and Stevenson, WI. Several barns and a brick school house were destroyed. A dozen Wisconsin farms lost buildings and 1 person (La Crosse County) was injured when a car was thrown 75 feet.
5	5	1965	1900 CST	Fremont 4S	None	??	100	0	0	F2
			Two farms were torn apart.
5	10	1953	1810-1820 CST	St. Charles 2NW	Olmsted	18	400	1	11	F4
			This tornado moved northeast and passed about 2 miles northwest of St.Charles (Winona Co.). Farms were torn up all along the track. An infant was killed (Olmsted County) and 4 other people were injured in a car that was thrown 100 feet, about 1.5 miles west of St.Charles. Four more injuries occurred in a barn, and three more in another car. Hundreds of trees were snapped at Whitewater State Park. Overall this tornado killed one person (Olmsted County) and injured 11 people (6 in Olmsted and 5 in Winona).
7	27	1935	1715 CST	Chatfield 2S to Lewiston 3N	Fillmore Olmsted	20	??	0	8	F2
			This tornado moved northeast, accompanied by a five-mile-wide downburst. Every home was damaged at Utica (Winona Co.) and barns were swept away on at least 4 farms. Wind-related damage totalled $350,000, with flooding also causing damage.
8	8	1905	1900 CST	Lanesboro 7NW	Fillmore	12	??	1	4	F2
			Moved east-northeast, damaging or destroying 6 homes in Fillmore County. This tornado tracked into Winona County before dissipating.
10	3	1903	1350 CST	Chatfield 3W to Independence (WI)	Buffalo Olmsted Trempealeau	55	300	9	45	F4
			This tornado moved northeast from west of Chatfield (Olmsted Co.), passing through and devastating St.Charles. Seven people were killed and 30 injured as 50 homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed. Homes were also swept away in Wisconsin, where two people died in Independence (Trempealeau Co.) and half of the town was torn apart. Damage for both states totalled $400,000.
6	17	1899	1700 CST	2NW Lewiston (MN) to Waumandee Valley in Wisconsin	Buffalo (WI)	15	100	0	5	F3
			Moved north northeast from 2 miles northwest of Lewiston, crossing the Mississippi River 6 miles northwest of Winona, and cutting a path through the Waumandee Valley in Wisconsin. There was little damage in Minnesota, but homes and barns were swept away in Wisconsin, and all injuries occurred there. Over 50 hogs were killed on Wisconsin farm.
9	21	1894	2300 CST	Homer (MN) to Marshland (WI)	Trempealeau	5	?	0	3	F2
			This tornado moved to the northeast from Homer, Minnesota to Marshland, Wisconsin. The new town hall was destroyed at Homer as were two homes, a dry goods store, and three barns. Another barn was destroyed near Marshland.
8	21	1883	2030 CST	St Charles 2N to Lewsiston 4N	None	12	?	1	19	F3
			This tornado moved east northeast from 2 miles north of St. Charles to 4 miles north of Lewiston. One man was killed in the destruction of a farm house 4 miles northeast of St. Charles. Seventeen people were injured in another farm house. This was 3 hours after the Rochester Tornado which was a large factor in the subsequent development of the Mayo Clinic there.
* The data in this table came from *Storm Data* and *Significant Tornadoes--1680-1991* by Thomas P. Grazulis. ** Injuries and Deaths are for the entire tornado track.

Last Updated Monday, January 23, 2006 - Jeff Boyne

NOAA's National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office