Arkansas, 2026

Hail in Arkansas, April 28, 2026

April 28, 2026 · NWS TSA · 32 events in 4 counties and zones

A couple rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms developed across northwestern Arkansas on the 28th, as a warm front stretched across the area and an upper level disturbance approached from the west. The atmosphere across the region was moderately unstable with strong deep-layer wind shear, the combination of which supported the development of some supercell thunderstorms.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$1.0 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
32

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS TSA wrote it up.

A couple rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms developed across northwestern Arkansas on the 28th, as a warm front stretched across the area and an upper level disturbance approached from the west. The atmosphere across the region was moderately unstable with strong deep-layer wind shear, the combination of which supported the development of some supercell thunderstorms. Very large hail up to three inches in diameter occurred with the strongest thunderstorms.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Tulsa, OK wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 28, 7:48 AM CST, 1 hour 19 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Updated at 848 AM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026
  • Another round of thunderstorms and severe weather is expected Tuesday.
  • A cold front will usher in cooler and drier air Tuesday night, marking the beginning of an extended break from severe weather that is expected to last into the first part of May.
  • A storm system is forecast to track east across Texas during the latter part of the week, increasing rain chances across the region. Locally heavy rainfall is possible across the south.
Area forecast discussion, Apr 28, 7:48 AM CST, 1 hour 19 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
848 AM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026

...New UPDATE...

.KEY MESSAGES...
Updated at 848 AM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026

 - Another round of thunderstorms and severe weather is expected
Tuesday.

 - A cold front will usher in cooler and drier air Tuesday night,
marking the beginning of an extended break from severe weather that
is expected to last into the first part of May.

 - A storm system is forecast to track east across Texas during the
latter part of the week, increasing rain chances across the region.
Locally heavy rainfall is possible across the south.

&&

.UPDATE...
Issued at 848 AM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026

Warm advection showers and thunderstorms are likely to increase
in coverage by late morning as an upper wave influences the
region. Mesoanalysis currently indicates upwards of 1000-3000
J/kg of MUCAPE in place across the FA, particularly across the
south. Steep mid-level lapse rates and strong shear values will
support severe weather for much of the area. A warm front remains
draped across S OK and into W-Central AR this morning and will
attempt to lift north today. Its evolution will likely be
influenced by storm coverage this morning, and greater storm
coverage north of the boundary could help to limit the northward
advance. Left undisturbed, the front may lift to near the I-40
corridor in eastern Oklahoma and into parts of NW AR by this
afternoon. Large hail and strong winds will be the primary hazards
for storms that occur north of the front. Along and south of the
front, greater potential exists for sfc-based storms and all
severe hazards will be possible, including a few tornadoes. Heavy
rainfall and localized flash flooding will also be a concern
today, especially across SE OK. A complex of storms was observed
moving generally along the boundary from west to east across S
Oklahoma/ N Texas this morning. Expect this to continue east,
potentially impacting portions of SE OK by late morning.

Overall, severe weather will be possible through the afternoon
and into the evening. Depending on how widespread storms become
this morning, the severe risk may lean more heavily towards the
late morning-afternoon period, with less coverage possible this
evening. Trends will be monitored.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(Through Tuesday)
Issued at 1127 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

A cold front is currently advancing south across northwest Arkansas
and southeast Oklahoma. A few storms have developed along and ahead
of it, mainly to the east of the forecast area. With no new
convective attempts evident on IR imagery, the severe thunderstorm
watch was cancelled early. The front is expected to settle down into
the lower Ark River Valley and SE OK by Tuesday morning.

Thunderstorm chances increase Tuesday morning as warm advection
increases ahead of the approaching wave currently near Las Vegas.
Storm coverage and severe potential will increase through the day.
The front will lift north into SE OK and perhaps west-central AR as
a weak frontal wave of low pressure slides along it during the day
in response to the passing wave. Storms that get going near and
south of the boundary will have the best chance of producing higher-
end severe weather. Low level shear is sufficient for a supercell
tornado threat, especially near the boundary, and this threat could
start earlier in the day than usual. Otherwise, large hail and
locally damaging wind will be the primary severe threats. CAMs
suggest that the storms will move east and south of the region by
early evening, in tandem with the now southward progression of the
cold front in the wake of the passing frontal wave.

