Clay County, Georgia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13061 · population 2,848 · 195 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 151 records for Clay County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 128 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (70 records). The deadliest single record is the January 20, 1963 tornado: 1 death and 4 injuries. FEMA has issued 14 declarations naming the county since 1994, 12 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
- 151on 128 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 111 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $48Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 10strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 14latest 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: 70 since 1971. The rank column places the county among Georgia'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 | 70 | 55 | 1971-2026 | 0 | 6 | $11M | 89 of 159 |
| Drought | 45 | 45 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 9 of 159 |
| Tornadoes | 10 | 10 | 1963-2021 | 1 | 5 | $26M | 36 of 159 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 9 | 9 | 1998-2024 | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | 63 of 159 |
| Winter storms | 7 | 6 | 2010-2026 | 0 | 0 | $64K | 84 of 159 |
| Extreme cold | 3 | 3 | 2017-2026 | 0 | 0 | $9.5M | 106 of 159 |
| Heat | 3 | 3 | 2023-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 105 of 159 |
| Hail | 2 | 2 | 1995-2006 | 0 | 0 | – | 159 of 159 |
| Floods | 1 | 1 | 1998-1998 | 0 | 0 | $362K | 159 of 159 |
| High wind and dust storms | 1 | 1 | 2013-2013 | 0 | 0 | $1K | 120 of 159 |
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 10 tornadoes in Clay County from 1963 to 2021, the strongest rated EF2, with 1 death and 5 injuries recorded in the county. That is 36th of 159 Georgia counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. 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 10 tornadoes whose track touched Clay County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 10, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963-01-20 16:00, as SPC files it | Fort Gaines to Dawson | F1 | 70.2 mi | 1 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.
Every tornado record filed for Clay County (10)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-06-19 | Harrisons Mill, Clay County | EF1 8.53 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-03-03 | Fort Gaines, Clay County | EF0 7.45 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $12K |
| 2019-01-04 | Zetto, Clay County | EF1 0.23 mi x 90 yd | 0 | 0 | $12K |
| 2017-04-05 | Ricks Place, Clay County | EF1 0.96 mi x 1,140 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-01-22 | Bellville, Clay County | EF2 2.81 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 1 | $301K |
| 2016-04-07 | Bellville, Clay County | EF1 3.45 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-03-01 | Ft Gaines, Clay County | EF0 6.94 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $356K |
| 2004-05-02 | Suttons Corner, Clay County | F1 1.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $703K |
| 1972-01-13 | Clay County | F1 1.5 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1963-01-20 | Clay County | F1 7.4 mi x 500 yd | 1 | 4 | $2.5M 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 March 12, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($3,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-12 | Thunderstorm WindBluffton, Clay County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-12 | Thunderstorm WindFort Gaines, Clay County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | DroughtClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-18 | Heavy SnowClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-13 | DroughtClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-01 | DroughtClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-01 | DroughtClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-14 | DroughtClay County · forecast zone Clay | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963-01-20 | TornadoClay County | F1 7.4 mi x 500 yd | 1 | 4 | $2.5M step |
| 1993-10-30 | Thunderstorm WindFt. Gaines, Clay County Thunderstorm winds rolled and destroyed four mobile homes and downed several trees. The damage path of the straight line thunderstorm winds was one quarter mile in width by three miles in length. Several boats and docking facilities were severely damaged at Lake Walter F. George. Four people were injured from wind ... | 0 | 6 | $10M | |
| 2017-01-22 | TornadoBellville, Clay County The tornado touched down in Clay County and moved northeast through the northwest corner of Calhoun County and into southern Randolph County. It caused extensive tree damage with nearly every tree in its path snapped through the Clay and Calhoun portions of the track. In addition, it flipped a mobile home in Clay ... | EF2 2.81 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 1 | $301K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-10-30 | Thunderstorm WindFt. Gaines, Clay County | 0 | 6 | $10M | |
| 2018-10-10 | Tropical StormClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2004-05-02 | TornadoSuttons Corner, Clay County | F1 1.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $703K |
| 1998-03-08 | FloodClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 0 | $362K | |
| 2007-03-01 | TornadoFt Gaines, Clay County | EF0 6.94 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $356K |
| 2017-01-22 | TornadoBellville, Clay County | EF2 2.81 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 1 | $301K |
| 2001-01-19 | Thunderstorm WindFt Gaines, Clay County | 0 | 0 | $292K | |
| 2019-01-04 | TornadoZetto, Clay County | EF1 0.23 mi x 90 yd | 0 | 0 | $12K |
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 $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: January 20, 1963 (tornado, Clay County, 1 killed).
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 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 24 | 22 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 | 35 | 9 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 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 30 · Feb 8 · Mar 18 · Apr 15 · May 14 · Jun 13 · Jul 10 · Aug 10 · Sep 11 · Oct 7 · Nov 7 · Dec 8 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Clay County
FEMA's register lists 14 declarations that include Clay County: 9 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (7) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-26 | EM-3616 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| 2020-03-29 | DR-4501 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3464 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-10-14 | DR-4400 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| 2018-10-10 | EM-3406 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| 2017-09-15 | DR-4338 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2017-09-08 | EM-3387 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2017-01-26 | DR-4297 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2007-03-03 | DR-1686 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3218 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-09-18 | DR-1554 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ivan |
| 1998-03-11 | DR-1209 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1995-10-10 | DR-1071 | Hurricane | Hurricane Opal |
| 1994-07-07 | DR-1033 | Tornado | Tornadoes, Flooding Torrential Rain(Trop Storm Alberto) |
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.
FEMA's modeled risk for Clay County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Clay County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $2.4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $405K | 46 modeled event-days a year |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $393K | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $405K | 2.2 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $337K | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $12K | once in about 1,705 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $124 | once in about 11 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $19K | once in about 878 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | $31K | 4.5 modeled event-days a year |
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 GeorgiaEvery Georgia tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in GeorgiaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Georgia 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)14 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis