Clay County, Alabama
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 01027 · population 14,212 · 604 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 349 records for Clay County, Alabama from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 288 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (138 records). The deadliest single record is the May 1, 1953 tornado: 7 deaths and 12 injuries. FEMA has issued 24 declarations naming the county since 1977, 22 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Hurricane Helene” on September 26, 2024.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 349on 288 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 827 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $178Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 25strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 24latest 2024
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Clay County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 138 since 1960. The rank column places the county among Alabama's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 138 | 115 | 1960-2026 | 0 | 2 | $754K | 40 of 67 |
| Drought | 62 | 61 | 2006-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 of 67 |
| Hail | 57 | 47 | 1980-2023 | 0 | 0 | $194K | 40 of 67 |
| Tornadoes | 25 | 23 | 1953-2023 | 7 | 23 | $172M | 49 of 67 |
| Floods | 21 | 19 | 1998-2023 | 1 | 0 | $1.5M | 38 of 67 |
| Winter storms | 16 | 16 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $202K | 25 of 67 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 7 | 7 | 2005-2020 | 0 | 1 | $107K | 12 of 67 |
| Extreme cold | 6 | 6 | 1996-2014 | 0 | 0 | $1.9M | 23 of 67 |
| Heat | 5 | 5 | 1996-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 52 of 67 |
| High wind and dust storms | 5 | 5 | 2004-2011 | 0 | 0 | $509K | 42 of 67 |
| Lightning | 5 | 5 | 1997-2003 | 0 | 1 | $247K | 33 of 67 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2004-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 36 of 67 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Clay County had?
NOAA records 25 tornadoes in Clay County from 1953 to 2023, the strongest rated F4, with 7 deaths and 23 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 24 tornadoes whose track touched Clay County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 25: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 7 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953-05-01 19:30, as SPC files it | Ashland to Lineville | F4 | 12.1 mi | 7 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Alabama.
Every tornado record filed for Clay County (25)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-01-03 | Gage, Clay County | EF0 6.41 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-03-25 | Skesville, Clay County | EF2 4.54 mi x 1,000 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-05-14 | Gage, Clay County | EF0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-11-30 | Hatchett, Clay County | EF0 1.67 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2008-02-17 | Gibsonville, Clay County | EF0 1.56 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2005-04-30 | Ashland, Clay County | F1 10.6 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $121K |
| 2004-11-24 | Millerville, Clay County | F1 13.4 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 1 | $391K |
| 2003-05-07 | Lineville, Clay County | F0 1.2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2003-05-07 | Ashland, Clay County | F0 1.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2003-05-07 | Millerville, Clay County | F0 1.2 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2001-11-24 | Lineville, Clay County | F1 5.9 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $83K |
| 1990-02-10 | Clay County | F1 0.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 5 | $250K step |
| 1989-11-15 | Clay County | F1 0.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 3 | $25K step |
| 1988-01-19 | Clay County | F1 5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1985-08-16 | Clay County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1985-06-07 | Clay County | F1 0.2 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1984-11-10 | Clay County | F1 9.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1984-05-03 | Clay County | F2 7 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1981-03-30 | Clay County | F1 0.4 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1981-03-18 | Clay County | F1 13.8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1980-06-17 | Clay County | F2 5.2 mi x 23 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1978-04-18 | Clay County | F1 0.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1973-05-27 | Clay County | F4 10.4 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25M step |
| 1957-11-18 | Clay County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1953-05-01 | Clay County | F4 12.1 mi x 440 yd | 7 | 12 | $250K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Clay County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 28, 2018 thunderstorm wind (1 injury).
