Fort Smith, AR Tornado History — 137 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Fort Smith, AR had?
Fort Smith has had 137 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 15 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Fort Smith?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Fort Smith was an EF1 on June 6, 2025.
When is tornado season in Fort Smith?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Fort Smith, with 46 on record. April through June account for 92 of the 137 tornadoes on record near Fort Smith.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Fort Smith
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 58 total, averaging 2.9 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Fort Smith since December 29, 2025
These are 2 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
Likely TDS from KSRX radar along with spotter report and picture of tornado from social media. (TSA)
TDS from KSRX radar and reports of damage to trees and a barn roof in the area. (TSA)
Within 25 miles of Fort Smith. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Fort Smith
5 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Fort Smith and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 30, 2025 and the most recent on June 6, 2025. They are already counted in the Fort Smith totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
tornado debris signature... tornado reported by the public just northeast of this signature. (TSA)
A tornado moved the area in and around the community of Liberty. Trees were uprooted... damage was done to the roof of a school... and a power pole was damaged. (TSA)
A tornado developed just northeast of Sallisaw and travel east-southeast for approximately 4 miles damaging primarily trees. (TSA)
Tornado debris signature. (TSA)
KOTV Storm Tracker reported a brief tornado. Large tree limbs were snapped... and the roof of an outbuilding was damaged. (TSA)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
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 Fort Smith
51 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Fort Smith since 1950, across 8 events. 649 injuries have been reported across all events. 1960 was the deadliest year on record near Fort Smith.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on May 5, 1960, which caused 16 fatalities along a 62.4-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Fort Smith
What the record shows near Fort Smith
The 2010s were the busiest decade near Fort Smith, with 34 of the 137 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 21 so far. The Fort Smith record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Fort Smith, 100 reached EF0 or EF1 and 36 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Fort Smith is rated EF5, of which 1 is logged. A further 1 near Fort Smith is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Fort Smith has averaged 2.9 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 58 in total. 2025 was the busiest of them with 9, and 2 of those years passed with none at all.