States › Arkansas › Jackson County › Tornado
Tornado in Jackson County, Arkansas
61 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 61 tornado events in Jackson County, Arkansas, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 31 years.
May is the busiest month, with 15 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 15 events against 27 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.4% of the 2,565 tornado events recorded in Arkansas; its 9.6 per 100 square miles compares with 4.9 statewide.
NCEI attributes 5 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 14 at (E)F0, 25 at (E)F1, 13 at (E)F2, 5 at (E)F3, 3 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 1 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Arkansas
| Measure | Jackson County | Arkansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 61 | 2,565 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 9.6 | 4.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 36.3 | 8.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 5 | 413 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
10Feb
2Mar
9Apr
10May
15Jun
5Jul
2Aug
0Sep
0Oct
0Nov
2Dec
6
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 61 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 Apr 2026 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Dec 2021 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Dec 2021 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Dec 2021 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Dec 2021 | Tornado | EF2 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Mar 2020 | Tornado | EF1 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2019 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2014 | Tornado | EF1 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2014 | Tornado | EF1 | $70K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2010 | Tornado | EF3 | $1.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2003 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2001 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 1999 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F3 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | 3 | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 1 Mar 1997 | Tornado | F1 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 1997 | Tornado | F2 | $25M | — | 1 | 30 | County |
| 1 Mar 1997 | Tornado | F2 | $10M | — | 2 | 30 | County |
| 30 Jun 1992 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1989 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1989 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 1984 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | 8 | County |
| 15 Mar 1984 | Tornado | F4 | $25M | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 1979 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1978 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1977 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 1974 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Nov 1973 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 24 Nov 1973 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1973 | Tornado | F4 | $25K | — | — | 7 | County |
| 15 May 1968 | Tornado | F4 | $25K | — | 1 | 11 | County |
| 12 Apr 1964 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 1961 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 1960 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1958 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1955 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Mar 1952 | Tornado | F3 | $3K | — | — | 6 | County |
| 2 Apr 1950 | Tornado | F3 | $3K | — | 1 | 8 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Jackson County had?
61 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 Jackson County?
27 Apr 2026 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Jackson County?
The tornado of 15 Mar 1984, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M.
How does Jackson County compare with Arkansas for tornado?
9.6 events per 100 square miles against 4.9 statewide; the county holds 61 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.