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Tornado in Phillips County, Arkansas
28 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 28 tornado events in Phillips County, Arkansas, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 19 years.
April is the busiest month, with 6 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 13 events against 3 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.1% of the 2,565 tornado events recorded in Arkansas; its 4.1 per 100 square miles compares with 4.9 statewide.
By rating: 9 at (E)F0, 9 at (E)F1, 8 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 1 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Arkansas
| Measure | Phillips County | Arkansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 28 | 2,565 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.1 | 4.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 17.6 | 8.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 413 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
3Feb
5Mar
3Apr
6May
2Jun
1Jul
3Aug
2Sep
0Oct
0Nov
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 28 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Mar 2023 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 2016 | Tornado | EF0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 2016 | Tornado | EF0 | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jan 2012 | Tornado | EF1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2009 | Tornado | EF2 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2009 | Tornado | EF2 | $1.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2009 | Tornado | EF2 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Feb 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2001 | Tornado | F2 | $50K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 18 Jan 1996 | Tornado | F1 | $30K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 11 Nov 1995 | Tornado | F1 | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jan 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1979 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Dec 1978 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 1978 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1977 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 8 May 1977 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 1976 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Feb 1965 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Nov 1964 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 1956 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Feb 1956 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Feb 1954 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Phillips County had?
28 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 Phillips County?
31 Mar 2023 (Tornado, EF unrated). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Phillips County?
The tornado of 3 Dec 1978, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Phillips County compare with Arkansas for tornado?
4.1 events per 100 square miles against 4.9 statewide; the county holds 28 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.