Wright County, MN Environment & Hazard Risk
Relatively Low natural hazard risk, led by strong wind. 766 storm events since 1996.
- Expected yearly loss
- $51.22M
- Relatively Low nationally
- Storm events since 1996
- 766
- Most often hail
- Flood insurance policies
- 124
- 0.2% of homes
- Hurricanes nearby
- 0
- Since 1851
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Overall risk
Relatively Low
Score 68.4 of 100
Social vulnerability
Very Low
Score 10.6 of 100
Community resilience
Very High
Score 98.5 of 100
Community resilience runs the other way: a higher rating means a community can recover faster.
Building value exposed: $33.66B · Agriculture value exposed: $253M · Risk-adjusted yearly loss: $28.57M
Risk by hazard
- Strong windRelatively High$5.75M/yr expected annual loss, about 4.2 events a year
- HailRelatively Moderate$3.09M/yr expected annual loss, about 6.3 events a year
- TornadoRelatively Moderate$7.57M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
- Winter weatherRelatively Moderate$269K/yr expected annual loss, about 17 events a year
- Heat waveRelatively Low$1.82M/yr expected annual loss, about 4.2 events a year
- LightningRelatively Moderate$698K/yr expected annual loss, about 35 events a year
- WildfireVery Low$169K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2,933 years
- Ice stormRelatively Low$250K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
- LandslideVery Low$4,635/yr expected annual loss, about once every 7 years
- Cold waveRelatively Low$1.6M/yr expected annual loss, about 10 events a year
- DroughtRelatively Low$59.94K/yr expected annual loss, about 5.9 events a year
- EarthquakeVery Low$30K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3,774 years
Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, hurricane, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.
Flood risk and insurance
National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA flood maps
Check the flood zone for an address
- Homes with flood insurance
- 124 of 54,813 (0.2%)
- Homes in high-risk flood zones
- 0
- Flood claims since 1978
- 223
- Claims paid since 1978
- $2M
Flood claims paid per year
- Flooding$18.65K · 8 claims
- Severe flooding$3,070 · 7 claims
- Midwest Flooding$1,219 · 3 claims
- Not a named storm$479 · 1 claim
Storm history
Since 1996: 766 events, 1 death, $85.75M in damage
- Hail306
- Thunderstorm Wind225
- Winter Storm71 · 1 death
- Heavy Rain17
- Winter Weather17
- Tornado17
- Extreme Cold/Wind Chill16
- Funnel Cloud16
- Heavy Snow14
- Flash Flood13
Events per year
27 tornadoes on record (EF0 5, EF1 3, F0 5, F1 8, F2 4, F3 2).
Most damaging storms
Since 1996, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage
- Flash Flood06/25/2002
Countywide, Wright County
$25M damage
What happened
Just three days after a heavy rainfall and flash flooding on the 21st, four to seven inches were widespread across Wright County, and there was an unofficial report of ten inches in less than six hours. Dozens of roads were closed, and many experienced washouts. A cabin at Waverly was pushed off its foundation by a mudslide. One home in Howard Lake sustained severe damage from a mudslide. A mobile home park in Howard Lake was flooded; 17 families were displaced by the water. Over 100 homes in Howard Lake had flooded basements. Some businesses and homes in Delano and Montrose were flooded. In Annandale, ten vehicles were submerged and numerous basements flooded. An auto dealership in Buffalo lost about 270 vehicles when flood waters soaked their lot. Dozens of basements were flooded in Buffalo and Maple Lake. Local agricultural officials estimate as much as 25% of the crops were lost, and 650 farms experienced losses.
- Hail1.5" hail09/22/2005
Otsego, Wright County
$25M damage
What happened
Hail damaged roofs and siding of houses, as well as many vehicles. Property damage total includes damage from across all of Wright County from 9-21-05.
- Thunderstorm Wind95 kt wind07/02/1997
Monticello, Wright County
$20M damage
What happened
While several tornadoes converged on the southern edge of town, hurricane force winds battered the northern portions. The intersection of Interstate 94 and highway 25 was hardest hit by downburst winds resulting in extensive roof damage. Every tree in Ellison Park damaged. Roof ripped off automobile dealership flung into new car area destroying 75 new cars and trucks. Numerous recreational vehicles at RV dealership totaled. Over 200 structures significantly damaged. 61 homes and apartment buildings declared uninhabitable. 30 factories closed. Northern States Power transmission towers blown down. 2500 trees lost. Air conditioning unit blown off high school roof. Parked truck blown two thirds of a block. $100 million dollars damage estimate in Wright county. Called worst storm in 60 year history of Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association.
- Winter Storm04/16/2014
Wright
1 death, 2 injured
What happened
Numerous reports from local observers, and county officials indicated a large area of snowfall across the county. Amounts ranged from 12 to 15 inches in the northern portion of the county, to around 6 to 8 inches in the far south. ||The Minnesota State Patrol reported a car crash during the afternoon of Wednesday, April 16th. A woman was heading east on Highway 55 and lost control on the slick roads and slid sideways into a vehicle, killing her. Two others had minor injuries in the crash.
