Natural hazards · Clifton

Clifton, MN natural hazards

Most of the natural-hazard damage FEMA expects in Clifton comes from inland flooding, and overall the risk is very high for a U.S. community. 6 federal disasters brought FEMA money into town.

FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025 · OpenFEMA claims, aid & declarations

Expected damage

How exposed is Clifton?

Very high

vs. U.S. communities

FEMA expects yearly storm and flood damage to homes and buildings in Clifton to be higher than in 83% of U.S. communities, mostly from inland flooding.

Inland flooding61%Drought12%Cold waves12%Hail7%Everything else9%

By hazard

What Clifton faces

Each hazard’s share of the damage FEMA expects here, and how that compares with the rest of the country.

Inland flooding

61% of expected damage

Well above average · higher than 95% of U.S. places

Recorded about once a year in the area

Drought

12% of expected damage

Recorded about 12 times a year in the area

Cold waves

12% of expected damage

Below average · higher than 34% of U.S. places

Recorded about 13 times a year in the area

Hail

7% of expected damage

Above average · higher than 64% of U.S. places

Recorded about 4 times a year in the area

Lower here

TornadoesIce stormsWinter weatherHeat wavesWildfireEarthquakesLandslidesStrong windLightning

Not a risk here

Coastal floodingHurricanesAvalanchesTsunamisVolcanic activity

Flood risk changes street by street. Check a specific address on FEMA’s flood map, and ask about flood insurance before you buy.

Flood insurance claims

Does Clifton flood?

FEMA's records show no paid flood insurance claims in Clifton.

of homes in flood zones
are insured

of all homes
are insured

No community discount. Clifton isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.

Insurance rates: Lyon County.

Disasters that hit Clifton

6 federal disasters brought FEMA money here

Disasters the President declared that paid out in Clifton itself: aid to households, or repair grants to the Township of Clifton.

Brought FEMA money into CliftonDeclared for Lyon County only

2019

Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

$13K to the Township of Clifton for repairs

2018

Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

$51K to the Township of Clifton for repairs

2014

Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

$4K to the Township of Clifton for repairs

2011

Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

$1K to the Township of Clifton for repairs

2011

Severe Storms and Flooding

$8K to the Township of Clifton for repairs

2010

Severe Storms and Flooding

$4K to the Township of Clifton for repairs

Lyon County has had 15 natural disasters declared since 1953, most often severe storms and floods.

Around Clifton

Clifton and the towns around it

Very lowLowModerateHighVery high

Cliftonmostly inland floodingVery high

Stanleymostly inland floodingVery high

Westlinemostly inland floodingHigh

Amiretmostly inland floodingHigh

Lake Marshallmostly inland floodingModerate

About these numbers

How to read this page

An average, not a forecastFEMA’s National Risk Index estimates the damage 18 kinds of natural hazards cause in a typical year, from decades of records and models. A quiet decade can follow a bad year.

Compared by rate“Higher than N%” compares yearly damage as a share of what’s here, so a big city isn’t rated riskier just for having more buildings. Clifton is smaller than a census tract, so it shares the figures of the tract around its center.

Money that reached townFlood claims are matched to Clifton’s own flood-insurance community; household aid to the registrant’s city; repair grants to the Township of Clifton. FEMA’s model follows property values, so a place that recently lost many homes can rate lower than it feels.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025); OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Census tracts: U.S. Census Bureau.