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Wind in Clay County, Iowa
240 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.
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 240 wind events in Clay County, Iowa, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 55 years.
June is the busiest month, with 66 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 126 events against 84 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.2% of the 20,854 wind events recorded in Iowa; its 42.3 per 100 square miles compares with 37.3 statewide.
179 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 31 reached hurricane force (74 mph).
Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.
Compared with Iowa
| Measure | Clay County | Iowa | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 240 | 20,854 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 42.3 | 37.3 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 146.0 | 65.3 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 25 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
4Feb
6Mar
7Apr
15May
23Jun
66Jul
47Aug
35Sep
8Oct
10Nov
5Dec
14
Magnitude distribution
NWS wind thresholds
- under 58 mph
- below severe threshold
- 58–73 mph
- severe
- 74–95 mph
- hurricane-force
- 96 mph and over
- extreme
Wind speed converted from the knots NCEI records; estimated and measured gusts are combined. Events without a speed are not binned.
Recorded events
The 190 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 240. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2026 | High Wind | 47 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Feb 2026 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2026 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Nov 2025 | Strong Wind | 54 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 92 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2025 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Mar 2025 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 2025 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Feb 2025 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Dec 2024 | Strong Wind | 51 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2024 | Strong Wind | 53 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Dec 2024 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Nov 2024 | Strong Wind | 53 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2024 | Strong Wind | 51 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Apr 2024 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2023 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Apr 2023 | High Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Feb 2023 | Strong Wind | 53 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Mar 2022 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 87 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Oct 2019 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Nov 2016 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Feb 2016 | High Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2011 | High Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 2010 | High Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 45 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2008 | High Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jun 2008 | High Wind | 70 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | $10K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 8 Sep 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 77 mph | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2005 | High Wind | 59 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Nov 2003 | High Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 May 2003 | High Wind | 70 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Aug 2002 | High Wind | 70 mph | $200K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 89 mph | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2001 | High Wind | 75 mph | $400K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 68 mph | $12K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 1998 | High Wind | 58 mph | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $20K | $2K | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | $2.5M | $250K | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | $2K | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | $500 | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | $500 | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | $500 | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | $500 | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $50K | $500 | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | $50 | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $50K | $500 | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | $500K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | $50 | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | $50 | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $50K | $500 | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 97 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1976 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1971 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 1969 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Oct 1966 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 1966 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 1964 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1964 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1962 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 1960 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Clay County had?
240 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of damaging wind became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded wind event in Clay County?
30 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 66 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Clay County?
The thunderstorm wind of 27 Jul 1995, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M and crop damage at $250K.
How does Clay County compare with Iowa for wind?
42.3 events per 100 square miles against 37.3 statewide; the county holds 240 of the state's 20,854 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 Wind hub and the county page.