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Prior Lake, MN Tornado History — 117 Tornadoes Since 1950

Minnesota · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Prior Lake, MN had?

Prior Lake has had 117 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 8 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Prior Lake?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Prior Lake was an EF0 on June 28, 2025.

When is tornado season in Prior Lake?

May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Prior Lake, with 31 on record. April through June account for 58 of the 117 tornadoes on record near Prior Lake.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
117
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
8
6.8% of total
Peak Month
May
31 on record
Per Year Avg
1.5
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Prior Lake

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 45 total, averaging 2.3 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 5
2024 0
2023 0
2022 6
2021 7
2020 3
2019 3
2018 3
2017 2
2016 0
2015 0
2014 0
2013 0
2012 4
2011 2
2010 7
2009 2
2008 1
2007 0

What storm spotters reported near Prior Lake

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Prior Lake and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on June 28, 2025 and the most recent on June 28, 2025. It is already counted in the Prior Lake totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

June 29, 2025
1 NNW Victoria, Carver County, MN
Corrects previous tornado report from 1 NNW Victoria. TDS confirmed via radar. Trees were reported blocking Hwy 7 completely from Mnnewashta Pkwy to Rolling Acres Rd. (MPX)

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

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 3
1960s 17
1970s 7
1980s 10
1990s 23
2000s 15
2010s 21
2020s 21

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 71
EF1 26
EF2 12
EF3 4
EF4 4

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 5
Apr 3
May 31
Jun 24
Jul 22
Aug 20
Sep 8
Oct 1
Nov 3
Dec 0

Casualties on Record Near Prior Lake

22 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Prior Lake since 1950, across 9 events. 961 injuries have been reported across all events. 1965 was the deadliest year on record near Prior Lake.

The deadliest single event was an F4 on May 6, 1965, which caused 6 fatalities along a 17.3-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Prior Lake

Deadliest Tornado
F4 on May 6, 1965 — 6 fatalities, 17.3 mi path, 667 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
EF1 on May 22, 2011 — $166.6M in reported property damage.
Widest Tornado
F2 on March 29, 1998 — 1,760 yards wide.
Longest Path
F2 on June 23, 1952 — 104.8 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on June 28, 2025.

What the record shows near Prior Lake

The 1990s were the busiest decade near Prior Lake, with 23 of the 117 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 21 so far. The Prior Lake record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Prior Lake, 97 reached EF0 or EF1 and 20 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Prior Lake is rated EF4, of which 4 are logged.

Across the last 20 years Prior Lake has averaged 2.3 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 45 in total. 2010 was the busiest of them with 7, and 8 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Prior Lake, MN had?
Since 1950, 117 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Prior Lake. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Prior Lake?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Prior Lake was an F4 on May 6, 1965, which caused 6 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Prior Lake?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Prior Lake, with 31 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 Prior Lake been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Prior Lake, there have been 0 EF5 and 4 EF4 tornadoes 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 Prior Lake?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Prior Lake was an EF0 on June 28, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Prior Lake?
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

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