Enter any address in Clay County, Tennessee to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash flooding from severe thunderstorms is the dominant flood character in Clay County. Recent events include heavy rain causing road closures on May 23, 2024, and an historic flash flood event impacting the region on March 27-28, 2021.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data shows that while Zone A and Zone X_UNSHADED have seen fewer claims, the average payouts and water depths in Zone X_UNSHADED are significantly higher. Homeowners in Zone X_UNSHADED, as well as those in Zone A and Zone X, should pay close attention to flood risk information.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
8 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Clay County, Tennessee has recorded 25 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 21 flash floods and 4 river or area floods. The county has received 22 federal disaster declarations, 3 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1969–2026)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Severe Winter Storm | Winter Storm | Jan 22, 2026 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Severe Storm | Apr 2, 2025 |
| Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, And Tornado | Severe Storm | Mar 1, 2023 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding | Tornado | Mar 25, 2021 |
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides | Flood | Feb 19, 2019 |
| Severe Winter Storm And Flooding | Severe Ice Storm | Feb 15, 2015 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Aug 17, 2010 |
| Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-line Winds, And Tornadoes | Severe Storm | Apr 30, 2010 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Feb 15, 2025 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | May 23, 2024 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Mar 28, 2021 | 238.64K |
| Flood | Mar 9, 2019 | 0.00K |
| Flood | Jul 1, 2017 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 27, 2016 | 2.00K |
| Flood | Jul 3, 2015 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 2, 2015 | 500.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 11, 2014 | 5.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jun 24, 2010 | 10.00K |
Flash Flood — Feb 15, 2025
A major severe weather and flooding event unfolded across Middle Tennessee on February 15-16, 2025. As well above average moisture spread into the area, this helped set the stage for very heavy rainfall across Middle Tennessee. Showers and thunderstorms began early during the day on February 15th, and the primary threat with this first round was flooding. The most significant flooding was repor...
Flash Flood — May 23, 2024
As a line of thunderstorms moved eastward onto the Cumberland Plateau during the evening of May 23, 2024, they strengthened and became severe. The most significant damage was reported in White County where a microburst with estimated winds of 90 mph uprooted numerous trees. Elsewhere, heavy rain in Clay County caused several roads to close due to high water.
Flash Flood — Mar 28, 2021
An historic flash flooding event affected the central third of Middle Tennessee from the early morning hours on March 27 through the day into the early morning hours on March 28. A warm front moved northward into Middle Tennessee early on March 27 before stalling near the I-40 corridor. Between 300-400 AM CDT, numerous showers and thunderstorms developed along the warm front, many of which beca...
Flood — Mar 9, 2019
A line of scattered showers and thunderstorms moved across Middle Tennessee during the afternoon and evening hours on March 9. One supercell thunderstorm produced wind damage across southern Wayne and Lawrence Counties, while another supercell caused wind damage in Grundy County. Farther to the north, a QLCS caused wind damage in Rutherford and Cannon Counties. Strong southerly gradient winds a...
Flood — Jul 1, 2017
Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed across Middle Tennessee during the late morning and afternoon hours on July 1. A couple of storms produced wind damage and some minor flooding.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Clay County, Tennessee:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Clay County, Tennessee that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with federally backed mortgages are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.