Clay County, Nebraska
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1956 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
52
Tornado reports
295
Hail reports
13
Floods since 1996
844
All events
0
Deaths
$100.5M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Clay County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 52 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 F5 Tornado
This tornado was reported initially as a multi-vortex tornado for several miles before taking on a more traditional look south of Saronville, where it was described as a wedge tornado. Based upon reports and video, it appears the entire mesocyclone of the storm was near ground le…
Tornado exited Clay county and entered Fillmore county.
Tornado F3 Tornado
Hail in Edgar was mainly less than two inches in diameter, but the largest stones were near the size of baseballs.
Hail up to the size of tennis balls was reported in Edgar.
Peak wind gusts estimated to be around 95 MPH caused widespread damage along and near this path. Numerous power poles were damaged, including several that were snapped. Tree damage was reported, and several irrigation pivots were overturned. Outbuilding damage occurred, and a gra…
Wind gusts estimated to be near 95 MPH occurred along this path. The main reports of damage came from the Harvard and Sutton areas. Widespread tree damage was reported, along with large areas of flattened crops. Minor roof damage occurred in Sutton. Numerous power outages were re…
This EF2 tornado touched down during the early evening hours just west of Edgar and was on the ground between 5 and 10 minutes before lifting just southeast of Edgar. The maximum speed was estimated at 115 MPH with a maximum width of 250 yards. Damage along the path included snap…
Wind gusts were estimated to be near 90 MPH, resulting in tree damage, overturned pivots and snapped power poles.
At least 80 mph winds toppled a newly constructed 125 foot tall grain bin and pulled the anchor bolts out of the cement foundation.
A large tornado moved out of Adams county and into central Clay county. Approximately 15 residences were hit by the tornado. Thirty-eight cars of a forty-nine car Union Pacific train were derailed southeast of Glenvil. Over 100 center irrigation pivots were damaged or destroyed a…
Drought Drought
High Wind High Wind
Sustained speeds near 40 MPH and wind gusts exceeding 50 MPH were common throughout the day. The peak measured wind gust was 65 MPH, measured by a mesonet station located one mile west-northwest of Sutton. Additional gusts between 59 and 64 MPH were also measured by this mesonet …
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
There were a handful of wind gust estimates near 60 MPH along this path.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
There were several measured wind gusts between 58 and 62 MPH by area mesonets, as as well as wind gusts estimated to be around 60 MPH by emergency management in areas near and along this path.
Hail Hail
Quarter to ping pong ball size hail was reported.
Hail Hail
Drought Drought
High Wind High Wind
Wind gusts anywhere from 55 to near 70 MPH were common across the area. The peak measured wind gust for the county was 62 MPH, measured by a mesonet station located two miles west of Fairfield.
Blizzard Blizzard
Snowfall amounts ranged anywhere from 5 inches in western portions of the county to closer to 10 inches across the eastern half. The highest reported totals included the following: 9.0 inches from Clay Center; 8.0 inches from six miles east-southeast of Clay Center; 5.5 inches fr…
High Wind High Wind
The peak measured wind gust was 63 MPH, recorded by a mesonet station located two miles northwest of Deweese.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Transient bands of at times heavier snow combined with strong north-northwest winds gusting over 50 MPH at times resulted in brief periods of near-blizzard conditions due to snow squalls. Overall snowfall amounts were less than one inch.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totals across the county were generally in the 2 to 4 inch range, with the highest reported total of 2.6 inches from the NWS Cooperative Observer located six miles east-southeast of Clay Center.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Some of the coldest wind chills of the event were recorded across the county, including -40 degrees by a mesonet station located near Edgar.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totals across the county generally ranged from a dusting to around 3 inches.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totals across the county were generally in the 2 to 4 inch range, with the highest reported total of 3.7 inches from the NWS Cooperative Observers located in and near Clay Center.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Storm total amounts generally in the 2 to 4 inch range were reported across the county.
Drought Drought
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 78 MPH was measured by the public four miles east of Pauline.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 72 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located three miles west-northwest of Clay Center and a gust of 71 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located one mile southeast of Clay Center. The NWS Cooperative Observer located six miles east-southeast of Clay Center…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 60 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles north-northwest of Edgar and a gust of 58 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located one mile north-northwest of Edgar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gusts were estimated to be near 70 MPH, resulting in damage to large trees in the area.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
A QLCS tornado affected portions of eastern Clay County and western Fillmore County. This tornado touched down at approximately Road 315 and Z Road south of Sutton, then moved north-northeast where it impacted a farmstead along Z Road, just north of Road 316. Within this stretch …
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A storm chaser reported minor roof damage two miles east of Fairfield.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gusts estimated to be near 60 MPH downed a few tree limbs, one of which was at least 6 inches in diameter.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 58 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located two miles north-northwest of Inland.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 75 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located three miles east of Edgar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gusts of 61 MPH were measured by mesonet station located one mile and two miles west of Ong.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 73 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located two miles north-northwest of Inland.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust 63 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located three miles east-southeast of Fairfield. Emergency management also reported damage to a grain bin in the area.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gusts were estimated to be near 70 MPH. Emergency management reported a large tree downed near the intersection of Road 310 and Road L. Two irrigation pivots were flipped approximately six miles southeast of Clay Center, and minor porch and tractor damage was reported at a f…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 66 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located two miles north of Edgar. Emergency management reported tree damage in Edgar, with a few limbs downed that were up to eight inches in diameter.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 17 | 0 |
| 2024 | 32 | 1 |
| 2023 | 45 | 1 |
| 2022 | 47 | 0 |
| 2021 | 31 | 2 |
| 2020 | 42 | 2 |
| 2019 | 31 | 0 |
| 2018 | 23 | 0 |
| 2017 | 15 | 1 |
| 2016 | 30 | 1 |
| 2015 | 26 | 0 |
| 2014 | 26 | 2 |
| 2013 | 34 | 4 |
| 2012 | 50 | 0 |
| 2011 | 19 | 0 |
| 2010 | 11 | 0 |
| 2009 | 21 | 2 |
| 2008 | 10 | 0 |
| 2007 | 25 | 0 |
| 2006 | 16 | 0 |
| 2005 | 16 | 0 |
| 2004 | 16 | 2 |
| 2003 | 14 | 0 |
| 2002 | 16 | 1 |
| 2001 | 18 | 2 |
| 2000 | 21 | 1 |
| 1999 | 12 | 0 |
| 1998 | 23 | 0 |
| 1997 | 16 | 0 |
| 1996 | 7 | 0 |
| 1995 | 3 | 0 |
| 1994 | 12 | 5 |
| 1992 | 9 | 0 |
| 1991 | 12 | 5 |
| 1990 | 4 | 1 |
| 1989 | 2 | 1 |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 6 | 2 |
| 1986 | 11 | 3 |
| 1985 | 6 | 0 |
| 1984 | 2 | 1 |
| 1983 | 8 | 0 |
| 1982 | 7 | 1 |
| 1981 | 2 | 0 |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979 | 5 | 1 |
| 1978 | 6 | 1 |
| 1977 | 9 | 1 |
| 1976 | 1 | 1 |
| 1974 | 6 | 1 |
| 1973 | 5 | 0 |
| 1972 | 1 | 1 |
| 1971 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | 1 | 0 |
| 1964 | 3 | 2 |
| 1959 | 3 | 1 |
| 1957 | 2 | 1 |
| 1956 | 3 | 1 |
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.