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Ottertail, MN

Full City Profile · Minnesota · Otter Tail County County

3.4 /5.0
B Good
490 Population 114/sq mi density
$83,750 Median Income $56,679 per capita
$262,500 Home Value $342,843 Zillow
$1,047 Median Rent 21.1% income on rent
41°F Avg Temperature 276 sunny days/yr
193 Violent Crime/100K 1,327 property/100K
B
Overall
3.4 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.5 / 5.0
$83,750 median income, 3.0% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.9 / 5.0
$262,500 home value, $1,047/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
193 violent crimes/100K
B
Education
3.0 / 5.0
25.5% bachelor's degree or higher
Ottertail has a cool climate with an average annual temperature of 41°F (5°C). Winters average 8°F in January while summers reach 69°F in July. The area gets 276 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 28.2 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 36.

Temperature

8°F Jan (-14°C) 69°F Jul (21°C)
Annual Average40.9°F
24% below US avg
January Average8°F (-14°C)
July Average69°F (21°C)
Sunny Days276 days/yr

Geography

Elevation1,340 ft (408 m)
Area4.3 sq mi (11.1 km²)
Population Density114/sq mi
Coordinates46.4316°N, 95.5712°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyOtter Tail County County
Nearest AirportHector International (FAR)
68 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 28.2"
26% below US avg
Wettest Month (Jun) 4.33"
Driest Month (Feb) 0.59"

Air Quality

AQI Median36.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Low
Risk Score79.4 / 100
Social Vulnerability53.5 / 100
Community Resilience92.6 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Earthquake Very Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Very High
Lightning Relatively Low
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively High
Landslide Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

3 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.1. Most recent: M2.5 on Apr 29, 2011.

Jun 5, 1993 11 km N of Johnson, Minnesota M4.1 101 km
Oct 20, 1995 8 km SSE of New Effington, South Dakota M3.7 123 km
Apr 29, 2011 Minnesota M2.5 49 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Tornado History

376 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 4 fatalities, 134 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jul 8, 2020 EF4 47 km 1
Aug 7, 2010 EF4 89 km 0
Jun 17, 2010 EF4 40 km 1
Jun 17, 2010 EF4 30 km 0
Jun 11, 1966 EF4 95 km 0
Jun 6, 2008 EF3 74 km 0
Jun 13, 2001 EF3 35 km 0
Jul 5, 1991 EF3 94 km 0
May 10, 1982 EF3 83 km 0
Aug 26, 1977 EF3 83 km 0
Jun 28, 1975 EF3 91 km 0
Aug 6, 1969 EF3 72 km 0
Jun 18, 1964 EF3 90 km 0
May 5, 1964 EF3 90 km 0
Jul 2, 1955 EF3 87 km 0
Jun 24, 2023 EF2 95 km 0
Jun 24, 2022 EF2 49 km 0
May 30, 2022 EF2 54 km 0
May 30, 2022 EF2 70 km 0
May 30, 2022 EF2 80 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (9,055 ac, 2007).

Year Name Acres Distance
2007 UNNAMED 9,055 91 km
2009 CENTER TANK RANGE 6,131 92 km
1988 UNNAMED 4,475 91 km
2003 ROTHSAY 3,015 62 km
2009 HENDRICKSON IMPACT AREA 2,757 93 km
2024 DORAN WMA 2,455 59 km
2009 EAST TANK RANGE 1,801 92 km
2009 DOWNING 1,506 87 km
2012 JEEP FIRE 1,437 55 km
2012 SPRING CREEK 1,413 83 km
2000 00 14 1,377 61 km
2007 FLICKERTAIL 1,239 93 km
1996 UNNAMED 1,153 82 km
1998 UNNAMED 1,026 82 km
1999 HELLIKSEN 993 83 km
1992 MEADOWS 922 72 km
2002 1000 AC S 880 60 km
1985 UNNAMED 880 93 km
2005 HILLICKSON 05 818 81 km
1989 UNNAMED 807 83 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 8°F (-14°C) 0.9 in Coldest
February 14°F (-10°C) 0.6 in Driest
March 26°F (-3°C) 1.3 in
April 42°F (5°C) 2.3 in
May 55°F (13°C) 3.0 in
June 65°F (18°C) 4.3 in Wettest
July 69°F (21°C) 3.7 in Warmest
August 68°F (20°C) 3.3 in
September 58°F (14°C) 2.6 in
October 45°F (7°C) 2.3 in
November 28°F (-2°C) 1.1 in
December 13°F (-11°C) 0.8 in

Ottertail has a seasonal temperature swing of 62°F / from 8°F in January to 69°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 26.1 inches, with June being the wettest month (4.3") and February the driest (0.6").

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