PowerOutageHistory
C

Clay County Power Outage History

20162025 · North Carolina

Average — typical outage frequency and duration nationally. How grades are calculated

Total events
773
Avg duration
2.1 hrs
Longest outage
56 hrs
National percentile
56th

Outages by year

Outages by month (seasonality)

Worst outage events on record

DateDurationCustomers affectedCause
Aug 7, 202315 hrs5,464 (40%)Thunderstorm Wind
May 27, 202419 hrs5,315 (39%)Hail
Jun 5, 20250 hrs4,140 (31%)Unnamed event
Oct 27, 20250 hrs4,140 (31%)Unnamed event
Jan 5, 20251 hrs4,107 (30%)Unnamed event

Over the 10 years from 2016 to 2025, Clay County recorded 773 distinct power outage events, averaging 2.1 hours per event.

The single worst outage on record in Clay County started August 7, 2023 (Thunderstorm Wind), lasting 15 hours and leaving up to 5,464 customers without power (40% of the county) at its peak.

July has historically been the worst month for outages in Clay County, with 114 events recorded during that month across the dataset.

Based on this history, Clay County earns a Reliability Grade of C, placing it in the 56th percentile nationally for grid reliability (higher percentile = more reliable).

Sized for Clay County's outage profile

See more picks in our Best Dual-Fuel Portable Generators for Power Outages roundup.

Outage-prep kit

See our outage-prep guides or the North Carolina storm prep checklist.

Similar counties in North Carolina

Counties with the closest reliability grade and national percentile to Clay County.

CountyGradeNational percentile
Davie CountyC56th
McDowell CountyC56th
Randolph CountyC56th
Buncombe CountyC56th
Alleghany CountyC57th

FAQ

How often does power go out in Clay County?

Between 2016 and 2025, Clay County recorded 773 outage events, averaging 2.1 hours each.

What is Clay County's reliability grade?

Clay County has a Reliability Grade of C, in the 56th national percentile.

What was the worst power outage in Clay County?

The worst outage on record started August 7, 2023 (Thunderstorm Wind), lasting 15 hours and affecting up to 5,464 customers.

Data: ORNL EAGLE-I Recorded Electricity Outages (2014–2025), CC BY 4.0. Storm names: NOAA Storm Events Database. Last data refresh: 2025. See methodology.