St. Paul, Woodbury and Dakota County: The East Metro Storm Record

How the three counties compare

All figures come from NOAA's Storm Events Database for 2016 through 2025. Dakota County's 1-inch reports came on 33 different days, more than Hennepin County's 27, even though Hennepin logs larger stones. Every one of Dakota County's 13 tornadoes in that decade was rated EF0.

Ramsey County and St. Paul

• July 26, 2019. Three-inch hail at Shoreview is the largest stone the database records in Ramsey County from 2000 through 2025.
• May 9, 2022. Two-inch hail was logged at St. Paul's downtown Holman Field airport.
• August 27, 2022. An EF0 tornado touched down southeast of I-94 and Highways 10/61, passed east of Harding High School, crossed White Bear Avenue and dissipated near Goodrich Park in Maplewood, dropping dozens of trees onto sheds, houses and cars. The record puts damage at $750,000.
• September 21, 2010. Hail up to half-dollar size ran from Highland Park northeast across the city's north side, with a $5 million estimate.

Washington County and Woodbury

• September 21, 2025. A 2-inch stone at Woodbury, reported via X, ties for the largest in Washington County's 2016-2025 record.
• September 20, 2022. Social media photos showed 2-inch hail between North St. Paul and Lake Elmo, and another between Lake Elmo and Afton.
• May 25, 2008. A tornado rated EF3 intensified as it moved from Lino Lakes into a northwestern Washington County subdivision near Hugo; the record lists one death, 17 injuries and $25 million in damage.

Dakota County, Eagan and Hastings

• March 10, 2021. Hail of 2.5 inches at Sunfish Lake is a reminder that Minnesota hail is not only a summer problem; statewide, the database holds 68 March hail events over the decade.
• July 31, 2024. Two-inch hail fell near Castle Rock in southern Dakota County.
• June 20, 2007. Hockey-puck-size hail of 3 inches damaged many houses and vehicles in and around Hastings, with a $12 million estimate.
• August 13, 2010. An EF1 tornado near Farmington removed large sections of roof structure from a few homes and left numerous others with significant roof damage.

FEMA's DR-4442, for the severe winter storm, straight-line winds and flooding that began March 12, 2019, includes both Ramsey and Washington counties.

St. Paul's reroof inspection rule

St. Paul's Department of Safety and Inspections publishes reroofing inspection requirements for permitted jobs. The permit holder must notify the area building inspector when the work is to begin, ideally the day before and no later than 9:00 a.m. on the start day, and the inspector's name is on the permit inspection card. The handout also notes that the 2012 International Residential Code requires a saddle or cricket on the high side of any chimney wider than 30 inches.

The paperwork on an insurance job

Minnesota Statutes section 325E.66 requires a residential contractor on an insurance-paid job to hand you a written notice of that section's requirements with its initial estimate, and to give a good-faith itemized estimate with any agreement authorizing repairs. Check the company's state license on DLI's lookup before signing.

East-metro roofers on the National Roofing Directory

NRD has city pages for Saint Paul, Woodbury and Eagan.

Frequently asked questions

Does St. Paul inspect reroofing jobs?

Yes. The city's reroofing handout says the roofer must notify the area building inspector before the work begins, no later than 9:00 a.m. on the start day, and the inspector is named on the permit inspection card.

Can hail hit the Twin Cities in early spring?

It can. NOAA's Storm Events Database logs 2.5-inch hail at Sunfish Lake in Dakota County on March 10, 2021, and 68 Minnesota hail events in March across 2016 through 2025.

What must a roofer give me with an estimate on an insurance claim?

Under Minn. Stat. 325E.66, a written notice of that statute's requirements with the initial estimate, plus a good-faith itemized estimate of services and materials with any repair authorization. The same law bars the roofer from promising to pay your deductible.