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Wind in Clay County, South Dakota
160 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, South Dakota, has 160 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 47 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 39 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 91 events against 45 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.9% of the 18,009 wind events recorded in South Dakota; its 38.8 per 100 square miles compares with 23.8 statewide.
124 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 20 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 South Dakota
| Measure | Clay County | South Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 160 | 18,009 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 38.8 | 23.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 105.6 | 201.1 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 16 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
6Feb
6Mar
4Apr
10May
26Jun
39Jul
36Aug
10Sep
4Oct
6Nov
4Dec
9
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
All 160 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 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 2026 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Feb 2026 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jan 2026 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2026 | Strong Wind | 53 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Nov 2025 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 77 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2025 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Apr 2025 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 2025 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Feb 2025 | Strong Wind | 47 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Dec 2024 | High Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Dec 2024 | Strong Wind | 54 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Nov 2024 | Strong Wind | 51 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2024 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 May 2024 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2023 | Strong Wind | 46 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2023 | Strong Wind | 47 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Feb 2023 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Oct 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 82 mph | — | $80K | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Mar 2022 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2021 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Sep 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | $2K | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jan 2021 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Dec 2016 | High Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Feb 2016 | High Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Aug 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2015 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2012 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2010 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2008 | High Wind | 45 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Nov 2005 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2005 | High Wind | 62 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 2005 | High Wind | 44 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Dec 2004 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Oct 2004 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2001 | High Wind | 63 mph | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Dec 2000 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 64 mph | $17K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Feb 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | 2 | County |
| 6 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 1998 | High Wind | 55 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Nov 1997 | High Wind | — | $3K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $200K | $50K | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 1997 | High Wind | 72 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Oct 1996 | High Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Oct 1996 | High Wind | 58 mph | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Apr 1996 | High Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Feb 1996 | High Wind | 67 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Sep 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 93 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Sep 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1971 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1964 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 1959 | Thunderstorm Wind | 83 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 1955 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Clay County had?
160 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?
28 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 59 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 1997, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $200K and crop damage at $50K.
How does Clay County compare with South Dakota for wind?
38.8 events per 100 square miles against 23.8 statewide; the county holds 160 of the state's 18,009 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.