Lineville city police reported a fatality when a large tree fell on a moving vehicle. The vehicle was traveling on Martha Street.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 768979)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-01 | Thunderstorm WindAshland Lineville Ar, Clay County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | Thunderstorm WindMillerville, Clay County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-21 | DroughtClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindBluff Spgs, Clay County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-10 | Thunderstorm WindMillerville, Clay County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-16 | Thunderstorm WindHatchett, Clay County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-16 | Thunderstorm WindAshland, Clay County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-11 | DroughtClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-10 | Winter StormClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2023-01-03 | TornadoGage, Clay County | EF0 6.41 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953-05-01 | TornadoClay County | F4 12.1 mi x 440 yd | 7 | 12 | $250K step |
| 1998-07-03 | Flash FloodAshland, Clay County A flash flood, about 3 inches in an hour, washed out sections of Fuller Road in Mellow Valley. A 51 year-old man drove into the washed out area and was severely injured. He died the next day in the hospital from his injuries. | 1 | 0 | $27K | |
| 1990-02-10 | TornadoClay County | F1 0.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 5 | $250K step |
| 1989-11-15 | TornadoClay County | F1 0.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 3 | $25K step |
| 1984-05-03 | TornadoClay County | F2 7 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 2018-06-28 | Thunderstorm WindLineville, Clay County Lineville city police reported a fatality when a large tree fell on a moving vehicle. The vehicle was traveling on Martha Street. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2005-07-10 | Tropical StormClay County · forecast zone Clay Several trees and power lines were knocked down during Dennis. A few roads were temporarily impassable due to downed trees. Several county customers were without power for a few hours. One power company employee was injured when he ran his vehicle into a downed tree. | 0 | 1 | $44K | |
| 2004-11-24 | TornadoMillerville, Clay County The tornado first touched down near Little Hillabee Creek and County Road 5 in far northern Tallapoosa County. The tornado snapped and uprooted numerous trees along its path until it reached the Bluff Springs Community in southern Clay County. At least 10 permanent residences suffered varying degrees of damage in ... | F1 13.4 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 1 | $391K |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-05-07 | Flash FloodCountywide, Clay County | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2004-09-16 | High WindClay County · forecast zone Clay | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $453K |
| 2004-11-24 | TornadoMillerville, Clay County | F1 13.4 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 1 | $391K |
| 2005-04-30 | TornadoAshland, Clay County | F1 10.6 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $121K |
| 1999-06-09 | Thunderstorm WindLineville, Clay County | 0 | 0 | $44K | |
| 2005-07-10 | Tropical StormClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 1 | $44K | |
| 1998-07-03 | Flash FloodAshland, Clay County | 1 | 0 | $27K | |
| 2010-11-30 | TornadoHatchett, Clay County | EF0 1.67 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $20K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 27, 1973 (tornado, Clay County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Clay County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 1 | 6 | 22 | 16 | 37 | 39 | 17 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 20 | 36 | 6 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 26 | 8 | 6 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 2 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 11 | 6 | 2 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 5 | 7 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Clay County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 23 · Feb 27 · Mar 34 · Apr 41 · May 44 · Jun 50 · Jul 34 · Aug 31 · Sep 18 · Oct 9 · Nov 16 · Dec 22 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Clay County
FEMA's register lists 24 declarations that include Clay County: 14 major disasters, 10 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (9) and severe storm (8).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-26 | EM-3618 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 2021-04-26 | DR-4596 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2020-12-10 | DR-4573 | Hurricane | Hurricane Zeta |
| 2020-09-14 | EM-3545 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| 2020-03-29 | DR-4503 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3472 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017-09-11 | EM-3389 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2016-01-21 | DR-4251 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2011-04-28 | DR-1971 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2011-04-27 | EM-3319 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2008-08-30 | EM-3292 | Hurricane | Hurricane Gustav |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3237 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-07-10 | DR-1593 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dennis |
| 2004-09-15 | DR-1549 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ivan |
| 2003-05-12 | DR-1466 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2001-12-07 | DR-1399 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 1995-10-04 | DR-1070 | Hurricane | Hurricane Opal |
| 1993-03-15 | EM-3096 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 1990-03-21 | DR-861 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1990-02-17 | DR-856 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1979-04-18 | DR-578 | Flood | Storms, Wind, Flooding |
| 1979-03-17 | EM-3074 | Flood | Flooding |
| 1977-07-20 | EM-3045 | Drought | Drought |
| 1977-04-09 | DR-532 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Clay County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 21 flood or flash flood records for Clay County from 1998 to 2023, on 19 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Clay County ranks 2830th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Dennis | 2005-07-10 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $0 on 1 claim filed in Clay County; the most in one year was 1 in 1985. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1985: 1; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Clay County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Clay County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.9 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $1.5M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $125K | once in about 213 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $315K | once in about 16 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $544K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $154K | 4.6 modeled event-days a year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $2.8M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $71K | 66 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $129K | 2 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Clay County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in AlabamaEvery Alabama tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in AlabamaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Alabama recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Clay CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Clay County's FEMA declarations (CSV)24 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis