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Tornado in Drew County, Arkansas
21 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.
Drew County, Arkansas, has 21 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 16 different years.
February is the busiest month, with 6 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 10 events against 4 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.8% of the 2,565 tornado events recorded in Arkansas; its 2.5 per 100 square miles compares with 4.9 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 5 at (E)F0, 8 at (E)F1, 7 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Arkansas
| Measure | Drew County | Arkansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 21 | 2,565 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 2.5 | 4.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 12.3 | 8.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 413 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | February | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
3Feb
6Mar
2Apr
3May
2Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
1Oct
1Nov
0Dec
3
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 21 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Mar 2021 | Tornado | EF2 | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jan 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Dec 2015 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 29 Jan 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2007 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2007 | Tornado | EF2 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2007 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2007 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Dec 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Sep 2005 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Dec 2002 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2001 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 17 Oct 1980 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | 1 | 2 | County |
| 28 Jan 1974 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 1973 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 10 Mar 1973 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Feb 1971 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 1958 | Tornado | F1 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 1957 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Drew County had?
21 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 Drew County?
27 Mar 2021 (Tornado, EF2). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Drew County?
The tornado of 27 Mar 2021, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $300K.
How does Drew County compare with Arkansas for tornado?
2.5 events per 100 square miles against 4.9 statewide; the county holds 21 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.