Lacy

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Tuesday Night through Monday)
Issued at 1127 PM CDT Mon Apr 27 2026

Cooler and drier air will filter into the region Tuesday night into
Wednesday, starting a period of below average temperatures that will
last for the remainder of the week. Rain chances will increase
toward the latter part of the week as an upper level system tracks
east across Texas. With the warm and unstable air shoved well to the
south, storm chances will be minimal at best. Locally heavy rainfall
will be possible down near the Red River before the system moves
away by the start of the weekend. A weak system will bring low rain
chances again by the start of the next work week. With broad upper
troughing over the eastern CONUS and surface ridging predominant
over the south-central CONUS, we are looking at an extended period
without severe weather that will last into much of the first week of
May.

Lacy

&&

.AVIATION...
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 639 AM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026

Cigs will continue to deteriorate through the morning hours, with
MVFR conditions overspreading all sites by late morning.
Increasing showers with scattered thunderstorms are expected as
well from mid to late morning across the region. Multiple rounds
of storms will be possible into the afternoon, especially across
SE OK into WC AR though there is still some uncertainty in
coverage of storms during the afternoon, thus have opted for
PROB30s during the afternoon for this reason. Any storms should
shift southeast into the evening with skies clearing somewhat
across E OK sites. MVFR to possibly some IFR cigs are expected to
hold across AR sites through the rest of the TAF period.

Bowlan

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
TUL   68  48  69  48 /  60  10   0   0
FSM   79  56  74  52 /  90  50  10  10
MLC   79  53  71  52 /  90  30  10  10
BVO   63  43  69  43 /  40   0   0   0
FYV   74  50  70  45 /  90  50  10   0
BYV   73  51  68  45 /  90  60  10   0
MKO   73  50  69  49 /  90  30   0   0
MIO   66  46  66  43 /  70  20   0   0
F10   72  49  69  49 /  80  20   0   0
HHW   81  56  71  57 /  80  60  10  10

&&

.TSA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OK...None.
AR...None.
&&

SHORT TERM...30
LONG TERM....30
AVIATION...04
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 28, 3:34 AM CST, 5 hours 33 minutes before
Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
434 AM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026

ARZ001-002-010-011-119-120-129-219-220-229-OKZ049-053-055>071-
073>075-154-172-176-254-272-276-354-376-290945-
Benton-Carroll-Washington AR-Madison-Northern Crawford-
Northern Franklin-North and Central Sebastian-Southern Crawford-
Central and Southern Franklin-Southern Sebastian-Pushmataha-
Choctaw-Washington OK-Nowata-Craig-Ottawa-Pawnee-Tulsa-Rogers-
Mayes-Delaware-Creek-Okfuskee-Okmulgee-Wagoner-Cherokee-Adair-
Muskogee-McIntosh-Pittsburg-Haskell-Latimer-Western Osage-
Northern Sequoyah-Northern Le Flore-Northeast Osage-
Central and Southern Sequoyah-Central Le Flore-Southeast Osage-
Southern Le Flore-
434 AM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026

This Outlook is for Northwest and West Central Arkansas as well as
much of Eastern Oklahoma.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.
TORNADO.
	RISK...Limited.
	AREA...Southeast Oklahoma and West Central Arkansas.
	ONSET...Midday.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.
	RISK...Significant.
	AREA...Eastern Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas.
	ONSET...Late Morning.

	AREA AT GREATEST RISK...Southeast Oklahoma.

HEAVY RAIN AND FLASH FLOOD.
	RISK...Limited.
	AREA...Southeast Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas.
	ONSET...Late Morning.

DISCUSSION...
Thunderstorm chances will increase through the morning hours and
into the afternoon across eastern Oklahoma, then moving into
western Arkansas. Initial activity will pose a threat of large
hail across the area. Another round of storms is expected through
the afternoon, primarily south of a frontal boundary across
southeast Oklahoma into west central Arkansas. All severe hazards
will be possible with this activity, with cells merging into
clusters as they push southeast across the area through the
afternoon. Thunderstorms and associated hazards are expected to
push out of the local region by mid morning with more settled
conditions arriving for the rest of the period.

SPOTTER AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACTION STATEMENT...
Activation of the Regional Spotter Network Expected.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.
WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY...No Hazards.

EXTENDED DISCUSSION...
Following the passage of a cold front on Tuesday, much more
settled conditions will prevail through much of the next week.
Some showers with a few isolated thunderstorms will be possible
Thursday and Friday, but little impact is expected from this
system at this time.

weather.gov/tulsa contains additional information.

