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Winter in Clay County, Illinois
32 winter storms and snow events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Winter Storm, Winter Weather, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Ice Storm, Lake-Effect Snow, Sleet.
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 32 winter events in Clay County, Illinois, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 18 years.
January is the busiest month, with 13 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 16 events against 16 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.4% of the 8,149 winter events recorded in Illinois; its 6.8 per 100 square miles compares with 14.7 statewide.
NCEI attributes 2 deaths in the county to winter storms and snow.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter events since 1950 | 32 | 8,149 | 287,339 |
| Per 100 square miles | 6.8 | 14.7 | 8.1 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 24.3 | 6.4 | 8.7 |
| Deaths recorded | 2 | 116 | 2,509 |
| Busiest month | January | January | January |
By year
Seasonality
13Feb
6Mar
4Apr
0May
0Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
0Nov
1Dec
8
Recorded events
All 32 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Jan 2026 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jan 2025 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Dec 2022 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Feb 2022 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Feb 2021 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Dec 2016 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | 1 | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Feb 2015 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Mar 2014 | Sleet | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jan 2014 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Dec 2013 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 2011 | Ice Storm | — | $800K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jan 2011 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Jan 2009 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Dec 2008 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | 1 | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 2008 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Feb 2008 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Dec 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Jan 2004 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Feb 2003 | Sleet | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Dec 2002 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Dec 2000 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Mar 2000 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Jan 1999 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Dec 1997 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Nov 1997 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | 1 | Forecast zone |
| 26 Jan 1997 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jan 1997 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jan 1997 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Mar 1996 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jan 1996 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jan 1996 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Jan 1996 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many winter events has Clay County had?
32 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of winter storms and snow became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded winter event in Clay County?
24 Jan 2026 (Heavy Snow). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Clay County?
The ice storm of 1 Feb 2011, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $800K.
How does Clay County compare with Illinois for winter?
6.8 events per 100 square miles against 14.7 statewide; the county holds 32 of the state's 8,149 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 Winter hub and the county page.