The March 29, 1998 tornado

F4Blue Earth, Nicollet, Murray, Cottonwood, Watonwan and Brown counties, Minnesota

An F4 tornado on a 73.5-mile path that killed 1 and injured 19. It was one of 17 tornadoes recorded in the U.S. that day, 3 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Watch how it happened

F4 tornado · March 29, 1998

How it happened

Follow the tornado’s path, minute by minute.

About this replay

Local time (CST)—Historical replay — logged times

Distance—of 73.5 miles

Now in—

RatingF4

Path milestones

Damage pathDrawn at its recorded maximum width, 1,500 yards

TownsSized by population today; those within 3 miles flash as it passes

Counties on the pathLit as the tornado enters them

Source: Storm Prediction Center start and end points. Times as logged by the National Weather Service. Towns are today’s Census places.

The tornado

Rating: F4; Fujita scale
Path length: 73.5 mi; Width up to 1,500 yards
Killed: 1; Along the whole path
Injured: 19; Along the whole path
Date and time: Sunday, March 29, 1998; 3:50 PM CST
That day: 17; tornadoes in the U.S.; more on this date

Counties on its path

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database. Path drawn as a straight line from the recorded start to end point.