Gutters, roofing, siding and windows in Knife River, MN

• Gutters in Knife River

  Lake County averages 31.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). One inch of rain on 1,000 square feet of roof is about 623 gallons of water for the gutters to carry.

• Roofing in Knife River

  6 of the 12 hail events on record within 10 miles of Knife River from 2016 through March 31, 2026 had hail 1.5 inches or larger. The National Weather Service counts hail of 1 inch or larger as severe.

• Siding in Knife River

  The strongest thunderstorm wind on record within 10 miles of Knife River from 2016 through September 22, 2025 was 60 mph. The National Weather Service counts a thunderstorm wind of 58 mph or more as severe.

• Windows in Knife River

  65% of homes in Lake County were built before 1980. A home built before 1980 was built before the energy codes in force today were written.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database (hail events through March 31, 2026; thunderstorm-wind and tornado events through September 22, 2025); American Community Survey 2023, 5-year; NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.

The NOAA Storm Events Database records 12 hail events, 9 thunderstorm-wind events and no tornadoes within 10 miles of Knife River from 2016 through March 31, 2026 for hail and through September 22, 2025 for thunderstorm wind and tornadoes. The largest hail on record there in that period was 2 inches on July 27, 2023, near Rice Lake. 6 of those hail events had hail 1.5 inches or larger.

The closest event to the center of Knife River was 58 mph wind on July 8, 2018, less than 1 mile away near Knife River. The most recent hail event within 10 miles of Knife River was on March 14, 2025: 0.88 in hail near Two Harbors. The most recent thunderstorm-wind event within 10 miles of Knife River was on July 27, 2023, near Knife River. The strongest thunderstorm wind recorded within 10 miles of Knife River in that period was 60 mph. The busiest year was 2023, with 5 events in all.

Apart from those database entries, NOAA weather radar indicated hail of 1 inch or larger over Knife River on 1 day from January 2025 on, most recently July 27, 2026. A radar indication is an estimate, not a report from the ground, and the counts and tables on this page do not include it.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database (hail events through March 31, 2026; thunderstorm-wind and tornado events through September 22, 2025); NOAA MRMS radar hail estimates.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database (hail events through March 31, 2026; thunderstorm-wind and tornado events through September 22, 2025).

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database (hail events through March 31, 2026; thunderstorm-wind and tornado events through September 22, 2025).

Lake County has 7,405 housing units, and 87% of them are single-family detached homes (American Community Survey 2023, 5-year). Another 2% are attached homes such as townhomes. Mobile homes make up 3% of the housing units.

The median home in Lake County was built in 1970. 65% of homes in Lake County were built before 1980, and 17% were built in 2000 or later. The most common building period is 1950–1959, with 1,520 homes.

84% of occupied homes in Lake County are owner-occupied. The median owner-occupied home in Lake County is valued at $222,900. Among occupied homes in Lake County, 43% heat with utility gas, 14% with electricity, 29% with bottled or tank gas, 5% with fuel oil and 7% with wood.

• Year-built table and more on the Lake County page

Source: American Community Survey 2023, 5-year (tables B25024, B25034, B25035, B25003, B25077, B25040).

Knife River is in Lake County, so the county ratings below apply to it. Lake County scores 20.6 of 100 for hail in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 85th of 87 Minnesota counties. Lake County scores 89.4 of 100 for strong wind in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 12th of 87 Minnesota counties. Lake County scores 83.2 of 100 for winter weather in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 18th of 87 Minnesota counties. Of the perils listed here, the highest score in Lake County is for strong wind, at 89.4 of 100.

Lake County averages 31.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). The average annual temperature in Lake County is 36.6°F.

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, 2026 release; rank among the state's counties computed from the scores; NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.

The nearest other cities we serve, by straight-line distance, are Two Harbors (7.6 miles), Rice Lake (16 miles), Duluth (21 miles), Superior (23 miles), Hermantown (24 miles), Proctor (26 miles), Superior (26 miles) and Beaver Bay (31 miles). The other Lake County communities we serve are Beaver Bay, Finland, Silver Bay and Two Harbors.

• Two Harbors 7.6 mi
• Rice Lake 16 mi
• Duluth 21 mi
• Superior 23 mi
• Hermantown 24 mi
• Proctor 26 mi
• Superior 26 mi
• Beaver Bay 31 mi
• Esko 32 mi
• Silver Bay 34 mi

Our Duluth office is at 314 W Superior St #913, Duluth, MN 55802, about 19 miles from Knife River. Its hours are Monday–Friday 7:00 AM–7:00 PM. You can reach that office at (218) 833-2997.

• Duluth office: address, hours and map