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Tornado in Clay County, Alabama
25 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
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.
NCEI records 25 tornado events in Clay County, Alabama, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 20 years.
May is the busiest month, with 7 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 5 events against 9 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.8% of the 3,206 tornado events recorded in Alabama; its 4.1 per 100 square miles compares with 6.3 statewide.
NCEI attributes 7 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 8 at (E)F0, 11 at (E)F1, 4 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 2 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Alabama
| Measure | Clay County | Alabama | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 25 | 3,206 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.1 | 6.3 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 17.6 | 6.4 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 7 | 692 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
2Feb
2Mar
3Apr
2May
7Jun
2Jul
0Aug
1Sep
0Oct
0Nov
6Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Jan 2023 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Mar 2021 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Nov 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Feb 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2005 | Tornado | F1 | $80K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Nov 2004 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 7 May 2003 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2003 | Tornado | F0 | $1K | $3K | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2003 | Tornado | F0 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Nov 2001 | Tornado | F1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 1990 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 5 | County |
| 15 Nov 1989 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 19 Jan 1988 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 1985 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1985 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Nov 1984 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 1984 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 30 Mar 1981 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Mar 1981 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1980 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 1978 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 1973 | Tornado | F4 | $25M | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Nov 1957 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1953 | Tornado | F4 | $250K | — | 7 | 12 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Clay County had?
25 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Clay County?
3 Jan 2023 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Clay County?
The tornado of 27 May 1973, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M.
How does Clay County compare with Alabama for tornado?
4.1 events per 100 square miles against 6.3 statewide; the county holds 25 of the state's 3,206 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 Tornado hub and the county page.