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Wind in Polk County, Arkansas
204 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.
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 204 wind events in Polk County, Arkansas, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 49 years.
May is the busiest month, with 36 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 99 events against 87 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.2% of the 17,054 wind events recorded in Arkansas; its 23.8 per 100 square miles compares with 32.8 statewide.
79 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 7 reached hurricane force (74 mph).
Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.
Compared with Arkansas
| Measure | Polk County | Arkansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 204 | 17,054 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 23.8 | 32.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 105.4 | 56.4 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 47 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | May | May | June |
By year
Seasonality
3Feb
4Mar
10Apr
32May
36Jun
27Jul
36Aug
16Sep
10Oct
12Nov
14Dec
4
Magnitude distribution
NWS wind thresholds
- under 58 mph
- below severe threshold
- 58–73 mph
- severe
- 74–95 mph
- hurricane-force
- 96 mph and over
- extreme
Wind speed converted from the knots NCEI records; estimated and measured gusts are combined. Events without a speed are not binned.
Recorded events
The 141 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 204. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Nov 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Nov 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Nov 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 10 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Nov 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Oct 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 14 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Oct 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Oct 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 mph | $125K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Oct 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Oct 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Oct 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Sep 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Mar 2013 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $20K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Dec 2012 | Strong Wind | 43 mph | $25K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Sep 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2011 | Strong Wind | 36 mph | $25K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 2011 | Strong Wind | 32 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Dec 2010 | Strong Wind | 40 mph | $25K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jan 2008 | Strong Wind | 55 mph | $250K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Dec 2007 | Strong Wind | 39 mph | $5K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Oct 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 14 Nov 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Nov 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Nov 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Nov 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Mar 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Oct 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Nov 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Mar 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | 2 | County |
| 1 Nov 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Oct 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | 2 | County |
| 31 Oct 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Oct 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Sep 1977 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1973 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 1971 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 1959 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1957 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 1957 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Polk County had?
204 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of damaging wind became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded wind event in Polk County?
22 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 64 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Polk County?
The strong wind of 29 Jan 2008, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $250K.
How does Polk County compare with Arkansas for wind?
23.8 events per 100 square miles against 32.8 statewide; the county holds 204 of the state's 17,054 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 Wind hub and the county page.