Clayton, MO Tornado History — 190 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Clayton, MO had?
Clayton has had 190 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 18 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Clayton?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Clayton was an EF1 on June 4, 2025.
When is tornado season in Clayton?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Clayton, with 51 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Clayton
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 78 total, averaging 3.9 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Clayton since December 29, 2025
These are 4 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
Within 25 miles of Clayton. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Clayton
45 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Clayton since 1950, across 10 events. 834 injuries have been reported across all events. 1959 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F4 on February 10, 1959, which caused 21 fatalities along a 23.9-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Clayton
About Tornadoes in Clayton
This overview was written April 23, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Clayton, Missouri, lies within a region that has experienced significant tornado activity over the past seven decades. According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, 171 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of the city since 1950. The distribution across decades shows considerable variation, with 28 tornadoes in the 1950s, followed by a decline through the 1970s and 1980s, then a notable increase to 37 events in the 2010s and 28 through the current decade.
The intensity distribution of these tornadoes reflects the typical pattern seen across the Midwest, with most events rated on the lower end of the Enhanced Fujita scale. Of the 171 recorded tornadoes, 58 were rated EF0 and 65 were rated EF1, together accounting for nearly three-quarters of all events. However, the area has also experienced more significant tornadoes: 31 were rated EF2, 11 reached EF3 intensity, and 4 achieved EF4 status. Two tornadoes remain unrated in the historical record.
April stands out as the peak month for tornado activity near Clayton, with 44 events recorded during that month since 1950. This aligns with the broader springtime severe weather season across the central United States, when warm, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico frequently collides with cooler air masses, creating the atmospheric instability necessary for supercell thunderstorms and tornadoes.
The deadliest tornado on record was an F4 that struck on February 10, 1959, claiming 21 lives and causing $27.5 million in property damage along a 23.9-mile path. The costliest event occurred much more recently on May 16, 2025, when an EF2 tornado caused $1.6 billion in damage and resulted in 4 fatalities along a 23.2-mile track with a maximum width of 1,750 yards. The widest tornado recorded was an EF3 on June 1, 2013, which reached 1,760 yards across during its 31.7-mile path. Most recently, an EF1 tornado touched down on June 4, 2025, traveling 6.8 miles and causing $93,500 in damage with no fatalities.