Hail and tornadoes in Clay County, NC

Since January 2021, radar estimated hail somewhere in Clay County, NC on 22 days. The biggest estimate: 1 in or larger (quarter), on Thu, Jul 2, 2026. Hail was reported to the National Weather Service inside the county on 3 days.

Still loading: radar estimates go back to Wed, Oct 14, 2020, and the earlier years are being added.

Days with hail
22
since January 2021
1 inch or larger
8
days, estimated or reported
Largest radar estimate
1+ in
Thu, Jul 2, 2026
Largest reported
1 in
Tue, Jun 24, 2025

Radar estimates are NOAA's MESH: the largest hail the radar estimates aloft, on cells about 0.7 mile across, shown as the lower bound of a size band (“1.5+”). They often run larger than what reached the ground, and they aren't evidence of damage at any address.

Radar-estimated hail on Thu, Jul 2, 2026 around the place, with the hail reported that day
Thu, Jul 2, 2026: radar-estimated hail around Clay County, NC, with the hail reported that day.

Hail on record since 1955

NOAA's Storm Events database lists 12 hail reports in Clay County, NC on 11 days, 0 of them 2 inches or larger. The largest: 1.75 in, near Hayesville, on Thu, Apr 26, 2012.

By decade: 2000s: 5 · 2010s: 4 · 2020s: 3

Tornadoes since 1950

2 tornadoes have touched Clay County, NC since 1950, none of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Every one

  • Sat, Mar 17, 2018 · EF0 · 1.51 mi long, 120 yd wide · near Fires Creek
  • Sun, Apr 25, 2010 · EF1 · 1.5 mi long, 60 yd wide · near Hayesville

By decade: 2010s: 2

Still loading: NOAA's record goes back to 1950, and 2003 onward is in so far.

Every hail day since January 2021

  • Thu, Sep 17, 2026

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Sat, Sep 5, 2026

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Sun, Jul 5, 2026

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Thu, Jul 2, 2026

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Sat, Jun 27, 2026

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Thu, Sep 4, 2025

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Sat, Aug 16, 2025

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Fri, Jul 4, 2025

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Thu, Jun 26, 2025

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Tue, Jun 24, 2025

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)

    Reported in the county
    • 1 in (2 WSW Hayesville, NC)
  • Fri, May 2, 2025

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Fri, Jul 5, 2024

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Sun, May 26, 2024

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)

    Reported in the county
    • 1 in (4 NNE Shooting Creek, NC)
  • Mon, May 6, 2024

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)

    Reported in the county
    • 1 in (Tusquitee, NC)
  • Sun, Jul 2, 2023

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Mon, Jun 5, 2023

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Thu, Jun 16, 2022

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Wed, Jun 15, 2022

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Tue, May 3, 2022

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Thu, Aug 26, 2021

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Wed, Aug 11, 2021

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 0.75 in or larger (penny)

    No hail reported in the county.

  • Tue, Aug 10, 2021

    Radar estimate anywhere in the county: 1 in or larger (quarter)

    No hail reported in the county.

Radar estimates and reports are for anywhere inside the county's boundary. Radar estimates come from NOAA's MRMS estimated hail size (MESH), the largest hail the radar estimates aloft on a ~1 km grid. They often run larger than the hail that reached the ground, and they aren't an observation at any address. Reports are what people reported to the National Weather Service. Neither is proof of damage or an official record for an insurance claim. From NOAA's Storm Events Database (NCEI), which records tornadoes from 1950, hail and thunderstorm wind from 1955, and every kind of storm from 1996. A tornado that crossed county lines is counted in each county it touched. Recent months are added as NCEI publishes them, a few months behind. Damage is in the dollars of its year and is often an estimate.