How Likely Is a Tornado in Goodhue County, MN?
Goodhue County, MN: what NOAA's tornado record says
Goodhue County has recorded 34 tornado touches in NOAA's 76-year database, a rate of roughly one every 2.2 years - our Elevated band. Put another way: Goodhue County sees more tornado activity than 74% of US counties. Among 87 Minnesota counties in this dataset, Goodhue County ranks 20 for how often a tornado touches down.
Beyond the frequency band: violent history
31 weak and 2 significant tornadoes make up Goodhue County's 34-track record - none violent. NOAA has never logged an EF4 or EF5 crossing this county.
The dollar figure Goodhue County's rating leads to
Cost nationally: $2,890-$13,280, about $7,645 typical. Minnesota has no state rebate program confirmed here; FEMA's underlying 75% cost-share exists nationwide, but applying through a state program is what usually makes it real, and none was found for Minnesota this pass.
What a direct hit isn't required for
Power loss after a tornado outbreak in Minnesota often reaches homes the storm itself never touched. A battery-backup unit covers the outage without the fuel and venting a generator needs.
What this number is, and is not
One caveat before relying on Goodhue County's number: it is county-wide, and it covers about 757 square miles, so a single touch counts the same as one in a county a fraction of that size. Weaker pre-1990s tornadoes are also documented as undercounted in NOAA's own record. Goodhue County has about 47,982 residents.