Tornadoes · United States · Arkansas
Tornadoes in Lonoke County, Arkansas
85 tornadoes have crossed Lonoke County since 1950, 2nd of the 75 counties in Arkansas with a tornado on record, an average of 1.1 a year. They have killed 22 people and injured 253. 1 was rated F4 or EF4 and above.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The United States rated tornadoes on Ted Fujita’s F scale until 31 January 2007 and on the Enhanced Fujita scale after it. Both run from 0 to 5, and both rate the damage rather than measure the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
F0 / EF040 to 72 mph on the F scale, 65 to 85 mph on the EF scale
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
F1 / EF173 to 112 mph on the F scale, 86 to 110 mph on the EF scale
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
F2 / EF2113 to 157 mph on the F scale, 111 to 135 mph on the EF scale
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
F3 / EF3158 to 206 mph on the F scale, 136 to 165 mph on the EF scale
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
F4 / EF4207 to 260 mph on the F scale, 166 to 200 mph on the EF scale
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
F5 / EF5261 to 318 mph on the F scale, over 200 mph on the EF scale
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.
Now
- Tornadoes
- 85
- Deaths
- 22
- Injuries
- 253
- F4 and above
- 1
- Worst on record
- F4, March 21, 1952
The deadliest in Lonoke County
The strongest
- F4, Lonoke County, ArkansasMarch 21, 1952
- F3, Faulkner, Lonoke and White counties, ArkansasMay 4, 2003
- EF3 Little Rock tornado, ArkansasMarch 31, 2023
- F3, Pulaski and Lonoke counties, ArkansasMarch 29, 1976
- F3, Lonoke County, ArkansasMarch 21, 1952
- F2, Lonoke, Prairie, Woodruff and Cross counties, ArkansasFebruary 20, 1951
- F2, Lonoke, Pulaski, Prairie and Woodruff counties, ArkansasApril 17, 1978
- F2, Pulaski, Saline, Lonoke and Prairie counties, ArkansasNovember 15, 1988
- EF2, Grant, Saline, Pulaski and Lonoke counties, ArkansasMay 2, 2008
- F2, Pulaski, Saline and Lonoke counties, ArkansasApril 11, 1979
Every year with a tornado
The 40 years of the 76 in the record with a tornado in Lonoke County. Each year links to every tornado in Arkansas that year.
| Year | Tornadoes | Deaths | Injuries | Strongest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | EF1 | ||
| 2023 | 1 | 54 | EF3 | |
| 2021 | 2 | EF0 | ||
| 2020 | 1 | EF1 | ||
| 2019 | 3 | 2 | EF1 | |
| 2017 | 1 | EF1 | ||
| 2014 | 2 | EF1 | ||
| 2012 | 3 | EF1 | ||
| 2011 | 6 | 1 | EF2 | |
| 2010 | 1 | EF2 | ||
| 2009 | 1 | EF0 | ||
| 2008 | 7 | 1 | 3 | EF2 |
| 2006 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 2005 | 2 | 5 | F2 | |
| 2004 | 4 | F2 | ||
| 2003 | 2 | 5 | F3 | |
| 2002 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 2001 | 4 | 3 | F2 | |
| 2000 | 2 | 2 | F2 | |
| 1999 | 5 | 7 | F2 | |
| 1998 | 4 | F1 | ||
| 1997 | 2 | 3 | F2 | |
| 1994 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1988 | 1 | 5 | 60 | F2 |
| 1985 | 1 | F2 | ||
| 1982 | 3 | 2 | F2 | |
| 1980 | 3 | 16 | F2 | |
| 1979 | 2 | F2 | ||
| 1978 | 5 | 7 | F2 | |
| 1977 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1976 | 1 | 5 | 64 | F3 |
| 1974 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1973 | 1 | F2 | ||
| 1971 | 2 | F0 | ||
| 1967 | 1 | 1 | F2 | |
| 1962 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1961 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1957 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1952 | 2 | 11 | 15 | F4 |
| 1951 | 1 | 3 | F2 |
