Gutters, roofing, siding and windows in ZIP code 56686, Williams, MN

• Gutters in ZIP code 56686

  Lake of the Woods County averages 24.2 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 ZIP code 56686

  2 of the 5 hail events on record within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56686 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 ZIP code 56686

  The strongest thunderstorm wind on record within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56686 from 2016 through September 22, 2025 was 62 mph. The National Weather Service counts a thunderstorm wind of 58 mph or more as severe.

• Windows in ZIP code 56686

  46% of homes in ZIP code 56686 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.

ZIP code 56686 is filed here under Williams, in Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota; its center is about 171 miles north of our Brainerd office. Our address file holds 1,056 address points in ZIP code 56686. Of the cities and towns on our pages, ZIP code 56686 covers only Williams.

Source: Census ZIP Code Tabulation Area, county and place boundaries (a ZIP code can also take in land outside any city or town).

ZIP code 56686 has 782 housing units, and 78% of them are single-family detached homes (American Community Survey 2023, 5-year). Another 1% are attached homes such as townhomes. Mobile homes make up 19% of the housing units.

The median home in ZIP code 56686 was built in 1983. 46% of homes in ZIP code 56686 were built before 1980, and 17% were built in 2000 or later. The most common building period is 1990–1999, with 178 homes.

89% of occupied homes in ZIP code 56686 are owner-occupied. The median owner-occupied home in ZIP code 56686 is valued at $175,300. Among occupied homes in ZIP code 56686, 5% heat with utility gas, 24% with electricity, 53% with bottled or tank gas, 1% with fuel oil and 17% with wood.

Source: American Community Survey 2023, 5-year (tables B25024, B25034, B25035, B25003, B25077, B25040), for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 56686.

The nearest other ZIP codes we serve, measured center to center, are 56763 in Warroad (20 miles west), 56623 in Baudette (20 miles southeast), 56727 in Grygla (37 miles southwest) and 56751 in Roseau (39 miles west). The table sets ZIP code 56686 beside the 4 ZIP codes nearest to it, using the same Census figures for each.

Source: American Community Survey 2023, 5-year, by ZIP Code Tabulation Area; distances are straight lines between ZIP code centers.

The NOAA Storm Events Database records 5 hail events, 3 thunderstorm-wind events and no tornadoes within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56686 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 2.75 inches on June 19, 2016, near Williams. 2 of those hail events had hail 1.5 inches or larger.

The closest event to the center of ZIP code 56686 was 1 in hail on May 30, 2023, 2 miles away near Williams. The most recent hail event within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56686 was on May 30, 2023: 1 in hail near Williams. The most recent thunderstorm-wind event within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56686 was on May 30, 2023, near Roosevelt. The strongest thunderstorm wind recorded within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56686 in that period was 62 mph. The busiest year was 2022, with 3 events in all.

Apart from those database entries, NOAA weather radar indicated hail of 1 inch or larger over Williams on 2 days from January 2025 on, most recently July 26, 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 (for the city of Williams).

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).

This page is filed under Williams, which is in Lake of the Woods County; the ratings below are that county's. Lake of the Woods County scores 5.3 of 100 for hail in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 86th of 87 Minnesota counties. Lake of the Woods County scores 3 of 100 for strong wind in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 87th of 87 Minnesota counties. Lake of the Woods County scores 24.7 of 100 for winter weather in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 85th of 87 Minnesota counties. Of the perils listed here, the highest score in Lake of the Woods County is for winter weather, at 24.7 of 100.

Lake of the Woods County averages 24.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). The average annual temperature in Lake of the Woods County is 38.4°F.

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

Our Brainerd office is at 217 S 7th St, Brainerd, MN 56401, about 171 miles from the center of ZIP code 56686. Its hours are Monday–Friday 7:00 AM–7:00 PM. You can reach that office at (218) 833-2997.

• Brainerd office: address, hours and map