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Flood in Clay County, Alabama
21 floods and flash floods events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Flood, Flash Flood, Coastal Flood, Lakeshore Flood.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
Clay County, Alabama, has 21 flood events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 13 different years.
May is the busiest month, with 5 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 11 events against 10 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.6% of the 3,380 flood events recorded in Alabama; its 3.5 per 100 square miles compares with 6.7 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to floods and flash floods.
Compared with Alabama
| Measure | Clay County | Alabama | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flood events since 1950 | 21 | 3,380 | 183,559 |
| Per 100 square miles | 3.5 | 6.7 | 5.2 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 14.8 | 6.7 | 5.5 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 38 | 2,961 |
| Busiest month | May | February | June |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
1Mar
1Apr
2May
5Jun
0Jul
2Aug
2Sep
5Oct
0Nov
1Dec
1
Recorded events
All 21 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Mar 2023 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Feb 2020 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2017 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2014 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Dec 2013 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2013 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2013 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 2010 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 2009 | Flash Flood | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2009 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2009 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2005 | Flash Flood | — | $47K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Nov 2004 | Flash Flood | — | $11K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Sep 2004 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2003 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2003 | Flash Flood | — | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2003 | Flash Flood | — | $700K | $100K | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 2002 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2001 | Flash Flood | — | $14K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 1998 | Flash Flood | — | $15K | — | 1 | — | County |
| 7 Jan 1998 | Flash Flood | — | $25K | $5K | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many flood events has Clay County had?
21 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of floods and flash floods became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded flood event in Clay County?
27 Mar 2023 (Flash Flood). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging flood event recorded in Clay County?
The flash flood of 7 May 2003, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $700K and crop damage at $100K.
How does Clay County compare with Alabama for flood?
3.5 events per 100 square miles against 6.7 statewide; the county holds 21 of the state's 3,380 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Flood hub and the county page.