Columbia County tornado history

35 tornadoes touched Columbia County, Arkansas between 1950 and 2025 — about 0.5 a year. The strongest was rated F4 (Dec 19, 1957). Tornadoes here killed 3 and injured 20 people.

35tornadoes since 1950

F4strongest rating

3killed · 20 injured

26.5 milongest path · 1990

(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5· dots = start point only

By rating

(E)F05

(E)F121

(E)F26

(E)F32

(E)F41

(E)F50

By month

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak month: April.

By decade

’50’60’70’80’90’00’10’20

Strongest tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
Dec 19, 1957	F4	17.7 mi	10 yd	9	2
Mar 4, 1964	F3	9.1 mi	600 yd	0	1
May 4, 1999	F3	9 mi	100 yd	0	0
May 16, 1990	F2	26.5 mi	77 yd	0	0
May 13, 1981	F2	14.6 mi	440 yd	4	0
May 4, 1999	F2	6.5 mi	100 yd	0	0
May 23, 1957	F2	4.6 mi	880 yd	0	0
Apr 30, 1962	F2	2 mi	417 yd	2	0
Apr 11, 1994	F2	2 mi	43 yd	0	0
May 18, 1981	F1	19 mi	440 yd	1	0
Jan 21, 1999	F1	11.1 mi	—	0	0
May 16, 1981	F1	10.5 mi	440 yd	0	0

Most recent tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured
Jul 8, 2024	EF1	6.5 mi	300 yd	0
Jan 18, 2023	EF1	5.1 mi	80 yd	0
May 16, 2020	EF1	2.6 mi	50 yd	0
Oct 21, 2019	EF1	5.3 mi	300 yd	0
Apr 30, 2016	EF1	0.4 mi	130 yd	0
Apr 29, 2016	EF1	1.7 mi	900 yd	0
Apr 11, 2016	EF0	1.2 mi	25 yd	0
Apr 4, 2011	EF1	0.9 mi	75 yd	0
Oct 29, 2009	EF1	1.4 mi	100 yd	0
Oct 29, 2009	EF1	1.5 mi	150 yd	1
Oct 29, 2009	EF1	7.6 mi	100 yd	0
Oct 29, 2009	EF0	3.1 mi	75 yd	0

Deadliest: Dec 19, 1957, F4, 2 killed.

Nearby counties

Lafayette County, AR20 Claiborne Parish, LA32 Nevada County, AR25 Ouachita County, AR23 Webster Parish, LA61 Union County, AR45 Miller County, AR30 Bossier Parish, LA76

Questions

How many tornadoes has Columbia County, Arkansas had?

35 tornadoes touched Columbia County, Arkansas between 1950 and 2025 in the NOAA Storm Prediction Center database — about 0.5 per year.

What was the strongest tornado in Columbia County?

The strongest rating recorded was F4 on Dec 19, 1957, with a 17.7-mile path and 2 deaths.

When is tornado season in Columbia County?

Most of its tornadoes happened in April (10 of 35). Tornadoes can occur in any month, so keep alerts on year-round.

Right now: live tornado warnings map · alerts for your location. Dates link to that day’s full storm reports where available (2004 onward).