Minnesota Power Outage Season
When outages happen most in Minnesota, and what to expect.
July is historically Minnesota's busiest month for recorded power outages, part of a summer season (June–August) that accounts for about 42% of all recorded outages statewide, averaging 2.9 hours per event. 2 of Minnesota's 85 tracked counties currently carry a Reliability Grade of F.
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Minnesota outages by month
Total recorded events and average duration per event, summed across every tracked county in Minnesota.
Peak season insight
Minnesota's outage season runs June–August, accounting for 42% of all recorded outages. July has the highest frequency.
Month-by-month data table
| Month | Events | Avg duration |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1,005 | 2.2 hrs |
| February | 985 | 2.3 hrs |
| March | 1,468 | 2.3 hrs |
| April | 1,971 | 3.3 hrs |
| May | 2,768 | 3.4 hrs |
| June | 4,188 | 3.2 hrs |
| July | 4,369 | 3.1 hrs |
| August | 3,383 | 2.5 hrs |
| September | 2,494 | 3.0 hrs |
| October | 2,417 | 2.6 hrs |
| November | 1,739 | 2.7 hrs |
| December | 1,510 | 3.1 hrs |
This month in Minnesota
October has historically recorded 2,417 outage events across Minnesota, above the state's typical monthly average. Outages that start in October have averaged 2.6 hours.
Main causes by season
Named storms behind Minnesota's worst recorded outages, from the NOAA Storm Events Database.
Winter (December–February)
- Winter Storm
- Blizzard
- Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
- Heavy Snow
- Winter Weather
Spring (March–May)
- Heavy Snow
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Tornado
- Winter Storm
- Hail
Summer (June–August)
- Hail
- Excessive Heat
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Drought
- Heat
Fall (September–November)
- Winter Storm
- Blizzard
- High Wind
- Drought
- Winter Weather
Minnesota's worst outage events on record
The five largest outages in Minnesota by duration and customers affected.
| Date | Duration | Customers affected | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 2024 | 84 hrs | 70,177 (11%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
| Jul 21, 2016 | 108 hrs | 34,294 (27%) | Heat |
| Jun 21, 2025 | 142 hrs | 22,983 (79%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
| Aug 27, 2024 | 78 hrs | 36,431 (14%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
| Jun 24, 2023 | 31 hrs | 84,596 (14%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
Highest-risk counties in Minnesota
Lowest reliability percentile among Minnesota's tracked counties.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Cass County | F | 16th |
| Aitkin County | F | 18th |
| Itasca County | D | 25th |
| Pine County | D | 37th |
| Lake County | D | 38th |
Live weather alerts for Minnesota
Frost Advisory
Frost Advisory issued October 1 at 1:32AM CDT until October 2 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Grand Forks ND
Read the official NWS alert →Frost Advisory
Frost Advisory issued September 30 at 11:58PM CDT until October 2 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Read the official NWS alert →Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued September 30 at 11:58PM CDT until October 2 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Read the official NWS alert →These live alerts come from the National Weather Service. They are public-safety information, not an outage prediction.
Minnesota power outage FAQ
When do power outages happen most in Minnesota?
July is historically the busiest single month for recorded outages in Minnesota, and Summer (June–August) accounts for about 42% of all recorded outages across the state.
How long do power outages in Minnesota typically last?
Across Minnesota's tracked counties, the average recorded outage lasts about 2.9 hours, though individual events -- especially named storms -- can run much longer.
Which counties in Minnesota have the highest outage risk?
Cass County, Aitkin County, Itasca County, Pine County, Lake County currently rank lowest for reliability in Minnesota. See each county's page for its full history.
Does this page predict a power outage in Minnesota?
No. It describes patterns in recorded county-level outage history, not a guaranteed future event. Check the live National Weather Service alerts below for current conditions.
Prepare for Minnesota's outage season
Sized for Minnesota's recorded outage frequency and duration.
