Polk County tornado history

37 tornadoes touched Polk County, Arkansas between 1950 and 2025 — about 0.5 a year. The strongest was rated EF3 (Apr 9, 2009). Tornadoes here killed 4 and injured 74 people.

37tornadoes since 1950

EF3strongest rating

4killed · 74 injured

42 milongest path · 1979

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

By rating

(E)F09

(E)F115

(E)F211

(E)F32

(E)F40

(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
Apr 9, 2009	EF3	14.8 mi	1,075 yd	30	3
Jan 13, 1950	F3	0.6 mi	17 yd	1	1
Apr 11, 1979	F2	42 mi	440 yd	20	0
Nov 17, 1952	F2	39.2 mi	100 yd	2	0
Mar 5, 1999	F2	27.2 mi	183 yd	0	0
May 23, 1971	F2	26.7 mi	600 yd	0	0
Nov 13, 1993	F2	20 mi	100 yd	11	0
Mar 12, 1961	F2	13.2 mi	200 yd	0	0
Mar 5, 1999	F2	12 mi	200 yd	0	0
May 1, 2003	F2	11 mi	200 yd	0	0
Apr 9, 2009	EF2	10.7 mi	800 yd	4	0
May 30, 2013	EF2	8.6 mi	800 yd	5	0

Most recent tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
Nov 4, 2022	EF1	1.8 mi	200 yd	0	0
Oct 13, 2014	EF1	3.7 mi	300 yd	0	0
May 30, 2013	EF1	0.8 mi	200 yd	0	0
May 30, 2013	EF2	8.6 mi	800 yd	5	0
May 30, 2013	EF1	2.4 mi	200 yd	0	0
Apr 26, 2011	EF1	0.8 mi	50 yd	0	0
Apr 25, 2011	EF1	5.8 mi	50 yd	0	0
Apr 14, 2011	EF1	0.5 mi	75 yd	0	0
Apr 9, 2009	EF2	10.7 mi	800 yd	4	0
Apr 9, 2009	EF3	14.8 mi	1,075 yd	30	3
Oct 6, 2008	EF1	3.4 mi	250 yd	0	0
Apr 9, 2008	EF1	2.1 mi	150 yd	0	0

Deadliest: Apr 9, 2009, EF3, 3 killed.

Nearby counties

Scott County, AR9 Howard County, AR34 Montgomery County, AR16 Sevier County, AR22 Le Flore County, OK78 Pike County, AR24 McCurtain County, OK69 Sebastian County, AR42

Questions

How many tornadoes has Polk County, Arkansas had?

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

What was the strongest tornado in Polk County?

The strongest rating recorded was EF3 on Apr 9, 2009, with a 14.8-mile path and 3 deaths.

When is tornado season in Polk County?

Most of its tornadoes happened in April (10 of 37). 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).