State history
Tornadoes in Arkansas
Arkansas averages 35 tornadoes per year. Here is the state's complete tornado history.
The stats
- Average: 35 tornadoes/year.
- Peak season: March-April.
- Fall peak in November.
- Winter tornadoes common Deep South.
- Population 3 million.
- Rural + urban vulnerabilities.
- Mobile home density.
- Community shelter access varies.
The specific historic events
1919 Tuscaloosa AL tornado
Not Arkansas but killed many Arkansas people.
1929 Rush AR
Multiple fatalities.
1949 Warren AR F4
50+ dead.
1968 Jonesboro F4
Widespread damage.
1974 Super Outbreak impact
Multiple tornadoes in AR.
1997 Arkadelphia F4
Multiple dead.
1999 Camden F3
Multiple dead.
2008 February 5 outbreak
Multiple AR events.
2014 April 27 Mayflower-Vilonia EF4
16 dead. Central AR.
2023 March 31 outbreak
Multiple AR events.
2024 May 25 outbreak
Multiple AR events.
The 2014 Mayflower-Vilonia EF4
- April 27, 2014.
- Central Arkansas.
- 16 dead.
- Vilonia hit especially hard.
- Community shelter access debate.
- Post-storm recovery multi-year.
- Reshaped Arkansas tornado preparedness.
- FEMA HMGP funding.
- Building code discussions.
The 2023 outbreak
- March 31, 2023.
- Multiple significant tornadoes.
- Wynne EF3.
- Multiple fatalities.
- Rural devastation.
- Mobile home concerns.
- Community response.
- FEMA declaration.
- Recovery ongoing.
Arkansas topography and tornado risk
Delta region
Eastern AR. Mobile home density concerns.
Ouachita Mountains
SE AR. Terrain limits tornado.
Ozarks
North AR. Some tornado.
Central AR
Little Rock metro. Higher population risk.
Southeast AR
Delta country. Extensive events.
Northeast AR
Jonesboro area.
Little Rock metro area
- Population 200,000+.
- Multiple significant events.
- Community awareness.
- Storm shelter access.
- NWS Little Rock office.
- James Spann adjacent (Alabama TV).
- AR Weather adjacent.
- Public awareness improving.
Northeast Arkansas
- Jonesboro population 80,000+.
- Multiple historic events.
- 1968 F4 devastating.
- Multiple mobile home concerns.
- Rural surroundings.
- Community shelter access.
- Skywarn active.
Southern Arkansas
- Rural areas.
- Multiple events.
- Mobile home density.
- Community shelter access varies.
- Rural fatality driver.
- Historical vulnerability.
- Ongoing community awareness.
The 2008 Super Tuesday events
- February 5-6, 2008.
- 87 tornadoes.
- 57 dead across multiple states.
- Arkansas hit hard.
- Winter tornado outbreak reminder.
- Reshaped winter preparedness.
- Community response.
- Multi-state coordination.
Arkansas WFOs and NWS coverage
NWS Little Rock
Central AR coverage.
NWS Tulsa OK
NW AR coverage.
NWS Memphis TN
NE AR coverage.
NWS Shreveport LA
S AR coverage.
NWS Jackson MS
SE AR coverage.
Skywarn network
Active statewide.
Radio operators
Coverage.
The chase community in Arkansas
- Growing chase presence.
- Regional chasers active.
- Dixie Alley chase specialists.
- Multi-state coordination.
- HP supercell specialists.
- Night tornado documentation.
- Community awareness.
- Public safety focus.
Preparedness in Arkansas
- Weather radio in every home.
- WEA enabled.
- Family communication plan.
- Community shelter locations known.
- Storm shelter installation.
- Mobile home safety planning.
- Elderly and disabled registration.
- Regular drills.
- Insurance verification.
- Documentation.
Community shelter access
Rural churches
Some open shelters.
Schools
Some designated.
Fire stations
Some reinforced.
Government buildings
Some designated.
FEMA HMGP funded shelters
Some communities.
Rural gaps significant
Distance to shelter.
Mobile home parks
Some shelter access.
Public education needed
Ongoing.
The 2010s decade in Arkansas
- 2014 Mayflower-Vilonia EF4.
- Multiple other significant events.
- Community response.
- Building code discussions.
- Insurance impact.
- Community shelter funding.
- Ongoing preparedness improvements.
- Continued vulnerability.
The 2020s in Arkansas
- 2023 March 31 outbreak.
- 2024 May 25 outbreak.
- Multiple significant events.
- Rural fatality driver.
- Mobile home concerns.
- Community response.
- Continued preparedness.
- Federal assistance.
- Ongoing challenges.
For Arkansas residents
- Live in tornado-prone state.
- Preparedness essential.
- Weather radio.
- WEA enabled.
- Family plan.
- Community shelter awareness.
- Mobile home safety.
- Insurance current.
- Regular drills.
- Community engagement.
The specific vulnerabilities
- Mobile home density in rural areas.
- Rural community shelter access.
- Poverty in some areas.
- Older housing stock.
- Nighttime tornado risk.
- Fall tornado season.
- Winter tornado risk.
- Hurricane-spawned tornadoes.
- Compound risks.