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Tornado in Polk County, Arkansas
37 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.
Polk County, Arkansas, has 37 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 23 different years.
April is the busiest month, with 10 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 13 events against 15 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.4% of the 2,565 tornado events recorded in Arkansas; its 4.3 per 100 square miles compares with 4.9 statewide.
NCEI attributes 4 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 9 at (E)F0, 16 at (E)F1, 10 at (E)F2, 2 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Arkansas
| Measure | Polk County | Arkansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 37 | 2,565 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.3 | 4.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 19.1 | 8.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 4 | 413 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
0Mar
6Apr
10May
6Jun
2Jul
0Aug
0Sep
2Oct
3Nov
5Dec
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 37 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Nov 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Oct 2014 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2013 | Tornado | EF2 | $285K | — | — | 5 | County |
| 30 May 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $350K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2009 | Tornado | EF3 | $130M | — | 3 | 30 | County |
| 6 Oct 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 2006 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Nov 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2003 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Dec 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 1999 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 1999 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Oct 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 1998 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1998 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Nov 1993 | Tornado | F2 | $50M | — | — | 11 | County |
| 22 Mar 1991 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Mar 1991 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 1982 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1981 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 1979 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | 17 | County |
| 15 Nov 1977 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Dec 1975 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 23 May 1971 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 1961 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 1952 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jan 1950 | Tornado | F3 | $3K | — | 1 | 1 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Polk County had?
37 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 Polk County?
4 Nov 2022 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Polk County?
The tornado of 9 Apr 2009, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $130M; 3 deaths recorded.
How does Polk County compare with Arkansas for tornado?
4.3 events per 100 square miles against 4.9 statewide; the county holds 37 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.