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Tornado in Desha County, Arkansas
26 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 26 tornado events in Desha County, Arkansas, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 21 years.
February is the busiest month, with 4 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 7 events against 7 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1% of the 2,565 tornado events recorded in Arkansas; its 3.5 per 100 square miles compares with 4.9 statewide.
By rating: 8 at (E)F0, 9 at (E)F1, 6 at (E)F2, 3 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Arkansas
| Measure | Desha County | Arkansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 26 | 2,565 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 3.5 | 4.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 23.4 | 8.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 413 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | February | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
2Feb
4Mar
4Apr
3May
3Jun
2Jul
2Aug
0Sep
1Oct
1Nov
0Dec
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 26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jan 2023 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 2016 | Tornado | EF1 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Dec 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2007 | Tornado | EF3 | $45M | — | — | 28 | County |
| 24 Feb 2007 | Tornado | EF1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Sep 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Dec 2002 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Dec 2002 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2001 | Tornado | F3 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2001 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1991 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1989 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 1983 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1981 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 1979 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Dec 1978 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jan 1974 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 24 Apr 1973 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 1973 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 27 Mar 1972 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 1972 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1956 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Oct 1955 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 20 Jul 1953 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Desha County had?
26 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 Desha County?
2 Jan 2023 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Desha County?
The tornado of 24 Feb 2007, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $45M.
How does Desha County compare with Arkansas for tornado?
3.5 events per 100 square miles against 4.9 statewide; the county holds 26 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.