Clinton County
Population 21,661 (2025) 419 sq mi
Clinton County has recorded 26 tornadoes since 1950, 53rd most of 115 counties in Missouri; the most recent was on June 11, 2022.
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths since 195026
At a glance
The record for Clinton County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Tornadoes since 1950
26
53rd of 115 in Missouri
About as many as the typical Missouri county
DetailsStrongest tornado
F3
March 14, 1955, 9.8 mile path
Federal disaster declarations
22
Most recent: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, 2021
DetailsSnowiest season
44.3in
Winter of 2009-10
Tornadoes
About one every 2.9 years since 1950, one of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
March 14, 1955
F3, 9.8 mile path
250 yards wide.
Most recent
Saturday, June 11, 2022
EF0, 0.0 mile path
4 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| Jun 11, 2022 | EF0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 24, 2021 | EF1 | 4.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 6, 2017 | EF2 | 19.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 26, 2016 | EF0 | 3.3 | 0 | 0 |
| May 12, 2010 | EF0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 25, 2009 | EF0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 1, 2008 | EF0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 29, 2004 | F1 | 20.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 29, 2004 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 8, 2002 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 6, 1993 | F1 | 1.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 6, 1993 | F0 | 10.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 21, 1985 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 30, 1985 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 11, 1979 | F2 | 20.1 | 9 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 1973 | F2 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 1, 1971 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 18, 1971 | F2 | 55.4 | 6 | 0 |
| Apr 21, 1967 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 21, 1967 | F1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 24, 1967 | F2 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 12, 1964 | F1 | 6.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 15, 1963 | F1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| May 18, 1959 | F1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1957 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 14, 1955 | F3 | 9.8 | 1 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Clinton County: 0.
- Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.
Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
No tropical storm or hurricane has tracked within 100 miles since records began in 1851.
Wildfire and smoke
No large wildfire has been mapped here since satellite mapping began in 1984.
Smoke overhead
Smokiest year
2023: 69 days
Heavy smoke on 21 days in 2021, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
25.5 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
18 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 37 so far in 2026.
- A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Floods and flood insurance
7 federal flood insurance claims since 1984, with $67,000 paid.
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood12
- Flood9
1 death recorded in flood events since 1996.
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.
Drought
In severe drought or worse for 165 of 1,581 months since 1895 (10%); the longest spell lasted 18 months.
165
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
59
Months in extreme drought
10%
Share of all months, severe or worse
19
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
August 1934
−6.72, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
18 months
November 2002 to April 2004.
Latest month
September 2026
+1.57, slightly wet
Last severe month: March 2026.
- The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.
NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.
Earthquakes
5 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more within 50 miles since 1931; none reached magnitude 4.
0
Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973
2
Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973
0
Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900
0
Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900
Largest within 50 miles
August 9, 1931
Magnitude 3.8
6 km WSW of Kansas City, Kansas; 25.2 miles away.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
March 23, 2007
Magnitude 3.1
5 km N of Nortonville, Kansas; 39.5 miles away.
- Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the county boundary (or inside the county).
- Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).
USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Severe weather and other events
449 events in the National Weather Service record, 382 of them since 1996.
95
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
6
Hail, 2 inches or larger
129
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
47
Winter weather events since 1996
16
Heat events since 1996
10
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
September 10, 1984
4.50 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
December 15, 2021
81 mph
Costliest events since 1996
- Jan 30, 2002Winter Storm, Clinton$200,000
National Weather Service narrative
A long-lived major ice and snow storm blasted much of northwest, northern and central Missouri from late Tuesday, January 29th, until Thursday, January 31st. Ice accumulations of over an inch were observed from the Kansas City metropolitan area, east and north through Moberly Missouri. At one point 409,504 total customers were without electrical power in the CWA, with some residents without power up to two weeks. For the Kansas City area, the ice storm was ranked as the worst ever. Further north across northern Missouri, heavy snow fell generally along and north of a line, from St. Joseph to Trenton to Kirksville. Snow accumulations ranged from 8 to 14 inches.
- Oct 4, 1998Thunderstorm Wind$50,000
National Weather Service narrative
Minor roof damage was reported to several homes, and several porches and outbuildings weredestroyed.
- Jun 2, 2018Thunderstorm Wind$50,000
National Weather Service narrative
A 3 to 4 foot tree with noticeable stump rot fell onto a vehicle giving the occupant minor injuries.
- May 29, 2004Tornado$20,000
National Weather Service narrative
Tornado crossed into Dekalb county near Osborn.
