Cottonwood, MN Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
The chance of earthquake damage in Cottonwood is about the same as Minnesota average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Cottonwood is about the same as Minnesota average and is about the same as the national average.
Earthquake Index, #205
| Cottonwood, MN | 0.01 |
| Minnesota | 0.01 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| Cottonwood, MN | 0.0000 |
| Minnesota | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #476
| Cottonwood, MN | 131.44 |
| Minnesota | 135.90 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 2,019 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Cottonwood, MN were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 25 | Cold: | 16 | Dense Fog: | 1 | Drought: | 5 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 81 | Hail: | 935 | Heat: | 7 | Heavy Snow: | 24 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 6 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 27 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 741 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 1 | Winter Storm: | 51 | Winter Weather: | 27 |
| Other: | 72 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Cottonwood, MN.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Cottonwood, MN.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Cottonwood, MN.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 42 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Cottonwood, MN.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 12.9 | 1992-06-16 | 3 | 44°47'N / 95°51'W | 44°47'N / 95°42'W | 6.00 Miles | 23 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Yellow Medicine |
| 13.1 | 1981-06-21 | 2 | 44°47'N / 95°34'W | 44°39'N / 95°20'W | 14.40 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Yellow Medicine |
| 13.5 | 1992-06-16 | 3 | 44°47'N / 95°48'W | 2.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 6 | 25.0M | 0 | Yellow Medicine | |
| 14.7 | 1992-06-16 | 2 | 44°31'N / 95°25'W | 44°39'N / 95°20'W | 12.00 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Redwood |
| 17.3 | 1992-06-16 | 2 | 44°47'N / 95°25'W | 2.50 Miles | 13 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Renville | |
| 17.4 | 2000-07-25 | 4 | 44°54'N / 95°40'W | 44°49'N / 95°33'W | 9.00 Miles | 167 Yards | 1 | 15 | 20.0M | 0 | Yellow Medicine |
| Brief Description: The tornado first touched down in rural Yellow Medicine County, 8 miles west, and 3 miles north of Granite Falls. The tornado lifted before exiting Granite Falls, leaving the most concentrated damage path two miles long, and 500 feet wide, through a primarily residential area of Granite Falls. Most of the damage in Granite Falls was caused by F2 to F3 wind speeds. However, this tornado has been classified as a minimal F4 tornado, based on the twisted wreckage of an overturned railroad car near the intersection of 9th Avenue and 14th street in Granite Falls. M82PH | |||||||||||
| 19.8 | 1992-06-16 | 3 | 44°14'N / 95°35'W | 44°27'N / 95°29'W | 16.00 Miles | 90 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Redwood |
| 20.5 | 1992-06-16 | 2 | 44°19'N / 95°37'W | 2.00 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Lyon | |
| 22.3 | 1992-06-16 | 2 | 44°31'N / 95°15'W | 44°36'N / 95°12'W | 8.00 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Redwood |
| 22.8 | 1981-08-05 | 2 | 44°45'N / 95°15'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Renville | |||
| 23.0 | 1968-06-13 | 5 | 44°16'N / 95°35'W | 44°18'N / 95°36'W | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Redwood | ||
| 23.6 | 1992-06-16 | 2 | 44°34'N / 95°10'W | 44°40'N / 95°13'W | 5.50 Miles | 23 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Redwood |
| 24.1 | 1992-06-16 | 3 | 44°21'N / 95°22'W | 44°30'N / 95°09'W | 13.00 Miles | 80 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Redwood |
| 24.1 | 1981-06-23 | 2 | 44°50'N / 95°20'W | 44°47'N / 95°12'W | 6.80 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Renville |
| 24.2 | 1992-06-16 | 2 | 44°39'N / 95°11'W | 5.00 Miles | 23 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Renville | |
| 26.1 | 1968-06-13 | 5 | 44°12'N / 95°42'W | 44°16'N / 95°35'W | 6.80 Miles | 150 Yards | 9 | 150 | 2.5M | 0 | Lyon |
| 27.4 | 1955-07-07 | 4 | 44°29'N / 96°12'W | 30.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 1 | 13 | 2.5M | 0 | Lyon | |
| 27.8 | 1992-06-16 | 3 | 44°12'N / 95°51'W | 44°14'N / 95°43'W | 3.00 Miles | 80 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Lyon |
| 27.8 | 1981-06-21 | 2 | 44°39'N / 95°20'W | 44°25'N / 94°54'W | 26.60 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Redwood |
| 28.4 | 1951-07-20 | 2 | 44°54'N / 96°05'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 4 | 0K | 0 | Codington | |
| 28.6 | 1992-06-16 | 2 | 44°40'N / 95°06'W | 44°43'N / 95°06'W | 3.00 Miles | 13 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Renville |
