Clay County tornado history

38 tornadoes touched Clay County, Missouri between 1950 and 2025 — about 0.5 a year. The strongest was rated F4 (May 4, 2003). Tornadoes here killed 2 and injured 74 people.

38tornadoes since 1950

F4strongest rating

2killed · 74 injured

26.2 milongest path · 1961

(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5· dots = start point only

By rating

(E)F012

(E)F113

(E)F27

(E)F32

(E)F44

(E)F50

By month

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak month: May.

By decade

’50’60’70’80’90’00’10’20

Strongest tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
May 4, 2003	F4	21 mi	500 yd	30	2
May 7, 1961	F4	26.2 mi	50 yd	12	0
May 4, 1977	F4	12 mi	400 yd	5	0
May 4, 2003	F4	5 mi	200 yd	13	0
Jun 26, 1969	F3	10.1 mi	100 yd	5	0
May 2, 2008	EF3	0.9 mi	75 yd	0	0
Apr 11, 1979	F2	20.1 mi	100 yd	9	0
Mar 6, 2017	EF2	19.6 mi	1,000 yd	0	0
May 4, 2003	F2	8.5 mi	300 yd	0	0
May 28, 2019	EF2	5.8 mi	400 yd	0	0
Mar 14, 1955	F2	3.3 mi	250 yd	0	0
May 2, 2008	EF2	1.4 mi	75 yd	0	0

Most recent tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width
Apr 16, 2024	EF1	2.4 mi	50 yd
Jun 11, 2021	EF0	—	15 yd
Jul 29, 2020	EF0	0.3 mi	20 yd
May 28, 2019	EF2	5.8 mi	400 yd
Mar 6, 2017	EF2	19.6 mi	1,000 yd
Jul 6, 2015	EF0	1.2 mi	40 yd
Jun 30, 2014	EF1	0.8 mi	200 yd
May 25, 2011	EF0	0.1 mi	40 yd
May 25, 2011	EF0	0.1 mi	40 yd
May 2, 2008	EF3	0.9 mi	75 yd
May 2, 2008	EF2	1.4 mi	75 yd
Nov 27, 2005	F1	11 mi	75 yd

Deadliest: May 4, 2003, F4, 2 killed.

Nearby counties

Platte County, MO17 Clinton County, MO26 Jackson County, MO49 Ray County, MO34 Wyandotte County, KS10 Buchanan County, MO21 Caldwell County, MO11 Leavenworth County, KS33

Questions

How many tornadoes has Clay County, Missouri had?

38 tornadoes touched Clay County, Missouri between 1950 and 2025 in the NOAA Storm Prediction Center database — about 0.5 per year.

What was the strongest tornado in Clay County?

The strongest rating recorded was F4 on May 4, 2003, with a 21-mile path and 2 deaths.

When is tornado season in Clay County?

Most of its tornadoes happened in May (16 of 38). Tornadoes can occur in any month, so keep alerts on year-round.

Right now: live tornado warnings map · alerts for your location. Dates link to that day’s full storm reports where available.