Clay County, Kentucky
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 21051 · population 20,339 · 469 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 439 records for Clay County, Kentucky from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 296 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (204 records). The deadliest single record is the July 28, 2022 flash flood: 3 deaths. FEMA has issued 48 declarations naming the county since 1970, 46 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on May 29, 2026.
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
- 439on 296 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 42 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $21Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 7strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 48latest 2026
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: 204 since 1958. 50% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1958 fell in May and June. The rank column places the county among Kentucky'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 | 204 | 133 | 1958-2025 | 0 | 1 | $1.1M | 84 of 118 |
| Floods | 67 | 50 | 1996-2022 | 3 | 1 | $4.2M | 85 of 118 |
| Winter storms | 67 | 54 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $25K | 82 of 118 |
| Hail | 52 | 40 | 1985-2024 | 0 | 0 | $3K | 96 of 118 |
| Extreme cold | 12 | 12 | 2007-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 67 of 118 |
| High wind and dust storms | 8 | 8 | 2003-2024 | 0 | 0 | $92K | 92 of 118 |
| Tornadoes | 7 | 7 | 1967-2001 | 0 | 0 | $16M | 90 of 118 |
| Heat | 6 | 6 | 2010-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 57 of 118 |
| Heavy rain | 6 | 5 | 2019-2022 | 0 | 0 | $17K | 57 of 118 |
| Drought | 4 | 4 | 2016-2019 | 0 | 0 | – | 44 of 118 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 4 | 3 | 2003-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 6 of 118 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2009-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 50 of 118 |
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 7 tornadoes in Clay County from 1967 to 2001, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 0 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 7 tornadoes whose track touched Clay County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 7, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kentucky.
Every tornado record filed for Clay County (7)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-06-02 | Manchester, Clay County | F0 1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-08-17 | Big Creek, Clay County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-05-18 | Clay County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1990-06-22 | Clay County | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1984-07-06 | Clay County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1974-04-03 | Clay County | F2 2.3 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1967-12-11 | Clay County | F2 | 0 | 0 | – |
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 26, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($26,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindHorse Creek, Clay County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $26K |
| 2025-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindHerron, Clay County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $11K |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindJonsee, Clay County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindSpurlock, Clay County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindBarcreek, Clay County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindPigeonroost, Clay County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindGooserock, Clay County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindBig Creek, Clay County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2025-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindHector, Clay County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2025-04-04 | Thunderstorm WindHorse Creek, Clay County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2025-04-03 | Thunderstorm WindSextons Creek, Clay County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-07-28 | Flash FloodLittleton, Clay County Multiple reports of flash flooding were received from western Clay County. Reports included: 3:00 AM EST - The bridge at Skull Branch was reported washed out. 3:00 AM EST - The newspaper indicated multiple reporst of flash flooding in the Little Bullskin area near Oneida around this time. Some reports of flooding were ... | 3 | 0 | – | |
| 2015-02-16 | Winter StormClay County · forecast zone Clay A member of the public reported that 2.5 inches of snow had fallen in Oneida as of 930 am on the 16th. By 1122 am, Burning Springs had picked up 4 inches of snow in about five hours. Five inches of snow was reported in Oneida as of noon on this day. By storms end, the entire county had received 5 to 10 inches of snow. ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-05-26 | Thunderstorm WindHorse Creek, Clay County A tree fell down onto a picnic shelter at Rawlings Stinson Park in Manchester. One person sustained non-life threatening injuries in the event, and was transported to the hospital by ambulance. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $10K |
| 2004-07-10 | Flash FloodManchester, Clay County Several roads were flooded, including Highway 638. One woman was injured when leaving a stalled car on Greenbriar Road and lost footing in the flood water. She was treated and released from a hospital with minor injuries. | 0 | 1 | $8K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-04-17 | FloodClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 0 | $3.1M | |
| 1998-04-16 | Flash FloodCountywide, Clay County | 0 | 0 | $362K | |
| 2025-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindHorse Creek, Clay County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $26K |
| 2025-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindHerron, Clay County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $11K |
| 2024-05-26 | Thunderstorm WindHorse Creek, Clay County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $10K |
| 2004-07-10 | Flash FloodManchester, Clay County | 0 | 1 | $8K | |
| 2006-05-26 | Thunderstorm WindManchester, Clay County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2025-04-04 | Thunderstorm WindHorse Creek, Clay County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
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: April 3, 1974 (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 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 18 | 75 | 55 | 47 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 5 | 27 | 17 | 18 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 7 | 14 | 34 | 12 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 28 | 9 | 5 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 0 | 3 | 8 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
50% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1958 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 38 · Feb 47 · Mar 22 · Apr 39 · May 75 · Jun 74 · Jul 64 · Aug 32 · Sep 15 · Oct 7 · Nov 10 · Dec 16 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Clay County
FEMA's register lists 48 declarations that include Clay County: 39 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 2 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (25) and flood (9).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-29 | DR-4913 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3633 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025-05-23 | DR-4875 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2025-04-24 | DR-4864 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2025-04-03 | EM-3626 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2025-02-24 | DR-4860 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2025-02-16 | EM-3624 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2024-11-26 | DR-4848 | Tropical Storm | Remnants of Hurricane Helene |
| 2024-07-23 | DR-4804 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2023-05-09 | DR-4711 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2023-04-10 | DR-4702 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2022-07-29 | DR-4663 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2022-02-27 | DR-4643 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides |
| 2021-04-23 | DR-4595 | Flood | Severe, Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2021-03-31 | DR-4592 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2020-04-24 | DR-4540 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2020-03-28 | DR-4497 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3469 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-04-17 | DR-4428 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2018-04-12 | DR-4358 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2016-08-26 | DR-4278 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-08-12 | DR-4239 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslide |
| 2015-05-12 | DR-4218 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2011-05-04 | DR-1976 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2010-05-11 | DR-1912 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mudslides, and Tornadoes |
| 2009-05-29 | DR-1841 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding and Mudslides |
| 2009-02-05 | DR-1818 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Flooding |
| 2009-01-28 | EM-3302 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3231 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| 2004-06-10 | DR-1523 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2003-07-02 | DR-1475 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Rock Slides, and Tornadoes |
| 2003-03-14 | DR-1454 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Ice and Snow Storms, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Mud and |
| 2002-05-07 | DR-1414 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 2002-04-04 | DR-1407 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2001-11-02 | FM-2385 | Fire | Ky - Southeastern Fire Complex - 11/02/01 |
| 2001-08-15 | DR-1388 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2000-11-04 | FM-2349 | Fire | Ky - Southeastern District Fire Complex - 11/03/00 |
| 1998-04-29 | DR-1216 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes,and Flooding |
| 1998-03-03 | DR-1207 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1997-03-04 | DR-1163 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
The 40 most recent of 48 are listed; the CSV has every one.
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 67 flood or flash flood records for Clay County from 1996 to 2022, on 50 days, with 3 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Clay County ranks 1514th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $697,000 on 66 claims filed in Clay County; the most in one year was 21 in 1989. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1989: 21 · 1990: 2 · 1991: 4 · 1992: 2 · 1995: 1 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 7 · 2003: 1 · 2004: 3 · 2013: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2021: 8 · 2022: 8 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 2; 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 Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $15.8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $57K | 1.6 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $12M | 1.8 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $79K | 14 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.3M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $394K | 5.6 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $423K | once in about 87 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $173K | 3.2 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $200K | 2.6 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 KentuckyEvery Kentucky tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in KentuckyThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Kentucky 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)48 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis