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Tornado in Howard County, Arkansas
35 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 35 tornado events in Howard County, Arkansas, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 28 years.
April is the busiest month, with 17 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 10 events against 9 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 6.0 per 100 square miles compares with 4.9 statewide.
NCEI attributes 12 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 11 at (E)F0, 9 at (E)F1, 10 at (E)F2, 2 at (E)F3, 2 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 1 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Arkansas
| Measure | Howard County | Arkansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 35 | 2,565 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 6.0 | 4.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 27.6 | 8.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 12 | 413 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
1Mar
4Apr
17May
6Jun
1Jul
1Aug
0Sep
0Oct
2Nov
2Dec
1
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 35 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Nov 2022 | Tornado | EF2 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2018 | Tornado | EF2 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2015 | Tornado | EF2 | $1.5M | — | 2 | 8 | County |
| 24 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $70K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2010 | Tornado | EF2 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2009 | Tornado | EF2 | $500K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 9 Apr 2009 | Tornado | EF3 | $1.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Mar 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 2006 | Tornado | F1 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2000 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 1999 | Tornado | F2 | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Oct 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Oct 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Nov 1997 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1995 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1995 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1985 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1984 | Tornado | F1 | $2.5M | — | — | 1 | County |
| 24 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 1982 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | 3 | 23 | County |
| 11 Apr 1980 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1979 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 4 Jul 1978 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1975 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 1970 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 1967 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 4 | County |
| 8 Feb 1965 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1964 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 1957 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1957 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 30 Apr 1954 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 21 Mar 1952 | Tornado | F4 | $25K | — | 7 | 9 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Howard County had?
35 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 Howard County?
4 Nov 2022 (Tornado, EF2). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Howard County?
The tornado of 2 Apr 1982, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M; 3 deaths recorded.
How does Howard County compare with Arkansas for tornado?
6.0 events per 100 square miles against 4.9 statewide; the county holds 35 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.