Albert Lea, MN Tornado History — 142 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Albert Lea, MN had?
Albert Lea has had 142 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 14 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Albert Lea?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Albert Lea was an EF0 on June 26, 2025.
When is tornado season in Albert Lea?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Albert Lea, with 58 on record. April through June account for 97 of the 142 tornadoes on record near Albert Lea.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Albert Lea
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 61 total, averaging 3.0 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Albert Lea since December 29, 2025
These are 4 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
Delayed report... time estimated from radar. Damage in line QLCS tornado... supported by radar signature and near storm environment. (MPX)
Delayed report... time estimated from radar. Damage to out buildings... and swirls in farm field match up with other reports. Possible tornado start. (MPX)
Structure damage. Time estimated via radar. (DMX)
Corrects previous tornado report from 3 ESE Matawan. Trained spotter relayed tornado video via social media. Location and time estimated by radar and from spotter damag (MPX)
Within 25 miles of Albert Lea. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Albert Lea
4 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Albert Lea and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on June 25, 2025 and the most recent on June 26, 2025. They are already counted in the Albert Lea totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
Trained spotter confirmed Tornado on the ground 3 miles west of Hayward. (MPX)
Law enforcement reports a tornado southwest of Ellendale... moving northeast. (MPX)
Law enforcement reports a tornado just west of Freeborn. (MPX)
Multiple reports of a tornado SW of Alden. (MPX)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Albert Lea
20 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Albert Lea since 1950, across 5 events. 135 injuries have been reported across all events. 1967 was the deadliest year on record near Albert Lea.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 30, 1967, which caused 6 fatalities along a 20.1-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Albert Lea
What the record shows near Albert Lea
The 2010s were the busiest decade near Albert Lea, with 27 of the 142 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 26 so far. The Albert Lea record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Albert Lea, 102 reached EF0 or EF1 and 37 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Albert Lea is rated EF4, of which 6 are logged. A further 3 near Albert Lea are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Albert Lea has averaged 3.0 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 61 in total. 2010 was the busiest of them with 17, and 7 of those years passed with none at all.