Thunderstorm Wind in Arkansas
Every thunderstorm wind event the National Weather Service has filed in Arkansas, year by year, with the most significant episodes. Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
The most significant on the map
The most significant thunderstorm wind episodes in Arkansas.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 16,540
- Deaths
- 39
- Injuries
- 287
- Damage
- $220 million
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Arkansas, May 15, 1968
- Tornadoes and Hail in Arkansas, April 19, 1968
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Arkansas, April 27 to 30, 2014A round of showers and thunderstorms occurred during the morning of the 27th. Some of the storms produced hail in central Arkansas. New storms during the afternoon dropped hail in the northern and western parts of the state.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Arkansas, February 5, 2008Early on the 5th, a strong storm system approached from the Plains. Ahead of the system, breezy southerly winds provided well above normal temperatures and abundant moisture. Warmth and moisture destabilized the atmosphere and fueled developing thunderstorms.
- Flash Flooding and Debris Flow in Arkansas, June 9 to 11, 2010A slow-moving upper level low pressure system was over east Texas on the 9th, over northeast Texas on the 10th, and over Arkansas on the 11th. Thunderstorms associated with this low produced severe weather and heavy rain at times.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Arkansas, April 2, 1982
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Arkansas, April 24 to 30, 2011From the 24th through the 27th, the arrival of a slow-moving cold front and several low pressure areas aloft triggered several rounds of thunderstorms. Tornadoes, severe storms, and flash flooding resulted. Widespread areal flooding followed the flash flooding.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Arkansas, November 15, 1988
- Tornado and Hail in Arkansas, December 14, 1987
- Tornadoes and Hail in Arkansas, June 6, 1974
- Tornadoes and Hail in Arkansas, March 29, 1976
- Tornadoes and Hail in Arkansas, April 3, 1968
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Arkansas, May 2, 2008A line of thunderstorms pushed into western Arkansas early on the morning of May 2nd. During the morning and afternoon hours, severe thunderstorms developed out ahead of the line and produced tornadoes.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Arkansas, May 30 to 31, 2013The approach of low pressure aloft triggered numerous thunderstorms from the 30th into the early morning hours of the 31st. Tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, and flash flooding occurred. The flooding killed six people, and the tornadoes killed one.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Arkansas, April 14 to 15, 2011A cold front and strong area of low pressure aloft approached Arkansas on the 14th. The result was an outbreak of severe weather from the evening of the 14th through the pre-dawn hours of the 15th. Several tornadoes occurred.
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Arkansas, December 2, 1982
- Tornadoes and Hail in Arkansas, April 7, 1980
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Arkansas, March 31, 2023A regional tornado outbreak occurred during the late afternoon of Friday, March 31, 2023, and continued into the early morning hours of Saturday, April 1, 2023.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Arkansas, April 8 to 9, 2009Low pressure aloft approached from the west and collided with moisture and instability. Thunderstorms developed in eastern Oklahoma during the afternoon, then became more numerous as they entered western Arkansas during the evening.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Arkansas, May 26, 2024A couple long-tracked supercells moved across the northern two to three rows of counties during the predawn hours of the Memorial Day weekend. These storms triggered numerous tornadoes, some of which strong and long-lived, in addition to widespread straight-line wind damage.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Arkansas, May 24, 2011Severe thunderstorms developed along a dry line over central Oklahoma during the afternoon hours.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Arkansas, December 30 to 31, 2010Unseasonably warm and moist air spread into northwestern Arkansas ahead of a cold front. Scattered thunderstorms developed in the late evening and early morning hours ahead of the cold front as a weak upper level disturbance passed through the region.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Arkansas, November 18, 1985
- Tornadoes and Flood in Arkansas, May 24 to 26, 2011Thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front to the west of Arkansas on the evening of the 24th, entered western Arkansas during the late evening hours, and continued into the wee hours of the 25th. Severe weather, including two killer tornadoes, occurred in western Arkansas.
- Tornadoes and Hail in Arkansas, March 14, 1959
More
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 2026-09-24.