Rochester, MN Tornado History — 91 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Rochester, MN had?
Rochester has had 91 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 1 strong to violent (EF3+) tornado.
When was the most recent tornado near Rochester?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Rochester was an EF1 on June 25, 2025.
When is tornado season in Rochester?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Rochester, with 34 on record. April through June account for 66 of the 91 tornadoes on record near Rochester.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Rochester
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 25 total, averaging 1.3 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Rochester since December 29, 2025
These are 3 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Tornado caused roof damage and removed a barn off of its foundation at 50500 County Rd... Plainview... MN. Residents saw the tornado and took shelter in a basement. No (ARX)
Rochester Tower reported tornado on the ground near Highway 63. (ARX)
This EF0 tornado affected mainly rural areas southeast of Oslo MN with estimated max winds around 80 mph. Mainly farm outbuildings and trees sustained light damage duri (ARX)
Within 25 miles of Rochester. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Rochester
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Rochester and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on June 25, 2025 and the most recent on June 25, 2025. It is already counted in the Rochester totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
Spotter reported tornado on the ground looking north from CR 17 and Hwy 65. (ARX)
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
Have any tornadoes near Rochester been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Rochester from any of the 91 tornadoes since 1950, though 53 injuries have been reported, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Rochester
What the record shows near Rochester
The 1960s were the busiest decade near Rochester, with 21 of the 91 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 10 so far. The Rochester record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Rochester, 78 reached EF0 or EF1 and 13 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Rochester is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged.
Across the last 20 years Rochester has averaged 1.3 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 25 in total. 2017 was the busiest of them with 6, and 11 of those years passed with none at all.