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Tornado in Woodruff County, Arkansas
36 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.
Woodruff County, Arkansas, has 36 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 25 different years.
May is the busiest month, with 9 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 6 events against 12 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 6.1 per 100 square miles compares with 4.9 statewide.
NCEI attributes 32 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 6 at (E)F0, 13 at (E)F1, 8 at (E)F2, 7 at (E)F3, 2 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Arkansas
| Measure | Woodruff County | Arkansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 36 | 2,565 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 6.1 | 4.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 58.9 | 8.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 32 | 413 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
2Feb
1Mar
8Apr
4May
9Jun
1Jul
0Aug
1Sep
0Oct
0Nov
2Dec
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 36 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Dec 2021 | Tornado | EF2 | $500K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 27 Aug 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | $20K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2010 | Tornado | EF1 | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 2006 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | 4 | County |
| 16 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2003 | Tornado | F3 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Dec 2002 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Dec 2002 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2000 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 1997 | Tornado | F2 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Nov 1995 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | 2 | 1 | County |
| 6 Mar 1992 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1991 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Nov 1983 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | 1 | — | County |
| 24 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 1979 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 1978 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jan 1978 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 26 Mar 1976 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 26 May 1973 | Tornado | F4 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 1961 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 12 | County |
| 9 Feb 1960 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | — | 10 | County |
| 26 May 1955 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 7 | County |
| 20 May 1955 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Mar 1952 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Mar 1952 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | 29 | 180 | County |
| 26 Mar 1950 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | 2 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Woodruff County had?
36 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 Woodruff County?
10 Dec 2021 (Tornado, EF2). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Woodruff County?
The tornado of 21 Mar 1952, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M; 29 deaths recorded.
How does Woodruff County compare with Arkansas for tornado?
6.1 events per 100 square miles against 4.9 statewide; the county holds 36 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.