Gutters, roofing, siding and windows in ZIP code 56481, Verndale, MN

• Roofing in ZIP code 56481

  11 of the 31 hail events on record within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56481 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 56481

  The strongest thunderstorm wind on record within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56481 from 2016 through September 22, 2025 was 94 mph. The National Weather Service counts a thunderstorm wind of 58 mph or more as severe.

• Windows in ZIP code 56481

  56% of homes in ZIP code 56481 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.

ZIP code 56481 is filed here under Verndale, in Wadena County, Minnesota; its center is about 36 miles west of our Brainerd office. ZIP code 56481 also extends into Todd County and Cass County. Our address file holds 1,163 address points in ZIP code 56481. Of the cities and towns on our pages, ZIP code 56481 covers only Verndale.

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 56481 has 1,072 housing units, and 85% of them are single-family detached homes (American Community Survey 2023, 5-year). Mobile homes make up 13% of the housing units.

The median home in ZIP code 56481 was built in 1976. 56% of homes in ZIP code 56481 were built before 1980, and 20% were built in 2000 or later. The most common building period is 1939 or earlier, with 228 homes.

87% of occupied homes in ZIP code 56481 are owner-occupied. The median owner-occupied home in ZIP code 56481 is valued at $165,600. Among occupied homes in ZIP code 56481, 21% heat with utility gas, 23% with electricity, 30% with bottled or tank gas, 8% 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 56481.

The nearest other ZIP codes we serve, measured center to center, are 56479 in Staples (7.2 miles east), 56482 in Wadena (9.9 miles west), 56477 in Sebeka (13 miles north), 56466 in Motley (15 miles east), 56453 in Hewitt (15 miles southwest) and 56437 in Bertha (16 miles south). The table sets ZIP code 56481 beside the 8 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 31 hail events, 13 thunderstorm-wind events and 8 tornadoes within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56481 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 4 inches on August 3, 2024, near Wadena. 11 of those hail events had hail 1.5 inches or larger.

The closest event to the center of ZIP code 56481 was 1 in hail on April 7, 2020, 1.2 miles away near Verndale. The most recent hail event within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56481 was on August 3, 2024: 1 in hail near Verndale. The most recent thunderstorm-wind event within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56481 was on June 20, 2022, near Verndale. The strongest thunderstorm wind recorded within 10 miles of the center of ZIP code 56481 in that period was 94 mph. The busiest year was 2022, with 16 events in all.

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).

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 Verndale, which is in Wadena County; the ratings below are that county's. Wadena County scores 25.3 of 100 for hail in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 82nd of 87 Minnesota counties. Wadena County scores 36.8 of 100 for strong wind in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 61st of 87 Minnesota counties. Wadena County scores 63.7 of 100 for winter weather in FEMA's National Risk Index, which ranks 49th of 87 Minnesota counties. Of the perils listed here, the highest score in Wadena County is for tornado, at 72.3 of 100.

The average annual temperature in Wadena County is 41.1°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 36 miles from the center of ZIP code 56481. 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