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Tornado in Clay County, Arkansas
27 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 27 tornado events in Clay County, Arkansas, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 16 years.
January is the busiest month, with 6 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 12 events against 11 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.1% of the 2,565 tornado events recorded in Arkansas; its 4.2 per 100 square miles compares with 4.9 statewide.
NCEI attributes 2 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 10 at (E)F0, 7 at (E)F1, 8 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 1 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Arkansas
| Measure | Clay County | Arkansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 27 | 2,565 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.2 | 4.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 18.8 | 8.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 2 | 413 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | January | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
6Feb
1Mar
4Apr
5May
1Jun
1Jul
0Aug
1Sep
2Oct
4Nov
2Dec
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 27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Apr 2026 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2026 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Tornado | EF2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Tornado | EF2 | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2022 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2019 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2018 | Tornado | EF2 | $500K | — | 1 | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Oct 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | $70K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Sep 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | — | $5K | — | — | County |
| 1 Sep 2012 | Tornado | EF2 | $5.0M | $5K | — | — | County |
| 18 Oct 2004 | Tornado | F1 | $75K | $1K | — | — | County |
| 18 Oct 2004 | Tornado | F0 | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Oct 2004 | Tornado | F0 | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1999 | Tornado | F0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F4 | $1.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F2 | $8.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 1993 | Tornado | F0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Nov 1991 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1990 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | 1 | 1 | County |
| 27 Apr 1971 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Nov 1965 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jan 1965 | Tornado | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jan 1964 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Clay County had?
27 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?
28 Apr 2026 (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 21 Jan 1999, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $8.0M.
How does Clay County compare with Arkansas for tornado?
4.2 events per 100 square miles against 4.9 statewide; the county holds 27 of the state's 2,565 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.