Cloquet
Population 12,399 (2025)
15 tornadoes have tracked within 25 miles of Cloquet since 1950, 2 of them rated EF3 or F3 or stronger; the most recent was on June 12, 2024.
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 195015
- Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 19841
At a glance
Tornado paths within 25 miles, tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles and wildfire perimeters within 25 miles of the city centre. Storm events, flood insurance claims and disaster declarations are for Carlton County. Earthquakes within 50 miles, volcanoes within 100 miles and smoke days are measured from the city centre; river and tide gauges, tsunami and landslide records and the drought index are for Carlton County.
Strongest tornado
F4
June 11, 1966, 72.8 mile path
Snowiest season
113.4in
Winter of 1950-51
Tornadoes
About one every 5.1 years since 1950, 2 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
June 11, 1966
F4, 72.8 mile path
333 yards wide.
Most recent
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
EF0, 7.8 mile path
2 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| Jun 12, 2024 | EF0 | 7.8 | 0 | 0 |
| May 18, 2022 | EF0 | 3.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 14, 2020 | EF1 | 2.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 9, 2012 | EF0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 9, 2012 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 21, 1986 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 21, 1986 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 12, 1976 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 13, 1973 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 7, 1970 | F1 | 5.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 7, 1970 | F2 | 22.3 | 2 | 0 |
| Aug 6, 1969 | F3 | 18.4 | 20 | 0 |
| Jun 19, 1967 | F0 | 19.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 11, 1966 | F4 | 72.8 | 0 | 0 |
| May 26, 1958 | F0 | 6.9 | 0 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
- Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.
Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
No tropical storm or hurricane has tracked within 100 miles since records began in 1851.
Wildfire and smoke
1 large fire burned within 25 miles since 1984.
Largest
April 29, 2007
Bn Complex 2 Fire, 549 acres
19.3 miles from the city centre.
Most recent
April 29, 2007
Bn Complex 2 Fire
549 acres in total.
Every large fire
| Bn Complex 2 | 2007 | 19.3 | 549 |
- Large fires mapped by the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity program since 1984: 1,000 acres or more in the West, 500 or more in the East. Prescribed burns are excluded. Acres here are the part of each perimeter inside this place.
Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (USGS and U.S. Forest Service), 1984 to 2026.
Smoke overhead
Smokiest year
2023: 85 days
Heavy smoke on 31 days in 2021, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
32.5 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
33 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 45 so far in 2026.
- A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Floods and flood insurance
19 federal flood insurance claims since 1985, with $627,000 paid.
Flood insurance figures are for Carlton County, the county that contains Cloquet.
Most claims in one year
2012: 9 claims
$502,000 paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 55733 | 7 | $201,000 |
| 55767 | 5 | $240,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood18
- Flood4
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.
River crests
River gauges in Carlton County, the county that contains Cloquet.
Most severe crest
June 21, 2012
St. Louis River at Scanlon, 16.62 ft
6.12 feet above the 10.5 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
June 24, 2024
St. Louis River at Scanlon, 11.06 ft
Moderate flooding.
River gauges
| St. Louis River at Scanlon | 10.5 | 16.62 ft | 4 |
- Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.
NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Drought
In severe drought or worse for 143 of 1,581 months since 1895 (9%); the longest spell lasted 16 months.
The drought index is for Carlton County, the county that contains Cloquet.
143
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
49
Months in extreme drought
9%
Share of all months, severe or worse
Lowest reading
April 1911
−6.46, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
16 months
June 1910 to September 1911.
Latest month
September 2026
−3.77, severe drought
- The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.
NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.
Earthquakes and landslides
No earthquake of magnitude 2.5 or more is recorded within 50 miles of the city centre in the USGS catalogue, which begins in 1900.
Mapped landslides
Landslides mapped in Carlton County.
1,787
Landslides mapped, probable or better
601
With a recorded date
1
Source inventory
Mapped by USGS MN (1,787).
- Landslides mapped in the USGS compilation of landslide inventories across the United States (version 3.0, 2025), rated probable or better. The compilation joins inventories made by federal and state agencies for different purposes and areas, so the number mapped in a county reflects how closely it has been surveyed as much as how often its slopes fail. An area with few records may simply not have been mapped. Deaths are as recorded in the inventories; a slide listed in two inventories is counted once.
USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0, retrieved October 27, 2026.
Severe weather and other events
275 events in the National Weather Service record for Carlton County, 229 of them since 1996.
