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Wind in Clay County, Illinois
202 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.
Clay County, Illinois, has 202 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 39 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 52 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 146 events against 51 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.8% of the 24,881 wind events recorded in Illinois; its 43.1 per 100 square miles compares with 44.8 statewide.
156 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 3 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 Illinois
| Measure | Clay County | Illinois | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 202 | 24,881 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 43.1 | 44.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 153.7 | 19.6 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 54 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
3Feb
3Mar
10Apr
33May
38Jun
52Jul
19Aug
31Sep
5Oct
5Nov
0Dec
3
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 150 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 202. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2026 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Mar 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Mar 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Mar 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $21K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2019 | High Wind | 64 mph | $15K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Mar 2019 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $175K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $45K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $100K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 13 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $70K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $110K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $70K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Dec 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jan 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jan 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Dec 2012 | High Wind | 45 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $18K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 25 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $55K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $24K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Sep 2008 | High Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $80K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $55K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Feb 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jan 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Dec 2007 | High Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Oct 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $170K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $5K | $3K | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | 3 | County |
| 31 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Clay County had?
202 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?
21 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 60 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 26 Apr 1994, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $500K.
How does Clay County compare with Illinois for wind?
43.1 events per 100 square miles against 44.8 statewide; the county holds 202 of the state's 24,881 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.