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Tornado in Lafayette County, Arkansas
19 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 19 tornado events in Lafayette County, Arkansas, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 14 years.
April is the busiest month, with 7 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 11 events against 5 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.7% of the 2,565 tornado events recorded in Arkansas; its 3.6 per 100 square miles compares with 4.9 statewide.
By rating: 4 at (E)F0, 13 at (E)F1, 1 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Arkansas
| Measure | Lafayette County | Arkansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 19 | 2,565 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 3.6 | 4.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 30.8 | 8.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 413 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
3Feb
0Mar
2Apr
7May
2Jun
0Jul
3Aug
0Sep
0Oct
2Nov
0Dec
0
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 19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | $135K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2024 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | $55K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2023 | Tornado | EF1 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2020 | Tornado | EF1 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Oct 2019 | Tornado | EF1 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 2016 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Mar 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2000 | Tornado | F1 | $1.2M | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jan 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 1985 | Tornado | F3 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Oct 1974 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Mar 1963 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Lafayette County had?
19 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 Lafayette County?
2 Apr 2025 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Lafayette County?
The tornado of 23 Apr 2000, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $1.2M.
How does Lafayette County compare with Arkansas for tornado?
3.6 events per 100 square miles against 4.9 statewide; the county holds 19 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.