St. Cloud, Minnesota: natural disaster risk
How exposed St. Cloud is to floods, storms and other hazards, from FEMA and NOAA records for Stearns County.
St. Cloud is a city of 70,629 people in Stearns County, Minnesota. Parts of St. Cloud also reach into Sherburne County and Benton County. FEMA's National Risk Index rates Stearns County relatively moderate for natural hazards overall, about average for the US. The costliest hazards there are inland flooding, tornado and cold wave, with about $78.9 million in expected losses a year across the county. The weather service has logged 853 storm reports in the county since 1953, including 57 tornadoes and 22 floods. About 0.2% of homes in the county carry federal flood insurance.
Risk figures are for Stearns County, the county with most of the population St. Cloud sits in. FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; NOAA Storm Events; US Census Bureau ACS 2020 to 2024. Updated November 6, 2026.
Top risks in St. Cloud
Full Stearns County report ›- Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
- Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
- Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
- Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
- Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
- Know how to shut off the main water valve.
All hazards
| Hazard | Rating | A year |
|---|---|---|
| Inland flooding | $48M | |
| Tornado | $11M | |
| Cold wave | $6M | |
| Strong wind | $5M | |
| Hail | $4M | |
| Heat wave | $1M | |
| Lightning | $1M | |
| Winter weather | $558K | |
| Wildfire | $336K | |
| Ice storm | $284K | |
| Drought | $266K | |
| Earthquake | $51K |
Homes in St. Cloud
Older homes and mobile homes usually take more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes. Ask about roof age, flood history and retrofits before you buy or rent.
Strongest tornadoes in Stearns County
Other cities in Minnesota
All ›Common questions about St. Cloud
Is St. Cloud safe from natural disasters?
St. Cloud is in Stearns County, which FEMA's National Risk Index rates relatively moderate overall, about average for the US. The biggest hazards are inland flooding, tornado, cold wave. No place is free of risk, so check the flood map and insurance for any home you consider.
What natural disasters happen in St. Cloud?
By expected yearly losses in Stearns County, the top hazards are inland flooding (Moderate), tornado (High), cold wave (Moderate). Stearns County has been part of 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events.
Does St. Cloud get tornadoes?
Yes. NOAA records list 57 tornadoes in Stearns County since 1950; the strongest was an F3 tornado on September 3, 1980. FEMA rates tornado risk in the county high.
Do I need flood insurance in St. Cloud?
Standard home insurance does not cover floods. In Stearns County, about 0.2% of homes have federal flood insurance, and FEMA rates inland flooding risk moderate. Check the FEMA flood map for your address and get a quote even outside a high-risk zone.