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Little Rock, AR Tornado History — 187 Tornadoes Since 1950

Arkansas · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Little Rock, AR had?

Little Rock has had 187 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 20 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Little Rock?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Little Rock was an EF0 on June 12, 2025.

When is tornado season in Little Rock?

April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Little Rock, with 57 on record. April through June account for 95 of the 187 tornadoes on record near Little Rock.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
187
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
20
10.7% of total
Peak Month
April
57 on record
Per Year Avg
2.5
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Little Rock

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 55 total, averaging 2.8 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 2
2024 1
2023 2
2022 2
2021 2
2020 0
2019 6
2018 0
2017 2
2016 2
2015 0
2014 3
2013 3
2012 0
2011 11
2010 5
2009 2
2008 12
2007 0

What storm spotters reported near Little Rock

2 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Little Rock and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 20, 2025 and the most recent on June 12, 2025. They are already counted in the Little Rock totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.

June 12, 2025
2 NE Little Rock AFB, Pulaski County, AR
Corrects previous tornado report from 2 NE Little Rock AFB. Preliminary storm survey finds an EF0 tornado occurred just north of the Little Rock Air Force Base... near (LZK)
April 21, 2025
3 E Otto, Faulkner County, AR
Tornado reported via ham radio. (LZK)

Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 11
1960s 14
1970s 24
1980s 24
1990s 25
2000s 48
2010s 32
2020s 9

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.

EF0 49
EF1 64
EF2 52
EF3 16
EF4 4
Unrated 2

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 7
Feb 18
Mar 22
Apr 57
May 28
Jun 10
Jul 5
Aug 0
Sep 8
Oct 12
Nov 7
Dec 13

Casualties on Record Near Little Rock

66 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Little Rock since 1950, across 17 events. 1,207 injuries have been reported across all events. 2014 was the deadliest year on record near Little Rock.

The deadliest single event was an EF4 on April 27, 2014, which caused 16 fatalities along a 41.1-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Little Rock

Deadliest Tornado
EF4 on April 27, 2014 — 16 fatalities, 41.1 mi path, 1,320 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
EF4 on April 27, 2014 — $223.4M in reported property damage.
Widest Tornado
EF2 on April 25, 2011 — 2,900 yards wide.
Longest Path
F2 on February 20, 1951 — 112.8 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on June 12, 2025.

What the record shows near Little Rock

The 2000s were the busiest decade near Little Rock, with 48 of the 187 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 9 so far. The Little Rock record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Little Rock, 113 reached EF0 or EF1 and 72 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Little Rock is rated EF4, of which 4 are logged. A further 2 near Little Rock are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.

Across the last 20 years Little Rock has averaged 2.8 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 55 in total. 2008 was the busiest of them with 12, and 6 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Little Rock, AR had?
Since 1950, 187 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Little Rock. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Little Rock?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Little Rock was an EF4 on April 27, 2014, which caused 16 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Little Rock?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Little Rock, with 57 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
Has Little Rock been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Little Rock, there have been 0 EF5 and 4 EF4 tornadoes recorded since 1950. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are the most destructive ratings on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds above 166 mph.
When was the most recent tornado near Little Rock?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Little Rock was an EF0 on June 12, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Little Rock?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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