Benton County Storm Activity
Wind, hail, and tornado activity from official NOAA sources (NWS & SPC) · Last 12 months · Updated Sep 12, 2026
Has it hailed in Benton County, Minnesota recently? Official National Weather Service (NWS) and Storm Prediction Center (SPC) records say yes: 10 hail reports with hail up to 1.5", among 33 severe weather events logged here in the last 12 months, together with 23 high-wind reports with gusts up to 60 mph. The most recent recorded storm activity was on Aug 9, 2026. This page updates daily: every event comes straight from official NOAA data — no estimates, no modeling, just the record.
What the radar showed
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Check an address free →Storm log — the official record, day by day
Events older than 30 days, as recorded by the National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center. Excerpts are quoted directly from official warnings and verified reports.
Sunday, August 9, 2026
1 NWS warning — hail up to 0.75"
“At 229 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong thunderstorms extending from over Rice to 6 miles northwest of Zimmerman, or extending from 16 miles north of St. Cloud to 23 miles east of St. Cloud, moving east at 40 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 30 mph and penny size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.”
- Hail 0.75" Benton County NWS severe weather mention
Friday, August 7, 2026
1 SPC verified storm report — hail up to 1"
- Hail 1" 1 NE St. Cloud SPC verified report
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
1 NWS warning — hail up to 0.25"
“At 1211 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11 miles north of Foley, or 25 miles northeast of St. Cloud, moving east at 40 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Locations impacted include...”
- Hail 0.25" Benton County NWS severe weather mention
Monday, July 6, 2026
1 NWS warning — wind gusts up to 55 mph
“At 1042 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong thunderstorms extending from 7 miles northwest of Bock to 12 miles north of Bellingham, or extending from 30 miles northwest of Cambridge to 27 miles southwest of Morris, moving south at 30 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.”
- Wind 55 mph Benton County NWS severe weather mention
Saturday, July 4, 2026
1 SPC verified storm report — hail up to 1.5"
“First reported quarter sized hail around 4:58pm... then half dollar at 5:02pm... then ping pong at 5:04pm. (MPX)”
- Hail 1.5" 1 NNE St. Cloud SPC verified report
Friday, June 19, 2026
2 NWS warnings — hail up to 0.75"
“At 416 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Rice, or 15 miles southeast of Little Falls, moving east at 35 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Locations impacted include...”
“At 318 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Long Prairie, or 20 miles west of Little Falls, moving east at 35 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 40 mph and penny size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Locations impacted include...”
- Hail 0.75" Benton County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.75" Benton County NWS severe weather mention
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
2 NWS warnings — hail up to 0.5"
“At 212 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking an area of strong thunderstorms extending from near Atwater to over Glencoe, or extending from 15 miles east of Willmar to 15 miles southeast of Hutchinson, moving northeast at 45 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph and half inch size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.”
“At 259 AM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking an area of strong thunderstorms extending from near Flensburg to over St. Anthony, or extending from 11 miles southwest of Little Falls to 18 miles east of Buffalo, moving northeast at 40 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.”
- Hail 0.5" Benton County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.25" Benton County NWS severe weather mention
Thursday, April 23, 2026
2 NWS warnings — hail up to 0.88"
“At 432 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Becker, or 11 miles north of Buffalo, moving northeast at 40 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Locations impacted include...”
“At 341 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Annandale, or 13 miles west of Buffalo, moving northeast at 40 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Locations impacted include...”
- Hail 0.88" Benton County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.75" Benton County NWS severe weather mention
Saturday, March 14, 2026
2 NWS warnings — wind gusts up to 55 mph
“...POWERFUL WINTER STORM ON TRACK TO BRING EXTREME SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND STRONG WINDS... ...A WINTRY MIX OF RAIN, FREEZING RAIN, AND SLEET LATE TONIGHT ACROSS SOUTHERN MINNESOTA... ...TRAVEL MAY BECOME IMPOSSIBLE LATE TONIGHT AND SUNDAY... .A major winter storm will move across the Upper Midwest starting late this afternoon and lasting through Sunday evening.”
“...POWERFUL WINTER STORM ON TRACK TO BRING EXTREME SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND STRONG WINDS... ...A WINTRY MIX OF RAIN, FREEZING RAIN, AND SLEET LATE TONIGHT ACROSS SOUTHERN MINNESOTA... ...TRAVEL MAY BECOME IMPOSSIBLE LATE TONIGHT AND SUNDAY... .A major winter storm will move across the Upper Midwest starting late this afternoon and lasting through Sunday evening.”
- Wind 55 mph Benton County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 55 mph Benton County NWS severe weather mention
Friday, March 13, 2026
1 NWS warning — wind gusts up to 60 mph
“WHAT...Northwest winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 60 mph. WHERE...Benton, Morrison, Sherburne, Wright, Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Washington, Le Sueur, Rice, Steele, and Goodhue Counties. WHEN...Until 10 AM CDT this morning. IMPACTS...Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Power outages are possible.”