- Hail1.75" hail08/24/2006
St Michael, Wright County
$5M damage
What happened
Vehicles, homes and businesses damaged. Damage total includes all storm reports from August 24 in Wright County.
- Flash Flood09/06/2002
Countywide, Wright County
$2.2M damage
What happened
Three to seven inches of rain fell on waterlogged Wright County, site of several flash floods earlier in the summer. Several creeks and ditches overflowed, including Willow Creek in Buffalo. Water was two to three feet deep over numerous roads. Basements were flooded in homes and businesses. The parking lot of a vehicle dealership flooded, and 80 vehicles sustained damage. Several other vehicles were flooded at a nearby auto repair shop.
Latest storm reports
Newest first
- Funnel Cloud07/05/2026
Buffalo Muni Arpt, Wright County
- Funnel Cloud07/05/2026
Buffalo Muni Arpt, Wright County
- Funnel Cloud07/05/2026
Maple Lake, Wright County
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind06/19/2026
Montrose, Wright County
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind06/19/2026
South Haven, Wright County
- Hail0.88" hail06/19/2026
Hanover, Wright County
- Hail0.75" hail06/06/2026
Silver Creek, Wright County
- Winter Weather04/02/2026
Wright
Drinking water
18 community water systems serve about 114,781 people. Violations since 2021.
1 system had health-based violations, such as a contaminant over the legal limit or a missed treatment step. 1 system had a violation of any kind still open at last report.
- Joint Powers Water BoardServes 30,922 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
- OtsegoServes 19,000 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
- BuffaloServes 16,711 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
- MonticelloServes 15,087 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
- Delano Municipal UtilitiesServes 7,500 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
- RockfordServes 4,863 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
- MontroseServes 3,915 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
- AnnandaleServes 3,430 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
Largest systems by population served. Monitoring and reporting violations mean required tests or notices were late or missing, not that the water was unsafe.
Climate
1991-2020 normals at Buffalo 2ne, 5.4 mi from the county center
Summer highs peak around 81°F in Jul and winter lows bottom out near 3°F in Jan. About 31.7 inches of rain falls in a typical year, with 39.8 inches of snow.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21°F | 3°F | 0.69 in | 7.3 in |
| Feb | 27°F | 7°F | 1.02 in | 8.0 in |
| Mar | 39°F | 21°F | 1.43 in | 6.8 in |
| Apr | 54°F | 35°F | 2.57 in | 2.6 in |
| May | 67°F | 47°F | 4.23 in | - |
| Jun | 77°F | 57°F | 4.41 in | - |
| Jul | 81°F | 61°F | 4.33 in | - |
| Aug | 79°F | 59°F | 4.50 in | - |
| Sep | 71°F | 51°F | 3.39 in | - |
| Oct | 57°F | 37°F | 2.51 in | 0.2 in |
| Nov | 40°F | 24°F | 1.52 in | 5.6 in |
| Dec | 27°F | 11°F | 1.14 in | 9.3 in |
| Year | 44°F average | 31.7 in | 39.8 in | |
Pollution sites
0 Superfund sites and 7 toxic release facilities in Wright County
Superfund sites
None in this county.
Toxic release facilities
- Dura Supreme43,187 lbs released, Howard Lake
- Easiway Systems Inc.750 lbs released, Delano
- Wsi Industries148 lbs released, Monticello
- Knife River Albertville Ready Mix140 lbs released, Albertville
- OMG Building Products LLC10.7 lbs released, Rockford
- Twin City Die Castings Counder 1 lb released, Monticello
- Cemstone - Delano0 lbs released, Delano
Total: 44,236 lbs in 2024, 44,096 lbs to air.
Superfund sitesToxic release facilitiesEPA inspections and enforcementAir toxics cancer risk20 historic places
Frequently asked questions
- How risky is Wright County for natural disasters?
- FEMA rates Wright County relatively low for overall natural hazard risk, with expected losses of $51.22M a year. The highest-rated hazards are strong wind (relatively high), hail (relatively moderate), tornado (relatively moderate).
- What storms are most common in Wright County?
- Since 1996, NOAA recorded 766 storm events affecting Wright County, most often hail (306), thunderstorm wind (225), winter storm (71).
- How many tornadoes have hit Wright County?
- 27 tornadoes have been recorded in Wright County since 1950, including 2 rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
- How many homes in Wright County have flood insurance?
- 124 residential flood insurance policies are in force in Wright County, covering about 0.2% of homes. The program has paid $2M on 223 claims here since 1978.
- What is the weather like in Wright County?
- At Buffalo 2ne, average highs reach 81°F in Jul and lows fall to 3°F in Jan, with 31.7 inches of rain a year (1991-2020 normals).
Source: FEMA (National Risk Index, NFIP), NOAA (Storm Events, HURDAT2, Climate Normals), EPA · Last updated 08/01/2026 · Storm counts include events in forecast zones that touch the county. This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.