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Tornado in Hempstead County, Arkansas
36 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 36 tornado events in Hempstead County, Arkansas, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 23 years.
April is the busiest month, with 15 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 15 events against 8 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.4% of the 2,565 tornado events recorded in Arkansas; its 5.0 per 100 square miles compares with 4.9 statewide.
NCEI attributes 5 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 13 at (E)F0, 11 at (E)F1, 6 at (E)F2, 5 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Arkansas
| Measure | Hempstead County | Arkansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 36 | 2,565 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 5.0 | 4.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 18.3 | 8.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 5 | 413 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
1Mar
4Apr
15May
7Jun
1Jul
1Aug
0Sep
1Oct
0Nov
1Dec
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 36 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 | Tornado | EF2 | $400K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | $500K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 16 May 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Dec 2018 | Tornado | EF1 | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Dec 2015 | Tornado | EF1 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF2 | $500K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 4 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Mar 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2000 | Tornado | F0 | $22K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 1999 | Tornado | F1 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F2 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Nov 1997 | Tornado | F1 | $70K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 1997 | Tornado | F2 | $1.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1995 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1995 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 2 Apr 1982 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 1982 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | 5 | 4 | County |
| 2 Apr 1982 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 1982 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1979 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 12 May 1978 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 20 Apr 1976 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 1971 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 21 Dec 1967 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Feb 1965 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 1960 | Tornado | F2 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 1954 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Hempstead County had?
36 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 Hempstead County?
5 Apr 2025 (Tornado, EF2). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Hempstead County?
The tornado of 2 Apr 1982, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Hempstead County compare with Arkansas for tornado?
5.0 events per 100 square miles against 4.9 statewide; the county holds 36 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.