Hennepin County, MN | 105-115 mph Design Wind Speed | Minnesota State Building Code | Extreme Cold & Severe Weather | Exposure B/C
Calculate Minneapolis Wind Loads Now →Minneapolis, located in Hennepin County, Minnesota, has unique wind load requirements influenced by its continental climate, extreme cold temperatures, and severe weather patterns. The city and surrounding areas adopt the Minnesota State Building Code (MSBC), which incorporates the International Building Code (IBC) with Minnesota-specific amendments. Design wind speeds for Risk Category II structures typically range from 105-115 mph (3-second gust) depending on location and local terrain conditions.
As Minnesota's largest city and economic center, Minneapolis faces diverse wind load challenges. The city experiences severe thunderstorms with damaging straight-line winds during summer months, occasional tornado touchdowns, extreme winter blizzards with sustained high winds, and the interaction of wind loads with extreme cold temperatures that can reach -30°F to -40°F with wind chill. These conditions require careful consideration during structural design and building permit review.
Design Wind Speed (Risk Category II): 105-115 mph (3-second gust, varies by location)
Design Wind Speed (Risk Category III): ~120-130 mph
Design Wind Speed (Risk Category IV): ~130-140 mph
Exposure Category: B (urban), C (open areas)
Building Code: Minnesota State Building Code (MSBC) adopts IBC
Wind Load Standard: ASCE 7-22 (current edition)
County: Hennepin County
Special Considerations: Extreme cold, blizzards, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, ice/snow loads
Minneapolis's design wind speed of 105-115 mph for Risk Category II structures reflects the city's location in the Upper Midwest with moderate wind exposure. The range accounts for varying terrain conditions—urban areas with dense development typically use the lower end (105 mph), while exposed areas on the edges of the metro or in open terrain may require the higher end (115 mph).
Minnesota experiences a wide variety of severe weather events that drive wind load requirements. Summer severe thunderstorms can produce straight-line winds exceeding 80 mph, and the state averages 30-45 tornadoes annually, with occasional touchdowns in the Minneapolis metro area. Winter blizzards bring sustained high winds combined with extreme cold and heavy snow loads. The interaction of wind pressure with ice accumulation, snow drifts, and temperature-induced material brittleness creates complex design scenarios unique to cold-climate regions.
Calculating wind loads for Minneapolis projects requires following ASCE 7-22 methodology as adopted by the Minnesota State Building Code. The fundamental velocity pressure equation is:
qz = 0.00256 Kz Kzt Kd Ke V²
For Minneapolis with V = 110 mph (typical mid-range) and standard conditions, the resulting pressures are moderate. A Minneapolis project with:
Results in a velocity pressure of approximately qz = 22.3 psf—moderate compared to coastal hurricane regions but significant enough to require careful structural design, particularly when combined with Minnesota's heavy snow loads and extreme cold considerations.
For Minneapolis projects in open terrain (Exposure C), such as buildings on the edge of the metro near agricultural areas or along major water bodies like Lake Minnetonka, the velocity pressure coefficient Kz increases substantially, resulting in higher design pressures even at the same wind speed. The difference between Exposure B and C can increase wind loads by 30-50% at low building heights.
Minnesota uses a statewide building code system rather than local municipal codes. The Minnesota State Building Code (MSBC) adopts the International Building Code (IBC) as its foundation with Minnesota-specific amendments that address cold-climate construction, energy efficiency, and regional conditions.
Key Minnesota State Building Code considerations:
You can access Minneapolis building permits and requirements through the City of Minneapolis CPED Building Permits.
Minneapolis projects must be classified into Risk Categories per ASCE 7-22 Table 1.5-1. Higher risk categories require increased design wind speeds:
| Risk Category | Minneapolis Design Wind Speed | Building Types |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Category I | ~100-105 mph | Agricultural facilities, temporary structures, minor storage |
| Risk Category II | 105-115 mph | Residential, commercial, most standard occupancies |
| Risk Category III | ~120-130 mph | Schools, assembly >300, substantial hazardous materials |
| Risk Category IV | ~130-140 mph | Hospitals, fire stations, emergency shelters, EOCs |
Minneapolis projects require careful Exposure Category determination based on surrounding terrain and development density:
Exposure Category B (Urban): Most of Minneapolis qualifies as Exposure B due to dense urban development with buildings, structures, and obstructions. Downtown Minneapolis, Uptown, Northeast Minneapolis, and established residential neighborhoods typically use Exposure B. This assumes urban and suburban areas with buildings having heights generally less than 30 feet extending more than 800 feet upwind.
Exposure Category C (Open Areas): Properties in open terrain on the edges of the metro, near large water bodies (Lake Calhoun, Lake of the Isles, Mississippi River corridor in some areas), or adjacent to agricultural land may require Exposure C. This includes areas along the Minneapolis-Bloomington border, some industrial zones, and sites with minimal upwind obstructions.
Engineering Judgment Required: The transition between Exposure B and C in Minneapolis requires professional engineering judgment based on site-specific conditions, surrounding development, and predominant wind directions. A 360-degree analysis of terrain within 800-1500 feet of the building site is recommended.
