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Tornado in Clark County, Arkansas
35 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.
NCEI records 35 tornado events in Clark County, Arkansas, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 24 years.
May is the busiest month, with 10 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 6 events against 10 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.4% of the 2,565 tornado events recorded in Arkansas; its 4.0 per 100 square miles compares with 4.9 statewide.
NCEI attributes 6 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 7 at (E)F0, 18 at (E)F1, 7 at (E)F2, 2 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Arkansas
| Measure | Clark County | Arkansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 35 | 2,565 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.0 | 4.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 16.4 | 8.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 6 | 413 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
2Mar
6Apr
8May
10Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
1Nov
5Dec
2
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 35 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 May 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Nov 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Oct 2014 | Tornado | EF1 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2013 | Tornado | EF2 | $125K | — | — | 5 | County |
| 25 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2004 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Nov 2001 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 1999 | Tornado | F3 | $2.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 1999 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 1997 | Tornado | F4 | $120M | — | 6 | 100 | County |
| 27 May 1996 | Tornado | F3 | $1.8M | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 1988 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1988 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Mar 1988 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1986 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Nov 1984 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 14 May 1983 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 1983 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 1983 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 1979 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | 2 | County |
| 3 May 1979 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Nov 1973 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jan 1971 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 10 | County |
| 9 Feb 1965 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 1964 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 1964 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 1961 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Feb 1960 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 1954 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Mar 1950 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 3 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Clark County had?
35 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 Clark County?
20 May 2025 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Clark County?
The tornado of 1 Mar 1997, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $120M; 6 deaths recorded.
How does Clark County compare with Arkansas for tornado?
4.0 events per 100 square miles against 4.9 statewide; the county holds 35 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.