Clay County, Tennessee
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 47027 · population 7,571 · 237 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 270 records for Clay County, Tennessee from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 219 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (123 records). The most damaging was the July 2, 2015 flash flood ($623,000 in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 22 declarations naming the county since 1969, 20 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on February 6, 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
- 270on 219 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 03 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $2.9Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 3strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 22latest 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: 123 since 1974. The rank column places the county among Tennessee'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 | 123 | 93 | 1974-2026 | 0 | 2 | $987K | 31 of 95 |
| Winter storms | 58 | 57 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $143K | 9 of 95 |
| Hail | 34 | 25 | 1969-2024 | 0 | 0 | $15K | 50 of 95 |
| Floods | 25 | 25 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | 25 of 95 |
| Drought | 20 | 20 | 2007-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 21 of 95 |
| Lightning | 4 | 4 | 2012-2018 | 0 | 1 | $32K | 19 of 95 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 3 | 2015-2023 | 0 | 0 | $618K | 81 of 95 |
| High wind and dust storms | 2 | 2 | 2017-2023 | 0 | 0 | $71K | 84 of 95 |
| Extreme cold | 1 | 1 | 2022-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 34 of 95 |
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 3 tornadoes in Clay County from 2015 to 2023, the strongest rated EF1, 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 3 tornadoes whose track touched Clay County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 3, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Tennessee.
Every tornado record filed for Clay County (3)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-12-09 | Clementsville, Clay County | EF1 0.35 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $48K |
| 2021-12-11 | Hermitage Spgs, Clay County | EF1 5.78 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $545K |
| 2015-07-13 | Pea Ridge Store, Clay County | EF0 0.75 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
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 11, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($2,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-11 | Thunderstorm WindHermitage Spgs, Clay County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-05 | Thunderstorm WindUnion Hill, Clay County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2025-08-17 | Thunderstorm WindCelina, Clay County | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2025-02-18 | Winter StormClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-15 | Flash FloodButlers Lndg, Clay County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-10 | Winter StormClay County · forecast zone Clay | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2023-12-09 | TornadoClementsville, Clay County | EF1 0.35 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $48K |
| 2021-12-11 | TornadoHermitage Spgs, Clay County | EF1 5.78 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $545K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-04-04 | Thunderstorm WindNeely Xrds, Clay County A concrete wall garage was destroyed and two trees were uprooted southeast of Celina along State Highway 52. Two minor injuries were also reported. | 60 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $13K |
| 2018-05-16 | LightningMemorial, Clay County Lightning struck a tree which caused a large limb to fall onto a vehicle on Clementsville Road between Moss and Hermitage Springs resulting in one minor injury. | 0 | 1 | $12K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-07-02 | Flash FloodHermitage Spgs, Clay County | 0 | 0 | $623K | |
| 2021-12-11 | TornadoHermitage Spgs, Clay County | EF1 5.78 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $545K |
| 2021-03-28 | Flash FloodCelina, Clay County | 0 | 0 | $260K | |
| 2023-12-09 | TornadoClementsville, Clay County | EF1 0.35 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $48K |
| 2015-07-13 | TornadoPea Ridge Store, Clay County | EF0 0.75 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| 2020-01-11 | Thunderstorm WindBaptist Ridge, Clay County | 74 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $17K |
| 2025-08-17 | Thunderstorm WindCelina, Clay County | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2018-05-16 | LightningMemorial, Clay County | 0 | 1 | $12K |
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 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 37 | 56 | 11 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 4 | 38 | 13 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 19 | 2 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 12 | 8 | 3 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 11 | 3 | 6 |
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 36 · Feb 23 · Mar 30 · Apr 19 · May 46 · Jun 24 · Jul 47 · Aug 6 · Sep 6 · Oct 8 · Nov 9 · 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 22 declarations that include Clay County: 17 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (9) and tornado (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-06 | DR-4898 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3635 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025-04-02 | EM-3625 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2023-05-17 | DR-4712 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornado |
| 2021-05-08 | DR-4601 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2020-04-02 | DR-4514 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3473 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-04-17 | DR-4427 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2015-04-02 | DR-4211 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Flooding |
| 2010-09-15 | DR-1937 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2010-05-04 | DR-1909 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2009-08-21 | DR-1856 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3217 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-10-07 | DR-1568 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2002-04-05 | DR-1408 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1998-01-13 | DR-1197 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1997-03-07 | DR-1167 | Tornado | Heavy Rains, Tornadoes, Flooding, Hail, High Winds |
| 1994-02-28 | DR-1010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Ice Storm,Flash Flooding |
| 1993-03-14 | EM-3095 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 1975-03-22 | DR-459 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1974-04-04 | DR-424 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
| 1969-07-11 | DR-263 | 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 25 flood or flash flood records for Clay County from 1997 to 2025, on 25 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Clay County ranks 2020th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $436,000 on 24 claims filed in Clay County; the most in one year was 13 in 2010. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2010: 13 · 2015: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2021: 4 · 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 Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $4.3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | Relatively Low | $178K | 3.1 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $613K | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $289K | 5.8 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $30K | 7.6 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $406K | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $28K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $2K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $151K | once in about 449 years (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 TennesseeEvery Tennessee tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in TennesseeThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Tennessee 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)22 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis