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Tornado in Conway County, Arkansas
42 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 42 tornado events in Conway County, Arkansas, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 29 years.
May is the busiest month, with 11 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 13 events against 12 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.6% of the 2,565 tornado events recorded in Arkansas; its 7.6 per 100 square miles compares with 4.9 statewide.
NCEI attributes 8 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 9 at (E)F0, 15 at (E)F1, 11 at (E)F2, 7 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Arkansas
| Measure | Conway County | Arkansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 42 | 2,565 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 7.6 | 4.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 20.1 | 8.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 8 | 413 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
4Mar
4Apr
8May
11Jun
1Jul
2Aug
0Sep
2Oct
1Nov
8Dec
0
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 42 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 May 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Sep 2020 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | — | $3K | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2015 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2010 | Tornado | EF2 | $1.9M | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2010 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2008 | Tornado | EF2 | $5.0M | — | 2 | 6 | County |
| 5 Feb 2008 | Tornado | EF3 | $15M | — | 2 | 5 | County |
| 8 Jan 2008 | Tornado | EF2 | $1.8M | — | — | 1 | County |
| 27 Nov 2005 | Tornado | F3 | — | — | 1 | 8 | County |
| 27 Nov 2005 | Tornado | F3 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Nov 2005 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Nov 2005 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Nov 2005 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Sep 2005 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 1997 | Tornado | F2 | $500K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 18 Oct 1993 | Tornado | F1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 1988 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 1988 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1982 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | 1 | — | County |
| 31 May 1981 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 1980 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 1979 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1978 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 1978 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Mar 1977 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Feb 1976 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 1975 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1972 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 1971 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | — | 4 | County |
| 25 May 1968 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1960 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 1960 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | 1 | 24 | County |
| 14 Nov 1958 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Feb 1956 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | 1 | 3 | County |
| 14 Feb 1956 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Conway County had?
42 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 Conway County?
18 May 2021 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Conway County?
The tornado of 5 Feb 2008, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $15M; 2 deaths recorded.
How does Conway County compare with Arkansas for tornado?
7.6 events per 100 square miles against 4.9 statewide; the county holds 42 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.