Johnson County tornado history

39 tornadoes touched Johnson County, Arkansas between 1950 and 2025 — about 0.5 a year. The strongest was rated EF3 (May 24, 2011). Tornadoes here killed 3 and injured 143 people.

39tornadoes since 1950

EF3strongest rating

3killed · 143 injured

40.1 milongest path · 1953

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

By rating

(E)F08

(E)F113

(E)F211

(E)F36

(E)F40

(E)F50

unrated1

By month

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak month: November.

By decade

’50’60’70’80’90’00’10’20

Strongest tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
May 24, 2011	EF3	29 mi	1,430 yd	4	1
Mar 14, 1953	F3	40.1 mi	880 yd	0	0
Jun 6, 1974	F3	11.7 mi	300 yd	0	0
Apr 7, 1980	F3	3.6 mi	1,707 yd	76	0
Apr 14, 1960	F3	2 mi	100 yd	0	0
Feb 15, 1954	F3	1 mi	100 yd	24	0
Nov 23, 2001	F2	31.5 mi	500 yd	4	1
Mar 12, 1961	F2	28.8 mi	17 yd	18	1
Nov 18, 1985	F2	18 mi	30 yd	0	0
Nov 15, 1988	F2	16 mi	150 yd	9	0
May 23, 1971	F2	14.9 mi	200 yd	0	0
Jan 22, 1957	F2	7.4 mi	10 yd	0	0

Most recent tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
Nov 4, 2024	unrated	0.9 mi	30 yd	0	0
Mar 30, 2022	EF1	3.5 mi	400 yd	0	0
Oct 9, 2018	EF1	0.2 mi	50 yd	0	0
Oct 9, 2018	EF1	1.2 mi	100 yd	0	0
Apr 13, 2018	EF1	5 mi	250 yd	0	0
Mar 1, 2017	EF1	0.1 mi	200 yd	0	0
May 24, 2011	EF3	29 mi	1,430 yd	4	1
Apr 27, 2009	EF1	3.1 mi	180 yd	0	0
Nov 11, 2004	F0	0.3 mi	30 yd	0	0
Nov 1, 2004	F0	0.5 mi	30 yd	0	0
Apr 22, 2004	F0	13.1 mi	40 yd	0	0
Nov 23, 2001	F2	31.5 mi	500 yd	4	1

Deadliest: Mar 12, 1961, F2, 1 killed.

Nearby counties

Franklin County, AR33 Pope County, AR28 Newton County, AR16 Logan County, AR29 Madison County, AR27 Yell County, AR34 Crawford County, AR42 Searcy County, AR17

Questions

How many tornadoes has Johnson County, Arkansas had?

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

What was the strongest tornado in Johnson County?

The strongest rating recorded was EF3 on May 24, 2011, with a 29-mile path and 1 deaths.

When is tornado season in Johnson County?

Most of its tornadoes happened in November (9 of 39). 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.