Every tornado that crossed Lonoke County
85 tornadoes, newest first.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 20, 2025 | 6:55 PM CDT | EF1 | Faulkner | 14.2 | 500 | |||
| March 31, 2023 | 2:18 PM CDT | EF3 | Little Rock tornado | 34.2 | 800 | 54 | $90 million | |
| June 9, 2021 | 8:05 PM CDT | EF0 | Lonoke | 0.3 | 20 | |||
| June 9, 2021 | 7:02 PM CDT | Unrated | Lonoke | 0.4 | 50 | |||
| January 11, 2020 | 12:58 AM CST | EF1 | Lonoke | 0.4 | 130 | $40,000 | ||
| March 9, 2019 | 10:57 AM CST | EF1 | Lonoke | 5.2 | 100 | $30,000 | ||
| March 9, 2019 | 10:48 AM CST | EF1 | Lonoke | 10.8 | 300 | $310,000 | ||
| March 9, 2019 | 10:24 AM CST | EF1 | Pulaski | 6.3 | 150 | 2 | $160,000 | |
| April 30, 2017 | 2:15 AM CDT | EF1 | Lonoke | 5.1 | 400 | $10,000 | ||
| October 13, 2014 | 9:27 AM CDT | EF1 | Lonoke | 3.3 | 150 | $75,000 | ||
| October 2, 2014 | 8:24 PM CDT | EF1 | Pulaski | 12.7 | 300 | $140,000 | ||
| October 17, 2012 | 6:53 PM CDT | EF0 | Lonoke | 0.1 | 8 | |||
| June 4, 2012 | 3:45 PM CDT | EF0 | Lonoke | 0.1 | 15 | |||
| January 22, 2012 | 7:29 PM CST | EF1 | Lonoke | 0.8 | 50 | $100,000 | ||
| April 26, 2011 | 5:14 PM CDT | EF1 | Lonoke | 8.3 | 800 | $1.8 million | ||
| April 25, 2011 | 7:53 PM CDT | EF1 | Lonoke | 21.9 | 800 | $390,000 | ||
| April 15, 2011 | 2:17 AM CDT | EF2 | Lonoke | 7.0 | 200 | $20 million | ||
| April 15, 2011 | 2:09 AM CDT | EF1 | Pulaski | 6.8 | 200 | 1 | $455,000 | |
| February 24, 2011 | 5:03 PM CST | EF1 | Lonoke | 1.6 | 235 | $400,000 | ||
| February 24, 2011 | 4:56 PM CST | EF1 | Lonoke | 2.3 | 100 | $75,000 | ||
| April 30, 2010 | 8:35 PM CDT | EF2 | Pulaski | 34.7 | 1,000 | $5.2 million | ||
| October 29, 2009 | 5:59 PM CDT | EF0 | Lonoke | 3.0 | 35 | $1,000 | ||
| September 13, 2008 | 5:57 PM CDT | EF1 | Lonoke | 0.7 | 100 | $300,000 | ||
| May 10, 2008 | 7:47 PM CDT | EF1 | Lonoke | 2.7 | 400 | |||
| May 2, 2008 | 1:02 PM CDT | EF1 | Prairie | 1.7 | 250 | |||
| May 2, 2008 | 12:56 PM CDT | EF1 | Lonoke | 2.5 | 200 | $1.0 million | ||
| May 2, 2008 | 11:15 AM CDT | EF2 | Grant | 40.7 | 300 | 1 | 3 | $9.0 million |
| April 3, 2008 | 10:42 PM CDT | EF1 | White | 13.2 | 300 | $35,000 | ||
| April 3, 2008 | 10:28 PM CDT | EF2 | Lonoke | 9.4 | 300 | $2.0 million | ||
| March 9, 2006 | 5:40 AM CST | F1 | Lonoke | 1.0 | 25 | |||
| September 24, 2005 | 5:59 PM CDT | F1 | Lonoke | 1.5 | 100 | |||
| September 24, 2005 | 4:40 PM CDT | F2 | Lonoke | 7.2 | 100 | 5 | ||
| November 1, 2004 | 12:05 PM CST | F0 | Lonoke | 8.6 | 100 | |||
| October 18, 2004 | 10:42 AM CDT | F2 | Lonoke | 19.0 | 600 | $12 million | ||
| October 18, 2004 | 10:07 AM CDT | F0 | Lonoke | 3.3 | 50 | |||
| April 24, 2004 | 4:12 PM CDT | F0 | Lonoke | 2.3 | 25 | |||
| May 16, 2003 | 7:35 PM CDT | F0 | Pulaski | 8.2 | 50 | |||
| May 4, 2003 | 7:52 PM CDT | F3 | Faulkner | 34.9 | 500 | 5 | ||
| December 18, 2002 | 5:05 PM CST | F0 | Lonoke | 5.5 | 40 | |||
| December 7, 2001 | 7:20 PM CST | F0 | Pulaski | 7.0 | 25 | |||
| February 24, 2001 | 6:13 PM CST | F1 | Lonoke | 2.7 | 100 | |||
| February 24, 2001 | 4:21 PM CST | F1 | Lonoke | 9.0 | 60 | 3 | ||
| February 24, 2001 | 4:06 PM CST | F2 | Lonoke | 8.0 | 300 | |||
| May 4, 2000 | 4:25 PM CDT | F0 | Lonoke | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| February 13, 2000 | 5:38 PM CST | F2 | Lonoke | 32.7 | 100 | 2 | ||
| April 3, 1999 | 5:25 PM CST | F1 | Jefferson | 6.5 | 0 | |||
| January 21, 1999 | 7:18 PM CST | F1 | Lonoke | 2.0 | 200 | 1 | ||
| January 21, 1999 | 6:42 PM CST | F2 | Pulaski | 15.0 | 400 | 6 | ||
