Benton, AR Tornado History — 133 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Benton, AR had?
Benton has had 133 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 15 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Benton?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Benton was an EF1 on April 20, 2025.
When is tornado season in Benton?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Benton, with 35 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Benton
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 49 total, averaging 2.5 per year over this window.
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Benton
52 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Benton since 1950, across 13 events. 856 injuries have been reported across all events. 2014 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was an EF4 on April 27, 2014, which caused 16 fatalities along a 41.1-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Benton
About Tornadoes in Benton
This overview was written July 28, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Benton, the seat of Saline County in central Arkansas, sits along Interstate 30 southwest of Little Rock, where the Ouachita foothills give way to the flatter terrain of the Arkansas River valley. The city's tornado history clusters heavily in March and April. On March 1, 1997, F4 tornadoes swept the area; one killed 10 people and injured 40, while another killed 5 and injured 180. On April 25, 2011, an EF2 stayed on the ground for 51.32 miles with a path as wide as 2,900 yards, killing 4 people. Three years later, on April 28, 2014, an EF4 carved a 41.1-mile track, killing 16 people, injuring 193, and causing $223,450,000 in property damage.
Cool-season outbreaks have struck the area as well. An F3 on December 2, 1982 killed 2 people and injured 53, an F2 on November 16, 1988 killed 5 along a 49-mile track, and an F3 on January 22, 1999 killed 3 and injured 72. More recently, an EF3 on March 31, 2023 injured 54 people along a 34.23-mile path and caused $90,000,000 in damage, and activity has continued with an EF2 on May 8, 2024 and an EF1 that touched down on April 20, 2025.