85
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
3
Hail, 2 inches or larger
91
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
0
Winter weather events since 1996
0
Heat events since 1996
0
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
May 30, 2022
2.00 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
July 8, 1974
81 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 5 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Jun 20, 2012Flash Flood$20.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Jay Cooke State Park was evacuated due to severe flooding of the St. Louis River.|Highway 210 through the park was heavily damage. The historic swinging pedestrian bridge was washed away. Miles of hiking and biking trails were damaged.
- Jun 20, 2012Flood$16.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Moose Head Lake in Moose Lake overflowed its banks after the area received 6 to 8 inches of rain, flooding 30 percent of the town. One hundred and fifty homes were flooded. The schools were flooded. The town's water and sewer system were compromised.
- Jun 20, 2012Flood$3.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Flooding of the St Louis River began at the Scanlon gage at 1:30 AM CST on June 20th when it reached a level of 10.50 feet. The St Louis River reached a record-breaking crest of 16.66 feet at 3 am CST on June 21. The St Louis River returned below its flood stage of 10.50 feet on June 28th at 10:00 AM CST. Businesses and a campground near the river were flooded.
- Jun 20, 2012Flash Flood$2.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
The reservoir at the City of Thomson overflowed and Carlton County Emergency Management ordered the evacuation of Thomson. Most of the town was flooded. The water remained for many days. Many homes were lost or severely damaged.
- Jun 26, 2002Lightning$500,000
National Weather Service narrative
Lightning started a fire at an auto body shop, which destroyed the business.
- Aug 27, 2007Lightning$120,000
National Weather Service narrative
A lightning bolt caused considerable roof and structural damage to the Queen of Peace Catholic Church. Damage to the electrical, phone, and public address system was also noted.
- Apr 17, 2025Lightning$75,000
National Weather Service narrative
The Cloquet Are Fire District responded to a report of a house struck by lightning with snow inside the home on Washington Street. Fire crews found significant damage to both the interior and exterior of the home likely caused by the lightning strike. Damage was also found in the adjacent yard further pointing to a lightning strike. No injuries were reported.
- Jun 12, 2024Tornado$50,000
National Weather Service narrative
Tornado developed on or near the Aitkin/Carlton County line and traveled southeast towards Highway 210 between Wright and Cromwell. Minor tree damage was noted on West Road near the start of the tornado path, with a broad area of large branches down and a few trees snapped towards the top. The tornado then traveled across a mainly marsh/bog landscape, crossing Center Road where power lines were damaged and widespread tree damage was noted along a 50 yard stretch of road. The tornado track continued on a southeast to east-southeast path, with the last signs of damage near to just south of Highway 210 near Woodbury Lake where a few clusters of tree damage were noted. No injuries or…
- Aug 2, 2011Lightning$30,000
National Weather Service narrative
Lightning struck tree, which fell onto a house, waking the occupants.
- Sep 19, 2024Hail$30,000
National Weather Service narrative
Cars were damaged on Interstate 35 near the Mahtowa exit.
- Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.
Weather records
From Cloquet, 1.7 miles from the city centre, with records from 1911.
- All-time high
- 105°F4 times, most recently Jul 13, 1936
- All-time low
- −45°F2 times, most recently Jan 12, 1912
- Warmest night
- 78°FJul 26, 1917
- Coldest day
- −20°F2 times, most recently Feb 2, 1996
- Wettest day
- 8.44 inSep 6, 1990
- Snowiest day
- 21.4 inMar 4, 1985
- Hottest year
- 1998mean 44.8°F
- Coldest year
- 1917mean 34.3°F
- Wettest year
- 199142.53 in
- Driest year
- 191819.30 in
- Snowiest season
- 113.4 in1950-51
Median first snow
November 1
Earliest: September 30, 1985
Median last snow
April 16
Latest: May 19, 1971
0 of 75 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Cloquet (USC00211630), 1,265 ft elevation, 1.7 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1911 to October 23, 2026; 98.0% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.
NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.
Federal disaster declarations
10 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Storms and Flooding, July 19, 2023.
Declarations for Carlton County.
| Jul 19, 2023 | Flood | DR-4722-MN |
| Apr 7, 2020 | Biological | DR-4531-MN |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3453-MN |
| Sep 5, 2018 | Flood | DR-4390-MN |
| Jul 6, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4069-MN |
| Sep 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3242-MN |
| May 16, 2001 | Flood | DR-1370-MN |
| Jun 17, 1976 | Drought | EM-3013-MN |
| Aug 25, 1972 | Flood | DR-350-MN |
| Aug 1, 1972 | Flood | DR-347-MN |
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.
Sources and vintage
Every number on this page comes from these public records.
- Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
- Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
- Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
- Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
- Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
- Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USC00211630.
- River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
- Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Landslides USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0 (2025).
- Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.
Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.