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Tornado in White County, Arkansas
83 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 83 tornado events in White County, Arkansas, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 29 years.
April is the busiest month, with 20 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 22 events against 39 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 3.2% of the 2,565 tornado events recorded in Arkansas; its 8.0 per 100 square miles compares with 4.9 statewide.
NCEI attributes 60 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 13 at (E)F0, 38 at (E)F1, 22 at (E)F2, 9 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Arkansas
| Measure | White County | Arkansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 83 | 2,565 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 8.0 | 4.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 10.8 | 8.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 60 | 413 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
12Feb
10Mar
8Apr
20May
14Jun
5Jul
0Aug
0Sep
1Oct
0Nov
5Dec
8
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 83 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2020 | Tornado | EF1 | $40K | — | — | 4 | County |
| 13 Apr 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | $2K | $3K | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | $80K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2017 | Tornado | EF2 | $70K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 28 Feb 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | 4 | County |
| 27 Apr 2014 | Tornado | EF2 | $450K | — | 1 | 1 | County |
| 27 Apr 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2014 | Tornado | EF1 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2014 | Tornado | EF2 | $1.4M | — | — | 1 | County |
| 26 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $1.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2010 | Tornado | EF1 | $375K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2010 | Tornado | EF1 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2010 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2010 | Tornado | EF1 | $950K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 10 May 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Feb 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2006 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Nov 2005 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Sep 2005 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2003 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2003 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2003 | Tornado | F3 | — | — | — | 5 | County |
| 18 Dec 2002 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Dec 2002 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Dec 2001 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Nov 2001 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | 3 | County |
| 20 May 2001 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2001 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2001 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2001 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Feb 1999 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F3 | — | — | — | 2 | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F3 | — | — | 2 | 29 | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | 1 | 2 | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | 2 | 2 | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 1997 | Tornado | F3 | $50K | — | — | 5 | County |
| 1 Mar 1997 | Tornado | F2 | $20K | — | — | 14 | County |
| 6 Mar 1992 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1989 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1989 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1989 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1989 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 5 | County |
| 2 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 2 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | 7 | County |
| 2 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 1980 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 1980 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 1979 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 1976 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1975 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Nov 1973 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | 1 | 8 | County |
| 24 Nov 1973 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 4 | County |
| 30 Apr 1970 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 1961 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | 2 | 6 | County |
| 12 Mar 1961 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 1960 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | 3 | County |
| 4 Feb 1960 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 14 Mar 1959 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | 1 | 3 | County |
| 16 Feb 1956 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Feb 1956 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jan 1956 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Mar 1952 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | 50 | 325 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has White County had?
83 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 White County?
20 Apr 2025 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in White County?
The tornado of 21 Mar 1952, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M; 50 deaths recorded.
How does White County compare with Arkansas for tornado?
8.0 events per 100 square miles against 4.9 statewide; the county holds 83 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.