- Jun 28, 1998Thunderstorm Wind$10,000
National Weather Service narrative
Severe thunderstorm winds blew a tree into a window at a house in Turney. The brick chimney was also blown down as a result of the winds.
- Jun 26, 2021Flood$10,000
National Weather Service narrative
Well after rain had ended, Castille Creek was high enough to cover the road at County Line road. The vehicle entered the flooded waters and was swept off the road into a nearby field, where one occupant drowned. Three others were able to get out of the vehicle or be rescued. The time of this occurrence was taken from news reports.
- May 12, 2010Tornado$10,000
National Weather Service narrative
A brief EF0 tornado touchdown at 2252 CST was reported 4 miles south of Plattsburg, around J Highway and Middle Road. The tornado lifted at 2255 CST, with damage reported to two greenhouses/outbuildings. Trees larger than one foot in diamater, were also found snapped off at a height of 14 feet. These trees blocked roads. Power lines were also reported down.
- Jul 23, 1999Thunderstorm Wind$10,000
National Weather Service narrative
Several trees were downed along Interstate 35. Debris from a nearby outbuilding was blown onto the interstate.
- Dec 10, 2007Ice Storm, Clinton$5,000
National Weather Service narrative
One quarter to one half inch of ice was reported across the county. Many tree limbs and power lines were reported down.
- Jun 12, 2004Thunderstorm Wind$2,000
- Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.
Weather records
From Kansas City International Airport, 28.6 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1972.
- All-time high
- 109°FAug 29, 1984
- All-time low
- −23°F2 times, most recently Dec 23, 1989
- Warmest night
- 83°F2 times, most recently Jul 10, 1980
- Coldest day
- −8°FDec 22, 1989
- Wettest day
- 8.82 inSep 12, 1977
- Snowiest day
- 11.0 inJan 5, 2025
- Hottest year
- 2012mean 58.8°F
- Coldest year
- 1979mean 51.5°F
- Wettest year
- 197355.26 in
- Driest year
- 201222.28 in
- Snowiest season
- 44.3 in2009-10
Median first snow
November 27
Earliest: October 14, 2018
Median last snow
March 20
Latest: May 2, 2013
0 of 54 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Kansas City International Airport (USW00003947), 1,008 ft elevation, 28.6 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1972 to October 26, 2026; 100.0% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.
NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.
Federal disaster declarations
22 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, September 1, 2021.
| Sep 1, 2021 | Severe Storm | DR-4612-MO |
| Mar 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490-MO |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482-MO |
| Aug 7, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4238-MO |
| Mar 23, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1961-MO |
| Feb 3, 2011 | Severe Storm | EM-3317-MO |
| Aug 17, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1934-MO |
| Jan 30, 2009 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3303-MO |
| Dec 27, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1736-MO |
| Dec 12, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3281-MO |
| Jun 11, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1708-MO |
| Sep 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3232-MO |
| Jun 11, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1524-MO |
| May 6, 2003 | Severe Storm | DR-1463-MO |
| Feb 6, 2002 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1403-MO |
| Jul 9, 1993 | Flood | DR-995-MO |
| Jun 21, 1984 | Flood | DR-713-MO |
| Sep 24, 1976 | Drought | EM-3017-MO |
| Jun 10, 1974 | Flood | DR-439-MO |
| Nov 1, 1973 | Flood | DR-407-MO |
| Apr 19, 1973 | Severe Storm | DR-372-MO |
| Jul 27, 1965 | Flood | DR-203-MO |
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.
How this compares
Where Clinton County stands among 115 counties in Missouri and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 26 | 53 / 115 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 1 | 68 / 115 |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 0 | — |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 0 | — |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 0 | — |
| Flood insurance claims | 7 | 90 / 115 |
| Flood insurance paid | $67,000 | 98 / 115 |
| Disaster declarations | 22 | 90 / 115 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 21 | 108 / 115 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 259 | 53 / 115 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 47 | 86 / 115 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $378,000 | 111 / 115 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 0 | — |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 165 | 6 / 115 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 25.5 | 13 / 115 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 0 | — |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 0 | — |
Neighbouring counties
| Buchanan County | 23 | 0 |
| Caldwell County | 11 | 0 |
| Clay County | 38 | 0 |
| DeKalb County | 21 | 0 |
| Platte County | 17 | 0 |
| Ray County | 34 | 0 |
Sources and vintage
Every number on this page comes from these public records.
- Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
- Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
- Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
- Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
- Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
- Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USW00003947.
- River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
- Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.
Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.