Clay County, Arkansas
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1957 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
27
Tornado reports
110
Hail reports
37
Floods since 1996
572
All events
5
Deaths
$29.6M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Clay County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 27 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated
Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
Tornado F4 Tornado
The tornado started southeast of Knobel and tracked northeast. The most serious damage occurred early in the life of the tornado. Two homes were destroyed on County Road 238. Several other homes were damaged. Two trailer trucks were rolled over. As the tornado continued east it g…
The one fatality was east of Knobel Arkansas near the intersection of Highway 90 and Highway 135 in a mobile home. A few homes, trees and power poles were damaged as the tornado tracked toward the St. Francis River. The path was intermittent. The tornado continued into Dunklin Co…
A lightning fatality occurred near Highway 49, east of Rector. The lightning victim was outdoors chopping cotton when he was struck and killed.
Heavy rain during late April into the beginning of May caused the St. Francis River to rise above flood stage. The river rose to near record levels in the beginning of May and remained above flood stage through the end of May. A break in the levee in Butler County, Missouri, nort…
Two inches of ice fell across Clay County along with an additional inch of snow. Widespread power outages occurred. One shelter was opened in Piggott. Roads impassable.
A tornado briefly touched down southwest of the Corning Municipal Airport and traveled northeast across the northern portion of the airport. Two hangars were extensively damaged with a few others receiving minor damage. Many of the aircraft that were housed inside the hangar were…
Heavy rain brought the Black River near Corning to record levels in late April that continued into the beginning of May. The record crest surpassed the Flood of 1945. Shallow flooding extended for several miles away from the river. Several homes and businesses sustained minor dam…
Heavy rain brought the Black River near Corning to record levels in late April that continued into the beginning of May. The record crest surpassed the Flood of 1945. Shallow flooding extended for several miles away from the river. Several homes and businesses sustained minor dam…
The tornado developed east of Datto and moved northeast. Several homes were badly damaged. Several hangars were destroyed and some planes were destroyed at the Corning airport.
Heat Heat
The daytime hours maximum heat index was within the triple digits (107F) combined with limited cooling at night with an overnight low in the mid to upper 70s.
Heat Heat
The daytime hours maximum heat index was within the triple digits combined with limited cooling at night with an overnight low in the mid to upper 70s.
Heat Heat
Maximum heat index estimated around 108F.
Drought Drought
D4 Exceptional Drought improved to D3 Extreme Drought across the county.
Drought Drought
D3 Extreme Drought conditions worsened to D4 Exceptional Drought by the end of the month.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down in the city of Saint Francis.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
A brief EF0 tornado touched down near the intersection of CR 339 and CR 321 northwest of Pollard. When the tornado touched down, a large tree was uprooted, damaging an awning on a residential porch. The tornado quickly began to weaken after its initial touchdown, but not before r…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The rear flank downdraft associated with the tornado that struck Pollard snapped a couple of tree trunks along Highway 62.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Survey teams found substantial wind damage to trees and a few structures in the community of Piggott. Tree damage was relatively widespread, with numerous uprooted and downed trees. Minor structural damage and a few downed utility lines were also noted. The damage swath was appro…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gusts estimated at 60 mph near Rector.
Hail Hail
Approximately golf ball (1.75) sized hail was reported near Success, AR.
Hail Hail
Reported quarter sized hail in St. Francis.
Hail Hail
Report of quarter sized hail in southwest Piggott.
Drought Drought
D3 conditions persisted the entire month.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A private weather station reported a 67 mph gust near the Corning airport.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
A tornado touched down on county road 420 northwest of Rector, AR, where tree damage was observed. The tornado continued northeast, causing minor roof damage to a residence near the intersection of County Roads 420 and 418. In addition, roof uplift occurred to a metal outbuilding…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
An outbuilding was destroyed, and a second one was partially damaged near the intersection of South Dodd Street and West 13th Street. Several trees were also downed.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Significant damage to the roof of a home on County Road 461. Numerous trees were also damaged and/or uprooted. An outbuilding also sustained damage.
Drought Drought
D3 Extreme Drought Conditions continued to spread across the county throughout the month.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Minimum wind chill of -5F reported.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Minimum wind chill of -2 recorded.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Minimum wind chill value of -1F recorded.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Minimum wind chill of -8F reported.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Minimum wind chill of -3F reported.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Lowest wind chill observation of -10F.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snow and sleet accumulations of 6 to 8 inches.
Drought Drought
Clay county suffered D2 Severe Drought conditions through the entire month of January.
Drought Drought
Severe Drought (D2) Conditions persisted through the month of October in Clay County.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) Drought conditions were present at the beginning of September before worsening to Extreme (D3) conditions for a brief period mid-month. Slight improvement occurred by the end of the month as D3 conditions ended, but D2 conditions prevailed and continued into October.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A couple of trees down in the city limits of Piggott.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Maximum heat index of 110 degrees.
Heat Heat
Maximum heat index of 107 degrees.
Heat Heat
Maximum heat index of 108 degrees.
Heat Heat
Maximum heat index of 108 degrees.
Heat Heat
Maximum heat index of 106 degrees.
Heat Heat
Maximum heat index of 106 degrees.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Maximum heat index of 110 degrees.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 29 | 2 |
| 2025 | 50 | 3 |
| 2024 | 27 | 0 |
| 2023 | 31 | 0 |
| 2022 | 31 | 1 |
| 2021 | 16 | 0 |
| 2020 | 12 | 0 |
| 2019 | 14 | 1 |
| 2018 | 23 | 1 |
| 2017 | 17 | 1 |
| 2016 | 8 | 0 |
| 2015 | 8 | 0 |
| 2014 | 8 | 1 |
| 2013 | 7 | 0 |
| 2012 | 19 | 2 |
| 2011 | 27 | 0 |
| 2010 | 18 | 0 |
| 2009 | 22 | 0 |
| 2008 | 18 | 0 |
| 2007 | 12 | 0 |
| 2006 | 23 | 0 |
| 2005 | 10 | 0 |
| 2004 | 8 | 3 |
| 2003 | 9 | 0 |
| 2002 | 9 | 0 |
| 2001 | 10 | 0 |
| 2000 | 16 | 0 |
| 1999 | 11 | 5 |
| 1998 | 7 | 0 |
| 1997 | 2 | 0 |
| 1996 | 5 | 0 |
| 1995 | 8 | 0 |
| 1994 | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 | 3 | 1 |
| 1992 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 | 6 | 1 |
| 1990 | 4 | 1 |
| 1989 | 6 | 0 |
| 1988 | 5 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 |
| 1985 | 2 | 0 |
| 1984 | 3 | 0 |
| 1983 | 2 | 0 |
| 1982 | 2 | 0 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979 | 2 | 0 |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 | 1 | 1 |
| 1970 | 3 | 0 |
| 1968 | 1 | 0 |
| 1967 | 2 | 0 |
| 1965 | 2 | 2 |
| 1964 | 1 | 1 |
| 1959 | 4 | 0 |
| 1957 | 2 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Clay County, measured to its path.
We couldn’t get your location. Check that location access is allowed for this site, or type an address.