In the hours before

Special weather statement, Apr 28, 8:41 AM CST, 26 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
941 AM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026

ARZ001-OKZ063-281515-
Benton AR-Delaware OK-
941 AM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN BENTON AND SOUTHERN
DELAWARE COUNTIES THROUGH 1015 AM CDT...

At 941 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm 3 miles
northwest of Kansas, moving east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small tree limbs and blow
         around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation
         is possible.

Locations in or near the path include...
Siloam Springs...                 Gentry...
West Siloam Springs...            Colcord...
Kansas...                         Oaks...
Maysville...                      Leach...
Twin Oaks...                      Lake Eucha State Park...
Cherokee City...                  Natural Falls State Park...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3616 9447 3616 9493 3631 9495 3645 9455
TIME...MOT...LOC 1441Z 255DEG 33KT 3625 9485

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
Special weather statement, Apr 28, 8:43 AM CST, 24 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Tulsa OK
943 AM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026

ARZ001-010-OKZ063-068-069-281515-
Benton AR-Washington AR-Adair OK-Cherokee OK-Delaware OK-
943 AM CDT Tue Apr 28 2026

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN BENTON...WEST
CENTRAL WASHINGTON...SOUTHEASTERN DELAWARE...NORTHERN ADAIR AND
NORTHEASTERN CHEROKEE COUNTIES THROUGH 1015 AM CDT...

At 943 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated a strong thunderstorm 4 miles
east of Scraper, moving east at 40 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small tree limbs and blow
         around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation
         is possible.

Locations in or near the path include...
Siloam Springs...                 West Siloam Springs...
Watts...                          Cincinnati...
Scraper...                        Lake Francis...
Ballard...                        Wedington...
Rhea...                           Natural Falls State Park...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

&&

LAT...LON 3604 9484 3615 9486 3626 9446 3601 9439
TIME...MOT...LOC 1443Z 260DEG 34KT 3611 9476

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.88 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH
Local storm report, Apr 28, 8:58 AM CST, 9 minutes before
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The radar

The Tulsa radar (KINX), 92 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:07 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

32 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Benton

When
April 28, 9:07 AM CST
Where
Benton County, 0.67 mi WNW of Siloam Spgs
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.185, -94.540

Hail, Benton

When
April 28, 9:08 AM CST
Where
Benton County, 2 mi E of Siloam Spgs
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.180, -94.494

Hail, Benton

When
April 28, 9:19 AM CST
Where
Benton County, 0.6 mi NW of Decatur
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
36.335, -94.459

Hail, Benton

When
April 28, 9:25 AM CST
Where
Benton County, 0.64 mi S of Highfill
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.261, -94.351

Golf ball size hail damaged homes and vehicles.

Hail, Benton

When
April 28, 9:30 AM CST
Where
Benton County, 2 mi N of Cave Spgs
Measured
2 in hail
Property damage
$35,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.299, -94.230

Hail up to two inches in diameter damaged homes and vehicles.

Hail, Benton

When
April 28, 9:30 AM CST
Where
Benton County, 2 mi E of Cave Spgs
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.270, -94.194

Hail, Benton

When
April 28, 9:32 AM CST
Where
Benton County, 4.18 mi S of Cave Spgs
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.210, -94.220

Hail, Benton

When
April 28, 9:33 AM CST
Where
Benton County, 4.18 mi S of Cave Spgs
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.210, -94.220

Hail, Washington

When
April 28, 9:33 AM CST
Where
Washington County, 1.66 mi ENE of Elm Spgs
Measured
2.75 in hail
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.207, -94.201

Baseball size hail damaged homes and vehicles.

Hail, Benton

When
April 28, 9:34 AM CST
Where
Benton County, 2 mi S of Cave Spgs
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.241, -94.230

Hail, Benton

When
April 28, 9:34 AM CST
Where
Benton County, 3.15 mi SSE of Cave Spgs
Measured
4 in hail
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
Broadcast Media
Coordinates
36.226, -94.217

Hail up to four inches in diameter was measured near Willis D Shaw Elementary School.

Hail, Benton

When
April 28, 9:39 AM CST
Where
Benton County, 2 mi SE of Rogers
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.309, -94.095

Hail, Washington

When
April 28, 9:40 AM CST
Where
Washington County, Prairie Grove
Measured
0.88 in hail
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
35.980, -94.320

Hail, Benton

When
April 28, 9:40 AM CST
Where
Benton County, 0.39 mi SSW of Cave Spgs
Measured
3 in hail
Property damage
$150,000
Reported by
Social Media
Coordinates
36.265, -94.232

Hail up to three inches in diameter damaged homes and vehicles.

