March 29, 1998. It was the single largest outbreak of tornadoes in Minnesota history for the month of March.
A total of 14 in all touched down in that early spring storm.
But, to the residents of Comfrey, Le Center and Saint Peter, March 29, 1998 will forever be known as the day “The Tornado” hit.
The tornado developed in eastern Murray county, moving northeast toward Jeffers, Comfrey, Hanska and Courtland. This tornado stayed on the ground for 67 miles and was a mile and a half wide near Hanska.
Another tornado developed after the first dissipated near Nicollet. This was the tornado that caused the damage in St. Peter.
90% of the homes and businesses in St. Peter sustained damage of some sort, with estimates ranging from $300 to 500 million.
Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter was especially hard–hit, with several buildings damaged or destroyed, 2,000 trees lost, and nearly 80% of the windows on the campus shattered.
In Comfrey, 75% of the structures in the town were damaged or destroyed, including the local school.
Seven counties in southern Minnesota were later declared federal disaster areas.
Another tornado caused damage in Le Center, where 25 mobile homes were lost, as well as in Lonsdale.
