Clay County, Iowa
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1954 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
42
Tornado reports
247
Hail reports
188
Floods since 1996
998
All events
2
Deaths
$43.1M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Clay County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 42 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 F3 Tornado
A large cone shaped tornado tore a steel bridge from a road. The tornado raised a large debris cloud as it moved over open country, causing damage to crops and power lines. The tornado moved into Clay County after forming just south of the County Line.
Tornado F3 Tornado
Rainfall amounts across Clay County from June 20-22 ranged from 3 to 7 inches. Farther north and upstream, up to 10 inches of rain fell across portions of northwest Iowa. This rainfall resulted in extensive overland flooding and record flooding along the Little Sioux and Ocheyeda…
A brief period of light freezing rain produced a glaze of icing early on Saturday, December 28 before temperatures climbed above freezing. Light mixed precipitation returned and changed quickly to snow during the afternoon of December 29, then continued into December 30 producing…
A period of precipitation began with freezing rain quickly producing heavy ice accumulations, ranging up to between a quarter and half inch. The precipitation then changed to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching 2 to 4 inches. Many branches, limbs, whol…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by the Automated Surface Observing System site at the Spencer Airport.
Heat Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached a brief afternoon peak as high as 105 degrees at Spencer, 103 degrees 5 miles southeast of Spencer, and 101 degrees at Webb.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds gusts up to 68 mph were measured by ASOS station KSPW at the Spencer Municipal Airport.
Tornado EFU Tornado
Video documented a brief tornado in an open field around 5 miles west-southwest of Royal. The tornado was estimated to touch down around one-half mile east of 100th Avenue along 420th Street. The tornado tracked east-northeast for less than two minutes across open fields before l…
Tornado EFU Tornado
A very brief tornado was observed in an open field around 3 miles southeast of Royal. The tornado was estimated to touch down around one-half mile southwest of the intersection of 420th Street and 170th Avenue. The tornado tracked east-northeast across open fields for around one …
Tornado EFU Tornado
Copernicus Sentinel satellite imagery indicated a brief tornado touched down just northeast of Gillett Grove northeast of the intersection of 430th Street and 280th Avenue. The tornado tracked northeast across open fields for a couple minutes before taking a slight turn to the no…
Tornado EF0 Tornado
A brief tornado spun up near the western shore of Lost Island Lake. Shortly after touchdown, the tornado damaged the roof on two mobile homes and downed several large tree branches. The tornado tracked north-northwest in open fields to the west of 330th Avenue before it lifted ju…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gusts caused considerable damage to the Greenville grain elevator. Numerous branches and power lines were also downed.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Various hail sizes up to a maximum of quarter size fell for a few minutes.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
A tornado developed a little less than one mile north of Webb just east of 290th Avenue in an open field. The tornado was documented by numerous individuals as it tracked east-northeast for a little over a minute. The tornado crossed 300th Avenue near a farmstead where trees were…
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A personal weather station measured a wind gust to 72 mph with some damage to shingles and siding on a residence. Wind-driven hail also knocked out windows on a camper.
Hail Hail
Blizzard Blizzard
Northerly winds gusted as high as 60 mph at Spencer. A period of light freezing rain produced up to one-quarter inch ice accumulation at Spencer. After precipitation changed to a period of snowfall which totaled 3.0 inches at Spencer, visibility was reduced to near zero at times …
High Wind High Wind
The Automated Surface Observing System site near Spencer had frequent sustained winds from 40 to 47 mph with gusts as high as 60 mph.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds were between 40 and 45 mph at times, with gusts as high as 60 mph at the Automated Surface Observing System site in Spencer (KSPW).
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Northwest winds gusted to 49 mph at Spencer. These winds combined with periods of light snowfall which totaled around 1 inch to produce visibility briefly as low as one-half to one mile.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Sustained winds reached 30 to 35 mph at times with gusts as high as 49 mph at an Automated Surface Observing System site near Spencer.
Blizzard Blizzard
Two episodes of extended blizzard conditions occurred over a slightly less than 24 hour period, with a slight improvement in conditions during the late afternoon to mid evening. Gusty northwest winds from 35 to 50 mph were concurrent with light to moderate snowfall, which totaled…
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds reached around 40 to 45 mph with a gust as high as 62 mph near Spencer.
Blizzard Blizzard
Intermittent whiteout conditions were common through the afternoon with gusty winds of 40 to 60 mph and periods of light snowfall. Travel was not recommended during much of the afternoon.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chills reached as low as -34 degrees at Spencer.
