States › Iowa › Clay County › Flood
Flood in Clay County, Iowa
188 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.
NCEI records 188 flood events in Clay County, Iowa, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 21 years.
May is the busiest month, with 40 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 172 events against 16 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.5% of the 7,383 flood events recorded in Iowa; its 33.1 per 100 square miles compares with 13.2 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to floods and flash floods.
Compared with Iowa
| Measure | Clay County | Iowa | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flood events since 1950 | 188 | 7,383 | 183,559 |
| Per 100 square miles | 33.1 | 13.2 | 5.2 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 114.4 | 23.1 | 5.5 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 18 | 2,961 |
| Busiest month | May | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
4Mar
28Apr
27May
40Jun
39Jul
15Aug
5Sep
16Oct
14Nov
0Dec
0
Recorded events
All 188 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jul 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2024 | Flood | — | $26M | — | 1 | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2024 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Mar 2023 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2022 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2022 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2020 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2020 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2020 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2020 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2020 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2020 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2020 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2020 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2020 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 2020 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 2020 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Mar 2020 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2020 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Oct 2019 | Flood | — | — | $5K | — | — | County |
| 5 Oct 2019 | Flood | — | $5K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 5 Oct 2019 | Flood | — | $5K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 5 Oct 2019 | Flood | — | — | $5K | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2019 | Flood | — | — | $3.0M | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 2019 | Flood | — | $550K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 2019 | Flood | — | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Oct 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Oct 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Oct 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Oct 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Oct 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Oct 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Oct 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Oct 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Oct 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2018 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2018 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2018 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2018 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Mar 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Mar 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Mar 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2016 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2016 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2016 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2014 | Flood | — | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2014 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Flood | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2014 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2013 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2013 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2013 | Flood | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2013 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 2013 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2012 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2012 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Mar 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Feb 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Feb 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Oct 2010 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Sep 2010 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Sep 2010 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2010 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2010 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2010 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2010 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2010 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2010 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2010 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2010 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2010 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2010 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2010 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 2010 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Mar 2010 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Feb 2009 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Feb 2009 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2008 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2008 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 2008 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 2007 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2007 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2007 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2007 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 2007 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2006 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2006 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2006 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2005 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2005 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Apr 2005 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Sep 2004 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Sep 2004 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Sep 2004 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Sep 2004 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2004 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2001 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2001 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jun 1999 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 1997 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Mar 1997 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many flood events has Clay County had?
188 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?
1 Jul 2024 (Flood). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging flood event recorded in Clay County?
The flood of 21 Jun 2024, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $26M; 1 death recorded.
How does Clay County compare with Iowa for flood?
33.1 events per 100 square miles against 13.2 statewide; the county holds 188 of the state's 7,383 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.