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Tornado in Cleburne County, Arkansas
29 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.
Cleburne County, Arkansas, has 29 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 21 different years.
November is the busiest month, with 7 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 5 events against 13 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.1% of the 2,565 tornado events recorded in Arkansas; its 5.2 per 100 square miles compares with 4.9 statewide.
NCEI attributes 4 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 4 at (E)F0, 9 at (E)F1, 9 at (E)F2, 6 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Arkansas
| Measure | Cleburne County | Arkansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 29 | 2,565 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 5.2 | 4.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 11.6 | 8.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 4 | 413 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | November | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
0Mar
5Apr
4May
4Jun
0Jul
0Aug
1Sep
3Oct
0Nov
7Dec
4
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 29 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Apr 2026 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Sep 2020 | Tornado | EF2 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2010 | Tornado | EF2 | $250K | — | 1 | 3 | County |
| 2 May 2008 | Tornado | EF2 | $32M | — | — | 12 | County |
| 27 Nov 2005 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Nov 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Nov 2005 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 24 Sep 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Sep 2005 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2003 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 18 Dec 2002 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2001 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 1997 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Mar 1991 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 15 Nov 1988 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 1984 | Tornado | F4 | $25M | — | 2 | 10 | County |
| 2 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Dec 1977 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 1976 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 1976 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | 1 | 6 | County |
| 30 Apr 1970 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1968 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 1958 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 1955 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 1955 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Cleburne County had?
29 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 Cleburne County?
28 Apr 2026 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Cleburne County?
The tornado of 2 May 2008, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $32M.
How does Cleburne County compare with Arkansas for tornado?
5.2 events per 100 square miles against 4.9 statewide; the county holds 29 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.