VORTEX
TORNADO HISTORY
← All Cities

Northfield, MN Tornado History — 125 Tornadoes Since 1950

Minnesota · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Northfield, MN had?

Northfield has had 125 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Northfield?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Northfield was an Unrated on August 29, 2025.

When is tornado season in Northfield?

May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Northfield, with 24 on record. April through June account for 51 of the 125 tornadoes on record near Northfield.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
125
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
3
2.4% of total
Peak Month
May
24 on record
Per Year Avg
1.6
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Northfield

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 56 total, averaging 2.8 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 3
2024 2
2023 0
2022 3
2021 11
2020 1
2019 1
2018 18
2017 2
2016 4
2015 0
2014 0
2013 1
2012 1
2011 0
2010 6
2009 1
2008 1
2007 1

What storm spotters reported near Northfield

3 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Northfield and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 28, 2025 and the most recent on August 29, 2025. They are already counted in the Northfield totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.

August 29, 2025
5 ESE Kenyon, Goodhue County, MN
[Landspout] Brief landspout tornado video captured over farm field south of MN60. No damage observed. Location and time approximate based on radar. (MPX)
April 28, 2025
6 W Kenyon, Rice County, MN
Brief tornado visible in video and photos of structure damage to a farm. Lofted debris blown downstream about a mile. Time estimated from radar. (MPX)
April 28, 2025
3 E Morristown, Rice County, MN
Delayed report A group of trees sustained damage and an outbuilding lost roof and wall panels. (MPX)

Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 3
1960s 12
1970s 4
1980s 10
1990s 31
2000s 12
2010s 33
2020s 20

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.

EF0 73
EF1 36
EF2 11
EF3 2
EF4 1
Unrated 2

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 5
Apr 6
May 24
Jun 21
Jul 20
Aug 22
Sep 24
Oct 0
Nov 1
Dec 2

Casualties on Record Near Northfield

6 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Northfield since 1950, across 2 events. 80 injuries have been reported across all events. 1967 was the deadliest year on record near Northfield.

The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 30, 1967, which caused 5 fatalities along a 38.7-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Northfield

Deadliest Tornado
F4 on April 30, 1967 — 5 fatalities, 38.7 mi path, 100 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F4 on April 30, 1967 — est. ~$27.5M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F2 on March 29, 1998 — 1,760 yards wide.
Longest Path
F2 on June 24, 1952 — 70.9 mile track.
Most Recent
Unrated on August 29, 2025.

What the record shows near Northfield

The 2010s were the busiest decade near Northfield, with 33 of the 125 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 20 so far. The Northfield record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Northfield, 109 reached EF0 or EF1 and 14 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Northfield is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged. A further 2 near Northfield are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.

Across the last 20 years Northfield has averaged 2.8 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 56 in total. 2018 was the busiest of them with 18, and 5 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Northfield, MN had?
Since 1950, 125 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Northfield. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Northfield?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Northfield was an F4 on April 30, 1967, which caused 5 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Northfield?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Northfield, with 24 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
Has Northfield been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Northfield, there has been 0 EF5 and 1 EF4 tornado recorded since 1950. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are the most destructive ratings on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds above 166 mph.
When was the most recent tornado near Northfield?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Northfield was an Unrated on August 29, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Northfield?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

More Cities in Minnesota