Clay County, MO Environment & Hazard Risk

• Cold waveRelatively High$26.3M/yr expected annual loss, about 2.5 events a year
• HailRelatively High$6.55M/yr expected annual loss, about 8.5 events a year
• Heat waveRelatively High$11.92M/yr expected annual loss, about 15 events a year
• TornadoRelatively High$20.73M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
• Ice stormRelatively Moderate$642K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• Winter weatherRelatively Moderate$266K/yr expected annual loss, about 11 events a year
• LandslideRelatively Low$13.99K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 5 years
• LightningRelatively Moderate$845K/yr expected annual loss, about 49 events a year
• WildfireRelatively Low$225K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,223 years
• EarthquakeRelatively Low$763K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 974 years
• Strong windRelatively Moderate$964K/yr expected annual loss, about 6.4 events a year
• DroughtRelatively Low$125K/yr expected annual loss, about 13 events a year

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, hurricane, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

258 of 82,860 (0.3%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

560

Insured in high-risk zones

149 (27%)

Flood claims since 1978

799

Claims paid since 1978

$11.15M

• Hail337
• Thunderstorm Wind306
• Flood66
• Flash Flood63
• Winter Storm24 · 1 death
• Drought21
• Heat19 · 2 deaths
• Tornado18
• Ice Storm10
• Heavy Snow9

• TornadoF2, 8.5 mi path, 300 yd wide05/04/2003

  Liberty, Clay County

  $60M damage

  What happened

  Tornado reported on the ground near Missouri Route 291, south of Missouri Route 152, it produced spotty damage northeast to downtown Liberty. Substantial damage was noted near the square in Libery, and to William Jewel College. The tornado tracked east along Missouri Route H into rural portions of Clay county before dissipating. Maximum intensity damage noted in the area was F2, based on surveys and input from local emergency management.

• TornadoF4, 5 mi path, 200 yd wide05/04/2003

  Gladstone, Clay County

  13 injured, $31M damage

  What happened

  New tornado touchdown near Shady Lane and Antioch in Gladstone...with F0 to F1 damage to trees and roofs. The tornado intensified quickly, and damage of marginal F4 intensity was noted around one mile northeast of this area, near the intersection of NE 63rd Terrace and North Jackson. Another small area of marginal F4 intensity was noted just northeast of this location, in the Carriage Hills subdivision, just south of Pleasant Valley Road near North Brighton. Areas of F1 to F3 intensity damage was noted around these specific neighborhoods. The tornado continued northeast, based on air surveys, to just shy of Interstate 435 before dissipating.

• Winter Weather11/27/2015

  Clay

  1 death, 2 injured

  What happened

  A prolonged, multiple day freezing rain and freezing drizzle event caused numerous accidents across western Missouri, including the Kansas City metro area. Highlighting these accidents was a fatal accident occurring on Highway 210 and Eldon Road near Ameristar Casino. Per the media, the accident happened at 8:40 a.m. at Missouri Highway 210 and Eldon Avenue just east of the casino. Police said [the driver] was driving a black 2007 Dodge Ram and heading west on Highway 210 when he lost control after crossing a bridge. The truck hit the curb as it ran off the left side of the road. According to one of the passengers in the vehicle who reached out to KCTV5, the truck flipped over five or six times before landing on its side. The driver was killed in the accident, while the two passengers were injured.

• TornadoEF2, 1.39 mi path, 75 yd wide05/02/2008

  Gashland, Clay County

  $10M damage

  What happened

  An EF2 tornado developed along a bow echo and touched down at 1:03 am in Gladstone. It then traveled northeast and dissipated at 1:08 am.|Numerous homes and businesses suffered damage or total loss.

• Winter Storm12/21/2013

  Clay

  1 death

  What happened

  Freezing rain moved into the area early in the afternoon on December 21. The time in which the ice accumulated was not very long, but in the 6-8 hours between when the freezing rain began and when it transitioned into light snow about .10 to .40 of ice accumulated. Trained spotters reported the various ice amounts, however the ASOS at nearby Kansas City International Airport (KMCI) reported .37 of rain while reporting freezing rain. After the freezing rain transitioned to snow 1-6 of snow was reported across the county, including 3.3 at the KCI airport, and a 6 report from the northern part of the county. Several vehicle spin outs were reported across the Kansas City Metro area. While scattered power outages were reported, and despite the several disabled vehicles on the roads, widespread effects were not incredibly high impact. According to broadcast media a vehicle incident involving slippery roads occurred at Highway 152 and North Indiana Avenue. The driver passed away as a result of the incident.

• Heat07/26/2003

  Clay

  1 death

  What happened

  Excessive heat and humidity covered west central Missouri from July 26th through July 27th. Afternoon heat indices ranged from 103 to 106 degrees. A 53 year old Clay county male died from heat related causes.

• Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind07/09/2026

  Minaville, Clay County

• Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind07/09/2026

  Gashland, Clay County

• Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind07/09/2026

  Winnwood, Clay County

• Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind07/09/2026

  Linden, Clay County

• Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind05/19/2026

  Linden, Clay County

• Hail1" hail04/15/2026

  Kearney, Clay County

• Heavy Snow01/24/2026

  Clay

• Drought11/01/2025

  Clay

• Kansas City PwsServes 553,295 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
• Liberty PwsServes 30,800 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+23 monitoring or reporting
• Gladstone PwsServes 27,000 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Kearney PwsServes 11,500 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations
• Excelsior Springs PwsServes 11,084 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Smithville PwsServes 10,885 · Surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• Ray County Cons Pwsd 2Serves 9,360 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Clay County Pwsd 6Serves 4,912 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+3 monitoring or reporting