Clay County, Illinois
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.
22
Tornado reports
85
Hail reports
72
Floods since 1996
447
All events
3
Deaths
$25.9M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Clay County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 21 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
Tornado F3 Tornado
An 81-year old man died of heatstroke while doing outdoor yard work in Flora in Clay County on July 18th.
Freezing drizzle created slick and hazardous roadways during the late evening of December 16th into the pre-dawn hours of the 17th. A vehicle slid off a bridge and landed upside down in a creek bed in rural Clay County, killing one man.
An elderly woman died in a car accident as a result of icy road conditions. The accident happened on Blue Mound Road about 5 miles south of Flora.
This tornado originally touched down in Marion County in the National Weather Service Saint Louis County Warning Area (CWA), then crossed into southwestern Clay County just north of the intersection of Beard Road and Songer Township Lane at 7:35 PM CDT. It knocked down several tr…
Numerous thunderstorms produced 3 to 6 inches of rain on already saturated ground in nearly all of Clay County. Major flash flooding was reported in the town of Xenia and the city of Flora, where several people were evacuated from their flooded homes. Several water rescues were m…
Flash Flood Flash Flood
The Xenia Fire Department reported flooding along Fairfield Road south of Xenia.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
The tornado was observed 2 miles south-southwest of Louisville just south of Grover Creek Ln. The tornado moved northeast entering the south side of town, removing a large portion of the roof of a business storage building and attached residence. The tornado continued through tow…
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Water was flowing across several roads in Flora.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Water was flowing over a bridge in Bible Grove.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
A building just west of downtown Louisville was flooded. Numerous side streets had water over them.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
High Wind High Wind
A roof was blown off a shed. Several airports across southeast Illinois recorded peak gusts around 60 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A trained spotter estimated wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree was blown across the road at Old US Highway 50 and Fox Creek Road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Drought Drought
Due to a multi-month precipitation deficit dating back to Fall of 2025, Severe Drought (D2) was in place at the start of the month. However, well above normal precipitation occurred across the region during March. By mid-March, the drought had improved and was no longer classifie…
Tornado EF0 Tornado
A tornado developed just south of the Clay-Effingham county line, producing damage at a farmstead along the county line east of 1800th Street. At this location, metal from the top of a silo was blown off, and a barn was damaged with roof pieces blown off to the northeast for abou…
Tornado EF0 Tornado
A tornado developed near Scooter Drive in Clay County. It tracked northeast, moving into Effingham County and tracking east of Edgewood. The maximum intensity of this tornado was EF-0, with damage limited to tree branches. The total duration of this tornado was four minutes, one …
Drought Drought
Drought conditions worsened and became Severe (D2) during the month.The Severe Drought (D2) persisted through the end of the month.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Bitterly cold wind-chill values of -20 to -30 occurred across Clay County during the morning of January 26th. The coldest hourly wind-chill reading observed at the Flora Airport (KFOA) was -21.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Weather observers measured 8 to 12 inches of snow across Clay County...including 10.2 inches in Flora. Due to both falling and drifting snow, travel became extremely hazardous...leading to numerous traffic accidents on area roadways.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Water was flowing across both US-50 and old US-50 in numerous spots between Xenia and Flora.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Numerous streets in Flora were flooded and impassable.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Water was flowing across US-50 near Flora.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree was blown down onto Old Highway 50.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A carport was damaged and a few tree limbs were blown down.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several power poles were blown down near the intersection of Sailor Springs Road and Venus Road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree was blown down onto a road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Numerous trees and power poles were blown down and a few barns were damaged from 2 miles north of Flora throughout the northern part of Clay County.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A large tree branch was blown onto a home.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree was blown over.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A large farm outbuilding had part of its roofing stripped off and its walls collapsed.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A small farm outbuilding was blown over.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A spotter reported a 60 to 70 mph wind gust just west of Louisville.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The roof was peeled off an animal pen.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Power poles were blown down.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Weather observers measured 5 to 6 inches of snow across Clay County...including 6.0 inches 2 miles southeast of Clay City. Due to snow-covered and hazardous roadways, numerous traffic accidents were reported.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A power pole was blown down on the south side of Flora.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several power poles were blown down near Marigold Lane and U.S. 45.
Hail Hail
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 22 | 3 |
| 2025 | 16 | 0 |
| 2024 | 17 | 1 |
| 2023 | 13 | 0 |
| 2022 | 16 | 0 |
| 2021 | 9 | 2 |
| 2020 | 3 | 0 |
| 2019 | 11 | 1 |
| 2018 | 15 | 0 |
| 2017 | 16 | 0 |
| 2016 | 14 | 0 |
| 2015 | 10 | 0 |
| 2014 | 10 | 0 |
| 2013 | 16 | 0 |
| 2012 | 30 | 0 |
| 2011 | 26 | 1 |
| 2010 | 16 | 0 |
| 2009 | 9 | 1 |
| 2008 | 18 | 0 |
| 2007 | 11 | 0 |
| 2006 | 11 | 0 |
| 2005 | 11 | 0 |
| 2004 | 12 | 2 |
| 2003 | 12 | 1 |
| 2002 | 15 | 1 |
| 2001 | 4 | 0 |
| 2000 | 12 | 0 |
| 1999 | 12 | 0 |
| 1998 | 14 | 3 |
| 1997 | 9 | 0 |
| 1996 | 11 | 1 |
| 1995 | 2 | 0 |
| 1994 | 4 | 0 |
| 1993 | 2 | 0 |
| 1990 | 3 | 1 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | 2 | 0 |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 2 | 1 |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 |
| 1961 | 1 | 1 |
| 1960 | 1 | 1 |
| 1957 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Clay County, measured to its path.
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