| 29.3 | 1992-06-16 | 2 | 44°44'N / 95°06'W | 2.00 Miles | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Renville | |
| 29.4 | 1981-06-23 | 2 | 44°32'N / 95°05'W | 1.00 Mile | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Redwood | |
| 29.6 | 1968-06-13 | 5 | 44°10'N / 95°45'W | 44°12'N / 95°42'W | 2.30 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Murray |
| 29.6 | 1955-04-19 | 2 | 44°17'N / 96°09'W | 44°25'N / 96°09'W | 9.20 Miles | 80 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Lincoln |
| 32.8 | 1992-06-16 | 3 | 44°06'N / 95°49'W | 44°12'N / 95°51'W | 9.00 Miles | 80 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Murray |
| 34.7 | 1968-06-21 | 2 | 44°24'N / 96°28'W | 44°22'N / 96°08'W | 16.40 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 1 | 0K | 0 | Lincoln |
| 37.2 | 1992-06-16 | 2 | 44°00'N / 95°51'W | 44°09'N / 95°38'W | 13.00 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Murray |
| 42.6 | 1992-06-16 | 2 | 43°57'N / 95°26'W | 44°06'N / 95°22'W | 7.50 Miles | 90 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Cottonwood |
| 43.6 | 1981-06-21 | 2 | 44°25'N / 94°54'W | 44°17'N / 94°50'W | 9.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Redwood |
| 43.6 | 1992-06-16 | 2 | 43°59'N / 95°46'W | 0.50 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Murray | |
| 44.1 | 1992-06-16 | 4 | 43°57'N / 95°54'W | 44°03'N / 95°58'W | 7.00 Miles | 160 Yards | 0 | 3 | 25.0M | 0 | Murray |
| 44.2 | 2008-07-11 | 3 | 45°04'N / 95°08'W | 45°05'N / 94°58'W | 8.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 2 | 0K | 0K | Kandiyohi |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: Three homes were destroyed and eight others were damaged. Barns and sheds were destroyed, along with two businesses, including two turkey barns. At Highway 71 and County Rd. 19 a small trailer was turned on its side, and several farm tractors were turned on their sides. Two minor injuries occurred at a turkey barn 2.5 miles South of Downtown Willmar. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Instability ahead of a cold front which moved from the Central Dakotas on the morning of the 11th, to the Eastern half of Minnesota by the early evening hours, was the prime ingredient for scattered to numerous severe thunderstorms across the region, during this period. | |||||||||||
| 45.1 | 1952-06-23 | 2 | 44°00'N / 95°17'W | 44°07'N / 95°05'W | 12.50 Miles | 220 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Cottonwood |
| 46.1 | 1998-03-29 | 3 | 43°59'N / 95°26'W | 44°06'N / 94°56'W | 39.50 Miles | 900 Yards | 0 | 3 | 30.0M | 0 | Cottonwood |
| Brief Description: A strong tornado which began in Murray County tracked across Cottonwood County and then further northeast. The tornado destroyed numerous farms, farm equipment, buildings, trees, power lines and poles, vehicles, and other structures in its path. A vehicle was tossed a hundred yards as it hit the first farm in southwest Cottonwood County. People in the basement of the house on this farm received minor injuries. The tornado also destroyed a church near Jeffers, and destroyed numerous homes in the southern part of Comfrey, a city which is only partly in Cottonwood County. | |||||||||||
| 47.4 | 2001-06-11 | 2 | 45°19'N / 95°37'W | 45°16'N / 95°29'W | 8.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 7 | 10.0M | 0 | Swift |
| Brief Description: After several brief tornadoes around Danvers, a much larger tornado struck the east side of Benson and travelled southeast along Highway 212. 71 structures were damaged, including 4 homes and 7 businesses that had to be demolished. The tornado lifted off in DeGraff, but not before damaging one last grain bin, taking the roof off a grain elevator, and knocking several sheds down in DeGraff. Seven people were injured when they fled a van just as the tornado was hitting the vehicle on the eastern edge of Benson. One boy was critically injured but survived and was discharged from the hospital two weeks later. Damage listed encompasses damages from all tornadoes and wind events in Swift County. | |||||||||||
| 48.1 | 1985-04-20 | 3 | 43°55'N / 96°05'W | 44°01'N / 96°00'W | 7.20 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Murray |
| 48.3 | 1952-06-23 | 2 | 44°07'N / 95°05'W | 44°23'N / 94°35'W | 30.70 Miles | 220 Yards | 0 | 5 | 2.5M | 0 | Brown |
| 48.6 | 1981-06-21 | 2 | 44°17'N / 94°50'W | 44°13'N / 94°49'W | 3.80 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Brown |
| 48.8 | 1992-06-16 | 2 | 45°19'N / 95°44'W | 1.50 Miles | 13 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Swift | |
| 49.0 | 1992-06-16 | 5 | 43°51'N / 96°00'W | 44°00'N / 95°51'W | 13.00 Miles | 280 Yards | 1 | 35 | 25.0M | 0 | Murray |
| 49.2 | 1992-06-16 | 2 | 43°55'N / 95°59'W | 43°56'N / 95°54'W | 4.00 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Murray |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.