Cottage Grove, MN
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Cottage Grove is rated Relatively Moderate for overall natural hazard risk — near the middle compared to other US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Washington County, MN. The county's highest-rated hazards are strong wind, hail, and tornado.
Storm events near Cottage Grove
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Cottage Grove's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Cottage Grove itself, not the whole county.
County-wide hazard risk
Every other hazard FEMA and NOAA track — including drought — is only scored at the county level. These are Washington County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Cottage Grove along with the rest of the county, not a Cottage Grove-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 64 | Relatively Low |
| Inland Flooding | 83.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 13.3 | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | 80.3 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 94.4 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 87.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 12.9 | Very Low |
| Hail | 94.8 | Relatively High |
| Hurricane | — | Not Applicable |
| Ice Storm | 65.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | 72.6 | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | 88.4 | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | 98.3 | Very High |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 76.6 | Relatively Moderate |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Washington County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Washington County:
More on Washington County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Cottage Grove, MN at risk of?
Cottage Grove is rated Relatively Moderate for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — near the middle compared to other US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Washington County, where Cottage Grove is located, are strong wind, hail, and tornado.
What is Cottage Grove's biggest natural hazard risk?
Strong Wind is the highest-rated hazard for Washington County, where Cottage Grove is located, scoring 98.3 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").
Is Cottage Grove a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Cottage Grove carries near the middle compared to other US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Moderate" for Washington County.
Has Cottage Grove had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 29 tornado, 350 hail, 20 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Cottage Grove since 2016.