Hail, Benton

When
April 28, 9:42 AM CST
Where
Benton County, 2 mi W of Lowell
Measured
1.5 in hail
Property damage
$30,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.250, -94.166

Ping pong ball size hail damaged homes and vehicles.

Hail, Benton

When
April 28, 9:43 AM CST
Where
Benton County, 2 mi S of Cave Spgs
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.241, -94.230

Golf ball size hail damaged homes and vehicles.

Hail, Benton

When
April 28, 9:44 AM CST
Where
Benton County, 2 mi S of Cave Spgs
Measured
2 in hail
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.241, -94.230

Hail up to two inches in diameter damaged homes and vehicles.

Hail, Benton

When
April 28, 9:46 AM CST
Where
Benton County, 4.18 mi S of Cave Spgs
Measured
2.25 in hail
Property damage
$75,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.210, -94.220

Hail larger than two inches in diameter damaged homes and vehicles.

Hail, Benton

When
April 28, 9:47 AM CST
Where
Benton County, 1 mi NW of Lowell
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.260, -94.143

Hail, Benton

When
April 28, 9:50 AM CST
Where
Benton County, 2.05 mi W of Lowell
Measured
2 in hail
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.256, -94.166

Hail up to two inches in diameter damaged homes and vehicles.

Hail, Washington

When
April 28, 10:00 AM CST
Where
Washington County, 1.84 mi WSW of Wyman
Measured
1.5 in hail
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.060, -94.101

Ping pong ball size hail damaged homes and vehicles.

Hail, Washington

When
April 28, 10:10 AM CST
Where
Washington County, 0.48 mi E of Goshen
Measured
2.5 in hail
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
Social Media
Coordinates
36.101, -93.991

Tennis ball size hail damaged homes and vehicles.

Hail, Madison

When
April 28, 10:27 AM CST
Where
Madison County, 4 mi ESE of Hindsville
Measured
1.5 in hail
Property damage
$25,000
Reported by
Social Media
Coordinates
36.128, -93.784

Ping pong ball size hail damaged homes and vehicles.

Hail, Madison

When
April 28, 10:56 AM CST
Where
Madison County, 4.79 mi SE of Kingston
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.010, -93.450

Hail, Washington

When
April 28, 3:54 PM CST
Where
Washington County, Lincoln
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.950, -94.420

Golf ball size hail damaged homes and vehicles.

Hail, Washington

When
April 28, 3:54 PM CST
Where
Washington County, Lincoln
Measured
1.25 in hail
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
35.950, -94.420

Half dollar size hail damaged homes and vehicles.

Hail, Washington

When
April 28, 3:57 PM CST
Where
Washington County, 1 mi NE of Lincoln
Measured
1.25 in hail
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
Trained Spotter
Coordinates
35.960, -94.407

Half dollar size hail damaged homes and vehicles.

Hail, Washington

When
April 28, 4:01 PM CST
Where
Washington County, 1.31 mi WSW of Farmington
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.020, -94.270

Hail, Washington

When
April 28, 4:02 PM CST
Where
Washington County, 0.67 mi N of Farmington
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
Law Enforcement
Coordinates
36.040, -94.251

Golf ball size hail damaged homes and vehicles.

Hail, Washington

When
April 28, 4:04 PM CST
Where
Washington County, 2.17 mi SW of Farmington
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
Public
Coordinates
36.010, -94.280

Golf ball size hail damaged homes and vehicles.

Hail, Washington

When
April 28, 4:14 PM CST
Where
Washington County, 0.43 mi SW of (Fyv)fayetteville Ar
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
35.995, -94.175

Hail, Sebastian

When
April 28, 4:30 PM CST
Where
Sebastian County, 0.5 mi NE of Hackett
Measured
1 in hail
Reported by
Fire Department/Rescue
Coordinates
35.186, -94.415

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Arkansas in 2026Every state in 2026This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, April 2026

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1329838, 1325061, 1329839, 1329842, 1329844, 1329854, 1329849, 1329840, 1334369, 1329841, 1334382, 1329843, 1329845, 1329846, 1329850, 1329853, 1329852, 1329851, 1329847, 1329848, 1329855, 1329856, 1330723, 1329857, 1330715, 1330722, 1330711, 1330718, 1330719, 1330720, 1330717, 1330721.