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Tornado in Hot Spring County, Arkansas
40 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 40 tornado events in Hot Spring County, Arkansas, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 25 years.
May is the busiest month, with 11 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 10 events against 14 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 6.5 per 100 square miles compares with 4.9 statewide.
By rating: 6 at (E)F0, 20 at (E)F1, 9 at (E)F2, 4 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Arkansas
| Measure | Hot Spring County | Arkansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 40 | 2,565 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 6.5 | 4.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 12.1 | 8.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 413 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
4Feb
0Mar
7Apr
5May
11Jun
0Jul
1Aug
0Sep
2Oct
1Nov
4Dec
5
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 40 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 Oct 2025 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Nov 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Mar 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Sep 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Nov 2005 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Dec 2002 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2002 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | 2 | County |
| 4 Dec 1999 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 1999 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 1999 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F3 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 1997 | Tornado | F4 | $2.0M | — | — | 11 | County |
| 26 Sep 1996 | Tornado | F2 | $2.1M | — | — | 15 | County |
| 15 Nov 1988 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | 4 | County |
| 14 May 1983 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F3 | $25M | — | — | 29 | County |
| 2 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 2 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 1982 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 1979 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 1978 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 1976 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1975 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1967 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 1965 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1961 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 1958 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1957 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jan 1957 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Mar 1950 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Hot Spring County had?
40 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 Hot Spring County?
18 Oct 2025 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Hot Spring County?
The tornado of 23 Dec 1982, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M.
How does Hot Spring County compare with Arkansas for tornado?
6.5 events per 100 square miles against 4.9 statewide; the county holds 40 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.