High Wind High Wind
Synoptic northwest winds were occasionally sustained from 40 to 45 mph with gusts as high as 61 mph at an Automated Surface Observing System site near Spencer.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snowfall totaled 6.0 inches 7 miles south of Spencer and 4.0 inches 1 mile north of Spencer.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A long-duration snowfall totaled 13.0 inches at Spencer and 6.0 inches 7 miles south of Spencer.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Sustained winds reached 30 to 38 mph at times with a peak gust of 54 mph at the Automated Surface Observing System site near Spencer.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 3.6 inches at Sioux Rapids and 2.8 inches at Spencer.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index values peaked as high as 107 degrees 2 miles southeast of Spencer on August 16.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Spotty minor tree damage occurred across town with scattered small limbs blown down.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds uprooted several trees throughout town.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
An extended period of damaging thunderstorm wind gusts was recorded by station KSPW northwest of Spencer. Initial severe wind gusts were measured at 2135 CST with a peak wind gust of 92 mph at 2142 CST.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached an afternoon peak as high as 106 degrees near Spencer.
Heat Heat
Heat index values peaked during the afternoon hours of July 23 as high as 102 degrees near Spencer and 101 degrees at Webb.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts measured by a personal weather station at Webb.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Daily afternoon and evening heat indices ranged from 105 to 108 degrees with a maximum heat index of 108 degrees at a personal weather station in Webb and 106 degrees near Spencer on June 20.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Winds were measured by a personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Two trees were blown down along 280th Street west of Fostoria.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail was mostly dime to quarter sized, but some stones were as large as ping pong balls.
High Wind High Wind
Aided by rain showers, winds briefly gusted above 58 mph, with a peak gust of 60 mph at the Spencer Municipal Airport (KSPW).
Blizzard Blizzard
Snowfall totaled 2.5 inches 7.0 miles south of Spencer and 2.0 inches 1.0 mile north of Spencer. Northwest winds gusted between 40 and 50 mph with a peak gust of 61 mph reported by a private weather station near Webb. A 56 mph gust was also reported by the ASOS at Spencer Municip…
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds occasionally reached 30 to 40 mph during the morning. A peak wind gust of 61 mph was recorded at 1015 CST by a private weather station near Webb. The wind also gusted to 56 mph at 1044 CST at the Spencer Municipal Airport ASOS (KSPW).
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 20 | 5 |
| 2025 | 32 | 0 |
| 2024 | 62 | 0 |
| 2023 | 32 | 0 |
| 2022 | 34 | 0 |
| 2021 | 27 | 0 |
| 2020 | 34 | 0 |
| 2019 | 46 | 0 |
| 2018 | 92 | 0 |
| 2017 | 16 | 0 |
| 2016 | 31 | 0 |
| 2015 | 17 | 0 |
| 2014 | 22 | 2 |
| 2013 | 20 | 1 |
| 2012 | 33 | 3 |
| 2011 | 23 | 0 |
| 2010 | 45 | 0 |
| 2009 | 23 | 1 |
| 2008 | 25 | 3 |
| 2007 | 18 | 0 |
| 2006 | 14 | 2 |
| 2005 | 39 | 0 |
| 2004 | 48 | 10 |
| 2003 | 12 | 0 |
| 2002 | 30 | 0 |
| 2001 | 31 | 0 |
| 2000 | 21 | 0 |
| 1999 | 11 | 0 |
| 1998 | 13 | 0 |
| 1997 | 7 | 0 |
| 1996 | 12 | 0 |
| 1995 | 2 | 0 |
| 1994 | 7 | 0 |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | 6 | 0 |
| 1990 | 6 | 1 |
| 1989 | 7 | 0 |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 2 | 0 |
| 1986 | 7 | 2 |
| 1985 | 7 | 1 |
| 1984 | 4 | 2 |
| 1983 | 9 | 0 |
| 1982 | 5 | 0 |
| 1981 | 2 | 0 |
| 1980 | 3 | 1 |
| 1979 | 3 | 0 |
| 1978 | 3 | 0 |
| 1976 | 2 | 0 |
| 1975 | 2 | 1 |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 | 1 | 0 |
| 1969 | 3 | 0 |
| 1968 | 3 | 0 |
| 1966 | 2 | 0 |
| 1965 | 1 | 0 |
| 1964 | 2 | 0 |
| 1963 | 2 | 1 |
| 1962 | 1 | 0 |
| 1961 | 1 | 0 |
| 1960 | 4 | 0 |
| 1959 | 3 | 2 |
| 1957 | 2 | 1 |
| 1955 | 1 | 1 |
| 1954 | 2 | 2 |
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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