42
Recorded events
0
Direct deaths
3
Direct injuries
$2.0M
Property damage
Tornado in Clay County, Minnesota: 42 recorded events between 1957 and 2022. The strongest on record measured F5. That places the county #567 nationally and #10 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Tornado in Clay County, Minnesota: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for tornado in Clay County is the 2010s, when 11 of the county's 42 recorded events were logged. Comparing decades is useful for spotting active periods, but the earliest years are thin because systematic reporting for this hazard began later.
Within the Clay County archive, tornado makes up 8.3% of all recorded severe weather across 8 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #567 for this hazard and #10 within Minnesota, putting it in the 80.4 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
Jun is the peak month for tornado in Clay County with 16 recorded events, while Jan is the quietest. Seasonality here is a property of the archive as much as the climate: reports cluster where population and spotter networks are densest.
Tornado tracks
Paths crossing this county
| Date | Scale | Path length | Max width | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957-06-20 | EF5 | 52.4 mi | 500 yd | Crossed in |
| 1975-06-28 | EF4 | 5.4 mi | 1,320 yd | Touched down here |
| 1975-06-28 | EF3 | 2.3 mi | 1,760 yd | Touched down here |
| 1956-08-30 | EF3 | 5.1 mi | 60 yd | Crossed in |
| 2017-07-11 | EF2 | 12.8 mi | 500 yd | Crossed in |
| 1996-06-05 | EF2 | 5.0 mi | 100 yd | Touched down here |
| 1959-06-09 | EF2 | 14.1 mi | 150 yd | Touched down here |
| 1952-07-16 | EF2 | 9.4 mi | 333 yd | Touched down here |
| 2011-05-30 | EF1 | 4.5 mi | 200 yd | Touched down here |
| 2005-09-05 | EF1 | 1.5 mi | 100 yd | Crossed in |
Significant events
Deadliest on record
| Date | Location | Scale | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 12, 1958 | F1 | 0 | 3 | $25K |
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 20, 2022 | STOCKWOOD | EF0 | $0 |
| Jul 25, 2020 | ROLLAG | EF0 | $0 |
| Jul 9, 2019 | STOCKWOOD | EF0 | $0 |
| Jul 9, 2019 | RUSTAD | EF0 | $0 |
| Jul 21, 2017 | CRAWFORD | EF0 | $0 |
| Jul 12, 2017 | ULEN | EF2 | $25K |
| May 27, 2016 | GLYNDON | EF0 | $0 |
| May 27, 2016 | MOORHEAD ARPT | EF0 | $0 |
| Jun 28, 2015 | DOWNER | EF0 | $0 |
| Jun 26, 2013 | BARNESVILLE | EF0 | $0 |
Other hazards here
More from Clay County
- Hail 214
- Thunderstorm Wind 182
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
This tornado tracked north-northeastward along the eastern edge of Moorhead and was likely enshrouded in downburst winds and heavy rain. A few wooden power poles were snapped and numerous trees were uprooted or snapped. Some mature trees were thrown more than 100 feet. Peak winds were estimated at 105 mph.
This tornado began at 742 pm CST, 3 miles north of Borup, in Norman County. This tornado collapsed at least one shed, snapped numerous trees, and tossed large round hay bales across a sugar beet field. It also snapped at least a half dozen wooden power poles. Peak winds were estimated at 125 mph.
This tornado crossed the Red River into Minnesota (it originated southeast of Wild Rice, ND) and moved east before lifting just west of Rustad. Many trees were twisted or snapped off along the tornado path. Several farm buildings were damaged one mile west of Rustad. One wooden grain bin was moved about 6 feet off its foundation and the door of a 50×150 foot storage shed was blown in and pushed halfway across the shed.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many tornado events are on record in Clay County, Minnesota?
42 tornado events are recorded in Clay County between 1957 and 2022, causing 0 direct deaths.
What is the strongest tornado recorded in Clay County?
The strongest tornado on record in Clay County measured F5.
Where does the tornado data for Clay County come from?
All events come from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of severe weather reports. Dates are UTC, damage is as reported and not inflation-adjusted, and the most recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Tornado in Clay County, Minnesota.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/minnesota/clay-county/tornado/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.