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Tornado in Pike County, Arkansas
24 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 24 tornado events in Pike County, Arkansas, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 15 years.
April is the busiest month, with 8 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 10 events against 10 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.9% of the 2,565 tornado events recorded in Arkansas; its 4.0 per 100 square miles compares with 4.9 statewide.
By rating: 4 at (E)F0, 13 at (E)F1, 7 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Arkansas
| Measure | Pike County | Arkansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 24 | 2,565 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.0 | 4.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 23.8 | 8.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 413 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
0Mar
6Apr
8May
5Jun
1Jul
0Aug
0Sep
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 24 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 Mar 2023 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | 5 | County |
| 4 Nov 2022 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 2006 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 2006 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Nov 2005 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 9 Apr 2004 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 1999 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 1999 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 1999 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 4 Apr 1986 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jan 1965 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1957 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Pike County had?
24 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 Pike County?
2 Mar 2023 (Tornado, EF2). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Pike County?
The tornado of 4 Apr 1986, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $250K.
How does Pike County compare with Arkansas for tornado?
4.0 events per 100 square miles against 4.9 statewide; the county holds 24 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.