| January 21, 1999 | 5:30 PM CST | F1 | Jefferson | 16.0 | 0 | |||
| January 21, 1999 | 4:49 PM CST | F1 | Faulkner | 16.0 | 0 | |||
| June 4, 1998 | 12:36 AM CDT | F1 | Lonoke | 3.5 | 250 | |||
| June 4, 1998 | 12:32 AM CDT | F1 | Pulaski | 5.2 | 100 | |||
| June 4, 1998 | 12:32 AM CDT | F1 | Lonoke | 5.0 | 250 | |||
| April 16, 1998 | 8:16 AM CDT | F0 | Lonoke | 2.0 | 100 | |||
| March 1, 1997 | 4:02 PM CST | F2 | Lonoke | 2.3 | 100 | 3 | ||
| March 1, 1997 | 2:37 PM CST | F1 | Lonoke | 3.0 | 50 | |||
| June 7, 1994 | 9:40 PM CDT | F1 | Lonoke | 1.5 | 50 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| November 15, 1988 | 9:36 PM CST | F2 | Pulaski | 49.0 | 250 | 5 | 60 | $5 million to $50 million |
| April 23, 1985 | 2:40 PM CST | F2 | Lonoke | 1.5 | 400 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| December 3, 1982 | 10:20 AM CST | F1 | Pulaski | 9.0 | 160 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| April 25, 1982 | 11:11 PM CDT | F0 | Lonoke | 0.1 | 10 | under $50 | ||
| April 2, 1982 | 3:45 PM CST | F2 | Lonoke | 1.0 | 100 | 2 | $500,000 to $5 million | |
| April 7, 1980 | 9:55 PM CST | F2 | Lonoke | 1.9 | 700 | 1 | $500,000 to $5 million | |
| April 7, 1980 | 8:40 PM CST | F1 | Lonoke | 0.1 | 27 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| April 7, 1980 | 6:30 PM CST | F2 | Pulaski | 37.5 | 1,320 | 15 | $500,000 to $5 million | |
| April 23, 1979 | 6:05 PM CST | F0 | Lonoke | 5.9 | 50 | $50 to $500 | ||
| April 11, 1979 | 3:00 PM CST | F2 | Pulaski | 40.3 | 250 | $500,000 to $5 million | ||
| July 2, 1978 | 5:30 PM CDT | F1 | Lonoke | 0.5 | 200 | $50 to $500 | ||
| June 19, 1978 | 5:30 PM CDT | F0 | Lonoke | 0.3 | 20 | |||
| April 22, 1978 | 8:57 PM CST | F1 | Lonoke | 7.0 | 50 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| April 17, 1978 | 8:10 PM CST | F2 | Lonoke | 53.8 | 250 | 7 | $50,000 to $500,000 | |
| January 7, 1978 | 5:10 PM CST | F1 | Grant | 35.0 | 50 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| April 22, 1977 | 4:20 PM CST | F0 | Lonoke | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| March 29, 1976 | 3:07 PM CST | F3 | Pulaski | 17.2 | 100 | 5 | 64 | $500 to $5,000 |
| April 21, 1974 | 4:48 PM CDT | F1 | Lonoke | 4.7 | 100 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| April 19, 1973 | 2:15 PM CST | F2 | Lonoke | 0.1 | 10 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| September 1, 1971 | 3:45 PM CDT | F0 | Lonoke | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| September 1, 1971 | 3:45 PM CDT | F0 | Lonoke | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| May 6, 1967 | 10:05 PM GMT-5 | F2 | Lonoke | 25.1 | 100 | 1 | $50,000 to $500,000 | |
| June 3, 1962 | 7:30 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Lonoke | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| March 5, 1961 | 4:05 PM GMT-6 | F1 | Lonoke | 2.3 | 417 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| April 4, 1957 | 5:30 PM GMT-6 | F1 | Lonoke | 0.3 | 20 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| March 21, 1952 | 5:00 PM GMT-6 | F4 | Lonoke | 7.6 | 10 | 2 | 6 | $50,000 to $500,000 |
| March 21, 1952 | 5:00 PM GMT-6 | F3 | Lonoke | 16.2 | 10 | 9 | 9 | $50,000 to $500,000 |
| February 20, 1951 | 9:15 AM GMT-6 | F2 | Lonoke | 112.8 | 333 | 3 | $5,000 to $50,000 |
Nearby
Warnings in force in Lonoke CountyThe forecast for Lonoke CountyThe live radar over Lonoke CountyEvery county in Arkansas
What this means
Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.
Sources
NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.