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Clay County, South Dakota
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1955 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
31
Tornado reports
177
Hail reports
67
Floods since 1996
708
All events
0
Deaths
$11.0M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Clay County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 31 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
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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.
Rainfall amounts across Clay County from June 20-22 ranged from around a third of an inch across southern areas to 1 to 2 inches across northern areas. Farther north and upstream, 6 to 10 inches of rain fell across portions of southeast South Dakota, with locally higher amounts i…
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached afternoon peaks as high as 112 degrees at Vermillion and near Wakonda, and 108 degrees 7 miles west-southwest of Beresford.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by the South Dakota Road Weather Information System site 4 miles east of Irene.
Drought Drought
Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted through the month.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions worsened to extreme (D3) by mid-month.
Drought Drought
Extreme (D3) drought conditions persisted through much of the month before improving to Severe (D2) late month.
Blizzard Blizzard
Northerly winds gusted as high as 50 mph 7 miles west-southwest of Beresford and 49 mph at Vermillion. During and after a period of snowfall which totaled 2.5 inches at Vermillion and 1.5 inches 6 miles southeast of Centerville, visibility was reduced to one-quarter mile or less …
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds were between 40 and 41 mph for less than one hour, with gusts as high as 59 mph at the Automated Weather Observing System site at Vermillion Harold Davidson Field (KVMR).
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions intensified to extreme (D3) at mid month.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought was introduced into southern portions of Clay County.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds were briefly around 40 mph with gusts as high as 59 mph at a South Dakota Road Weather Information System site near Irene.
High Wind High Wind
Northwest winds were sustained from 30 to 39 mph with gusts high as 61 mph at Vermillion.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Sustained winds reached 30 to 38 mph at times with a peak gust of 53 mph at a South Dakota Mesonet site 7 miles west-southwest of Beresford and an Automated Weather Observing System site at Vermillion.
High Wind High Wind
Northwest winds were sustained between 40 and 44 mph at times, with gusts as high as 64 mph at Vermillion and 60 mph at a South Dakota Mesonet site 7 miles west-southwest of Beresford.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chills reached as low as -31 degrees at a South Dakota Mesonet site 7 miles west-southwest of Beresford and -29 degrees at Vermillion.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 4.0 inches at Vermillion.
High Wind High Wind
Synoptic northwest winds were sustained from 40 to 42 mph with a peak gust of 61 mph at an Automated Weather Observing System site at Vermillion.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 4.5 inches 1.4 miles southeast of Vermillion.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A long-duration snowfall totaled 6.7 inches at Vermillion. During a brief break in snowfall during the evening of November 28, a period of light freezing rain and freezing drizzle produced a glaze of icing.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds periodically reached around 40 mph at a South Dakota Road Weather Information System site 4 miles east of Irene with a peak gust of 59 mph.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index values peaked as high as 109 degrees at South Dakota Mesonet site BFMS2 7 miles west-southwest of Beresford and at Wakonda on August 16.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index values peaked as high as 110 degrees 2 miles east-northeast of Vermillion and 106 degrees at Wakonda.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by South Dakota Mesonet station BFMS2 Beresford 7 WSW.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A 61 mph thunderstorm wind gust was measured at Harold Davidson Field Airport (KVMR).
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts were measured by a personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
An extended period of thunderstorm wind gusts was measured by South Dakota Mesonet station BFMS2 Beresford 7 WSW.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached an afternoon peak as high as 118 degrees at Wakonda, 117 degrees at Vermillion, and 111 degrees at South Dakota Mesonet site BFMS2 7 miles west-southwest of Beresford.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached afternoon peaks as high as 111 degrees 2 miles northeast of Vermillion, 109 degrees at Vermillion, and 107 degrees at Wakonda on July 23.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust was estimated around 60 mph at the intersection of 455th Avenue and 306th Street.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Daily afternoon and evening heat indices ranged from 105 to 114 degrees with a maximum heat index of 114 degrees at the Automated Weather Observing System site at Vermillion on June 20, 113 degrees at a personal weather station near Wakonda on June 21, and 110 degrees at the Sout…
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several large trees limbs were brought down by thunderstorm winds. One large tree was blown over and was leaning on a house.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A portion of a storage building was destroyed by thunderstorm wind gusts.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Sustained easterly winds reached 30 to 34 mph with gusts as high as 50 mph 7 miles west-southwest of Beresford.
Hail Hail
High Wind High Wind
Aided by rain showers, winds briefly gusted above 58 mph, with a peak gust of 60 mph at the South Dakota Road Weather Information System site near Irene.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 2.0 inches at Vermillion.
High Wind High Wind
Northwest winds were sustained from 40 to 45 mph at times, with gusts as high as 60 mph at Wakonda.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 1.3 inches at Vermillion. Northerly winds sustained from 40 to 45 mph gusted as high as 60 mph near Wakonda and resulted in visibility briefly as low as one-half mile with hazardous travel conditions.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions improved to moderate (D1) late month.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Winds were sustained at 30 to 36 mph with a peak gust of 47 mph 7 miles west-southwest of Beresford and 46 mph at Vermillion.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The lowest wind chills ranged from 35 to 41 below zero with 41 below zero observed at the South Dakota Mesonet site near Beresford.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The lowest wind chills ranged from 35 to 40 below zero with 40 below zero observed at the South Dakota Mesonet site near Beresford.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chill temperatures ranged from 25 to 34 below zero during the early morning hours. A South Dakota State University Mesonet site 7 miles west-southwest of Beresford briefly dipped as low as 38 below zero.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 | 0 |
| 2025 | 37 | 0 |
| 2024 | 28 | 0 |
| 2023 | 31 | 0 |
| 2022 | 34 | 0 |
| 2021 | 21 | 1 |
| 2020 | 28 | 0 |
| 2019 | 25 | 0 |
| 2018 | 27 | 0 |
| 2017 | 13 | 0 |
| 2016 | 17 | 0 |
| 2015 | 15 | 0 |
| 2014 | 16 | 0 |
| 2013 | 14 | 0 |
| 2012 | 18 | 0 |
| 2011 | 14 | 0 |
| 2010 | 35 | 0 |
| 2009 | 26 | 0 |
| 2008 | 26 | 2 |
| 2007 | 17 | 0 |
| 2006 | 15 | 0 |
| 2005 | 35 | 0 |
| 2004 | 27 | 1 |
| 2003 | 19 | 8 |
| 2002 | 14 | 0 |
| 2001 | 7 | 0 |
| 2000 | 20 | 1 |
| 1999 | 11 | 0 |
| 1998 | 4 | 0 |
| 1997 | 10 | 0 |
| 1996 | 9 | 0 |
| 1992 | 8 | 1 |
| 1991 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 | 2 | 1 |
| 1988 | 3 | 1 |
| 1987 | 2 | 0 |
| 1986 | 7 | 2 |
| 1985 | 4 | 2 |
| 1984 | 4 | 1 |
| 1983 | 5 | 0 |
| 1982 | 3 | 0 |
| 1981 | 8 | 2 |
| 1980 | 6 | 1 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 3 | 0 |
| 1976 | 3 | 0 |
| 1974 | 2 | 0 |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 |
| 1972 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 | 1 | 0 |
| 1970 | 2 | 1 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | 2 | 1 |
| 1967 | 1 | 1 |
| 1966 | 2 | 1 |
| 1965 | 3 | 3 |
| 1964 | 1 | 0 |
| 1959 | 1 | 0 |
| 1957 | 1 | 0 |
| 1955 | 1 | 0 |
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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