Fayetteville, AR Tornado History — 116 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Fayetteville, AR had?
Fayetteville has had 116 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 9 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Fayetteville?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Fayetteville was an EF1 on June 18, 2025.
When is tornado season in Fayetteville?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Fayetteville, with 47 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 Fayetteville
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 66 total, averaging 3.3 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 Fayetteville
5 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Fayetteville since 1950, across 2 events. 109 injuries have been reported across all events. 2010 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was an EF3 on December 31, 2010, which caused 4 fatalities along a 21.1-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Fayetteville
About Tornadoes in Fayetteville
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.
Fayetteville sits in Washington County, in the Ozark hill country of northwest Arkansas, where the spring storm season has repeatedly sent strong tornadoes through the area. On June 12, 1970, an F3 tracked 51.8 miles, killing one person and injuring 45. On March 30, 2022, an EF3 injured seven people and caused $20 million in damage along a 5.2-mile path. May 26, 2024 brought a burst of tornadoes to the area, among them an EF2 that widened to 3,000 yards along its 7.4-mile track and left $80 million in property damage; the following spring, on May 20, 2025, an EF2 ran 13.6 miles through the area.
The threat does not end when spring does. An EF2 on October 21, 2019 stayed on the ground for 31.4 miles and caused $6 million in damage, and another EF2 tracked 32.9 miles on November 4, 2024. Deep winter has brought tornadoes here too: on December 31, 2010, an EF3 tore a 21.1-mile path on New Year's Eve, killing four people and injuring ten. For a city tucked into the Ozarks, that spread — spring supercells, autumn tornadoes, and a deadly New Year's Eve storm — defines the local tornado story better than any single season could.