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Flood in Desha County, Arkansas
49 floods and flash floods events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Flood, Flash Flood, Coastal Flood, Lakeshore Flood.
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.
Desha County, Arkansas, has 49 flood events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 17 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 14 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 37 events against 12 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.9% of the 5,685 flood events recorded in Arkansas; its 6.6 per 100 square miles compares with 10.9 statewide.
Compared with Arkansas
| Measure | Desha County | Arkansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flood events since 1950 | 49 | 5,685 | 183,559 |
| Per 100 square miles | 6.6 | 10.9 | 5.2 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 44.2 | 18.8 | 5.5 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 92 | 2,961 |
| Busiest month | June | May | June |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
1Mar
2Apr
7May
6Jun
14Jul
3Aug
2Sep
2Oct
2Nov
2Dec
7
Recorded events
All 49 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Apr 2025 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2021 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2021 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2021 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2021 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2021 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2021 | Flash Flood | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2021 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2021 | Flash Flood | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2021 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2021 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2021 | Flash Flood | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Sep 2020 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Sep 2020 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2019 | Flood | — | $1.0M | $500K | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2019 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Feb 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2017 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 2016 | Flash Flood | — | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jan 2016 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Dec 2015 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Dec 2015 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2015 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2015 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2015 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2015 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2015 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2015 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2011 | Flood | — | $5K | $50K | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2011 | Flood | — | $10K | $100K | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2011 | Flood | — | $500K | $3.0M | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2010 | Flash Flood | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Oct 2009 | Flash Flood | — | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2008 | Flood | — | $1.5M | $25K | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2008 | Flood | — | $1.5M | $25K | — | — | County |
| 22 Mar 2008 | Flood | — | $1.0M | $50K | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2007 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2003 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Dec 2002 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Dec 2002 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Dec 2001 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Dec 2001 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Dec 2001 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Nov 2001 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Nov 2001 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Oct 2001 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2000 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2000 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2000 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many flood events has Desha County had?
49 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of floods and flash floods became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded flood event in Desha County?
5 Apr 2025 (Flash Flood). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging flood event recorded in Desha County?
The flood of 1 May 2011, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $500K and crop damage at $3.0M.
How does Desha County compare with Arkansas for flood?
6.6 events per 100 square miles against 10.9 statewide; the county holds 49 of the state's 5,685 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 Flood hub and the county page.