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Tornado in Independence County, Arkansas
42 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.
Independence County, Arkansas, has 42 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 25 different years.
March is the busiest month, with 8 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 5 events against 19 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 5.5 per 100 square miles compares with 4.9 statewide.
NCEI attributes 8 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 8 at (E)F0, 14 at (E)F1, 11 at (E)F2, 6 at (E)F3, 3 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Arkansas
| Measure | Independence County | Arkansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 42 | 2,565 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 5.5 | 4.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 11.1 | 8.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 8 | 413 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | March | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
7Feb
0Mar
8Apr
6May
8Jun
2Jul
2Aug
1Sep
3Oct
0Nov
3Dec
2
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 42 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jun 2014 | Tornado | EF1 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 27 Apr 2014 | Tornado | EF1 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2010 | Tornado | EF1 | $1.2M | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Dec 2002 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2000 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2000 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2000 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2000 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F3 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | 3 | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F3 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 1997 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 1997 | Tornado | F2 | $3.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Sep 1993 | Tornado | F2 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Mar 1991 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Mar 1988 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 1984 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1984 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 1984 | Tornado | F4 | $25M | — | — | 3 | County |
| 15 Mar 1984 | Tornado | F4 | $25M | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1973 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | 18 | County |
| 8 Jun 1972 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1968 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | 7 | 24 | County |
| 21 Sep 1965 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 1962 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1961 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 1961 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 1960 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 1959 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 1955 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | 1 | 3 | County |
| 15 Nov 1955 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 1955 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 1952 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Independence County had?
42 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 Independence County?
6 Jun 2014 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Independence County?
The tornado of 15 Mar 1984, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M.
How does Independence County compare with Arkansas for tornado?
5.5 events per 100 square miles against 4.9 statewide; the county holds 42 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.