Minneapolis is among the coldest major U.S. cities, with winter temperatures regularly dropping below -10°F and wind chills reaching -40°F to -50°F during Arctic air outbreaks. This extreme cold creates unique considerations when combined with wind loads:
Material Brittleness and Ductility: Structural steel, aluminum, and other metals experience reduced ductility at extremely low temperatures. While ASTM A36 steel maintains adequate toughness down to approximately -30°F, colder temperatures can increase the risk of brittle fracture, particularly in welded connections subjected to dynamic wind loading. Engineers should consider Charpy V-notch impact testing requirements for critical structural elements exposed to extreme cold.
Ice and Snow Combined Loading: Minneapolis buildings must resist simultaneous wind pressure and snow/ice accumulation. ASCE 7 requires evaluation of combined load cases where wind acts on snow-loaded roofs. Ice accumulation on walls, parapets, and glazing can increase effective surface area and weight, altering wind pressure distributions and structural demands.
Thermal Movement: Large temperature swings from -30°F winter lows to 95°F+ summer highs create significant thermal expansion and contraction. Buildings must accommodate these movements while maintaining wind load resistance through properly designed expansion joints, connections, and cladding systems.
While tornadoes receive significant attention, Minneapolis also faces severe thunderstorm straight-line winds (derechos) that can equal or exceed tornado wind speeds over larger areas. These events typically occur from April through September and can produce:
ASCE 7-22 design wind speeds inherently account for these events through statistical analysis of historical wind data, but engineers should ensure proper component and cladding design to resist impact from wind-borne debris.
Minnesota averages 30-45 tornadoes annually, with several notable tornado events affecting the Minneapolis metro area including the 1965 F4 Fridley tornadoes and the 2011 North Minneapolis EF1 tornado. While ASCE 7 wind loads do not specifically design for direct tornado strikes (which are statistically rare for any given building), several considerations apply:
Minneapolis and Hennepin County zip codes span diverse areas with varying wind speed requirements based on urban density and terrain. Common Minneapolis zip codes include:
The WindLoadCalc.com wind load calculator automatically applies the appropriate Minneapolis wind speed based on your specific zip code or street address, accounting for local terrain conditions and urban density.
Wind load calculations for Minneapolis building permits have specific PE requirements depending on building type and complexity:
Minnesota PE licensure is administered by the Minnesota Board of Architecture, Engineering, Land Surveying, Landscape Architecture, Geoscience, and Interior Design (AELSLAGID).
Minneapolis is located in a high snow load region (ground snow load typically 40-50 psf), which creates important interactions with wind loads:
Engineers, architects, and contractors should reference these official resources for Minneapolis wind load compliance:
The wind load calculator at WindLoadCalc.com automatically applies all Minneapolis-specific requirements:
WindLoadCalc.com automatically handles all Minneapolis-specific requirements including the 105-115 mph design velocity, appropriate Exposure Category selection, Risk Category adjustments, and component pressure coefficients. Simply enter your Minneapolis project address or zip code for instant, accurate calculations.
Calculate Minneapolis Wind Loads Now →Minneapolis's wind load requirements are comparable to other major Upper Midwest cities:
| City | Design Wind Speed | Exposure Category | Building Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | 105-115 mph | B (urban), C (open areas) | Minnesota State Building Code |
| St. Paul, MN | 105-115 mph | B (urban), C (open areas) | Minnesota State Building Code |
| Milwaukee, WI | 105-110 mph | B (urban), C (lakefront) | Wisconsin Commercial Building Code |
| Des Moines, IA | 110-120 mph | B typical | Iowa State Building Code (IBC) |
| Fargo, ND | 110-120 mph | B/C typical | North Dakota State Building Code |
Minneapolis's wind load requirements reflect its location in a region with moderate wind speeds but severe weather events including thunderstorms, tornadoes, and blizzards combined with extreme cold temperatures.
While this page focuses on design wind loads per ASCE 7, Minneapolis engineers must also consider operational impacts of blizzard conditions where sustained high winds combine with heavy snowfall and extreme cold:
Minneapolis features the nation's most extensive elevated skyway system connecting downtown buildings. This unique pedestrian infrastructure creates specific wind load considerations:
Hennepin County extends well beyond Minneapolis city limits, encompassing suburban and semi-rural areas with different wind load considerations:
Suburban Communities: Cities like Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, and Plymouth have similar urban Exposure B conditions as Minneapolis, though edge-of-development sites may transition to Exposure C.
Western Hennepin County: Communities along the western county boundary (Medina, Maple Grove western areas, Corcoran) border agricultural land and may require Exposure C for sites with minimal upwind development.
Lake Areas: Hennepin County contains numerous lakes including Lake Minnetonka (Minnesota's ninth-largest lake). Properties directly fronting large water bodies typically require Exposure C due to the open water fetch allowing wind acceleration.
WindLoadCalc.com provides instant, accurate wind load calculations for Minneapolis and Hennepin County projects. Our software automatically handles the 105-115 mph velocity range, Exposure B/C determination, and generates PE-ready reports for Minneapolis CPED or Hennepin County permit submission.
Try Minneapolis Wind Load Calculator →