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Tornado in Baxter County, Arkansas
22 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
Baxter County, Arkansas, has 22 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 16 different years.
May is the busiest month, with 7 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 5 events against 10 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.9% of the 2,565 tornado events recorded in Arkansas; its 4.0 per 100 square miles compares with 4.9 statewide.
NCEI attributes 5 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 4 at (E)F0, 10 at (E)F1, 4 at (E)F2, 4 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Arkansas
| Measure | Baxter County | Arkansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 22 | 2,565 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.0 | 4.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 5.2 | 8.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 5 | 413 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
1Mar
3Apr
4May
7Jun
3Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
0Nov
2Dec
1
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 22 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 May 2024 | Tornado | EF3 | — | — | 1 | 17 | County |
| 26 May 2024 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Mar 2020 | Tornado | EF1 | $120K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2018 | Tornado | EF1 | $10K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 5 Feb 2008 | Tornado | EF2 | $16M | — | 1 | 35 | County |
| 27 Nov 2005 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2000 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2000 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jan 2000 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 1997 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Nov 1985 | Tornado | F3 | $25M | — | — | 3 | County |
| 28 May 1982 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 1973 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Dec 1971 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 24 Jun 1968 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 15 May 1968 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | 3 | 25 | County |
| 17 Jun 1964 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | 3 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Baxter County had?
22 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Baxter County?
26 May 2024 (Tornado, EF2). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Baxter County?
The tornado of 18 Nov 1985, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M.
How does Baxter County compare with Arkansas for tornado?
4.0 events per 100 square miles against 4.9 statewide; the county holds 22 of the state's 2,565 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.