- Wind 60 mph Benton County NWS severe weather mention
Thursday, March 12, 2026
3 NWS warnings — wind gusts up to 60 mph
“WHAT...Northwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected. WHERE...Benton, Morrison, Sherburne, Wright, Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Washington, Le Sueur, Rice, Steele, and Goodhue Counties. WHEN...Until 10 AM CDT Friday. IMPACTS...Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are possible.”
“WHAT...Northwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected. WHERE...Benton, Morrison, Sherburne, Wright, Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Washington, Le Sueur, Rice, Steele, and Goodhue Counties. WHEN...From midnight tonight to 10 AM CDT Friday. IMPACTS...Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are possible.”
- Wind 60 mph Benton County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 60 mph Benton County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 60 mph Benton County NWS severe weather mention
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
2 NWS warnings — wind gusts up to 60 mph
“WHAT...Northwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph expected. WHERE...Benton, Morrison, Sherburne, Wright, Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Washington, Le Sueur, Rice, Steele, and Goodhue Counties. WHEN...From midnight Thursday Night to 10 AM CDT Friday. IMPACTS...Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are possible.”
“WHAT...Northwest winds 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible. WHERE...Benton, Morrison, Sherburne, Wright, Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Washington, Le Sueur, Rice, Steele, and Goodhue Counties. WHEN...From late Thursday night through Friday morning. IMPACTS...Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are possible.”
- Wind 60 mph Benton County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 60 mph Benton County NWS severe weather mention
Sunday, December 28, 2025
5 NWS warnings — wind gusts up to 55 mph
“...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS CONTINUE ACROSS SOUTHERN AND WESTERN MINNESOTA... ...TRAVEL IS NOT ADVISED... .Steady snow will continue through the evening and taper off overnight. Total accumulations of 6 to 10 inches are forecast across eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin, with amounts tapering off to 4 or 5 inches across far western Minnesota.”
“...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS CONTINUE ACROSS SOUTHERN AND WESTERN MINNESOTA... ...TRAVEL NOT ADVISED ACROSS SOUTHERN MINNESOTA... .Steady snow will continue through the evening and taper off overnight. Accumulations of 6 to 10 inches are forecast across eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin, with amounts tapering off to 4 or 5 inches across far western Minnesota.”
- Wind 55 mph Benton County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 55 mph Benton County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 55 mph Benton County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 55 mph Benton County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 50 mph Benton County NWS severe weather mention
Saturday, December 27, 2025
2 NWS warnings — wind gusts up to 55 mph
“...ACCUMULATING SNOW AND STRONG WINDS EXPECTED TO BRING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS TO PORTIONS OF WESTERN, CENTRAL, AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA LATE SUNDAY MORNING AND SUNDAY NIGHT... .A developing winter storm over the Northern Plains this evening will become much stronger as it moves across the Upper Midwest Sunday and Sunday night.”
“...ACCUMULATING SNOW AND STRONG WINDS EXPECTED TO BRING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS TO PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MINNESOTA LATE SUNDAY MORNING AND SUNDAY NIGHT... .A developing winter storm over the Northern Plains today will become much stronger as it moves across the Upper Midwest Sunday and Sunday night.”
- Wind 55 mph Benton County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 55 mph Benton County NWS severe weather mention
Thursday, December 18, 2025
6 NWS warnings — wind gusts up to 50 mph
“...WEATHER CONDITIONS SLOWLY IMPROVING... WHAT...A combination of winds gusting 40 to 50 mph, low visibility in falling snow, and flash freeze conditions leading to icy roads and surfaces. WHERE...Portions of central, east central, and southeast Minnesota. WHEN...Until 9 PM CST this evening. IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions.”
“...BLIZZARD CONDITIONS CONTINUING IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA FOR THE REST OF THIS EVENING... WHAT...A combination of winds gusting 40 to 50 mph, low visibility in falling snow, and flash freeze conditions leading to icy roads and surfaces. WHERE...Portions of central, east central, and southeast Minnesota. WHEN...Until 9 PM CST this evening. IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions.”
- Wind 50 mph Benton County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 50 mph Benton County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 50 mph Benton County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 50 mph Benton County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 50 mph Benton County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 50 mph Benton County NWS severe weather mention
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
1 NWS warning — wind gusts up to 50 mph
“...GUSTY WINDS, BLOWNG SNOW, AND ICY FLASH FREEZE CONDITIONS TOMORROW... .Light snow, gusty northwest winds of 40 to 50 mph, & plummeting temperatures develop tomorrow behind an Arctic front. While snow accumulations will likely only be an inch or less, low visibility is expected as the gusty winds blow around the falling snow.”
- Wind 50 mph Benton County NWS severe weather mention
Today's severe weather outlook
Common questions
When was the last severe storm in Benton County, MN?
The most recent recorded event was on Aug 9, 2026. Official NWS and SPC records show 33 severe weather events in Benton County over the last 12 months. Exact dates and locations for recent storms are available in the app with a free account.
Has there been hail in Benton County recently?
Yes — 10 hail reports in the last 12 months, with hail up to 1.5" recorded.
How do I check whether a specific address was affected?
Create a free IDOLCheck account and run an address check. It shows verified storm reports and official NWS warning boundaries around any specific property — county-level pages like this one only tell part of the story.