VORTEX
TORNADO HISTORY
← All Cities

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 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. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.

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

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.

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.

About Tornadoes in Little Rock

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.

Little Rock sits at the center of Arkansas in Pulaski County, where the Arkansas River valley opens the city to Gulf moisture streaming north ahead of potent storm systems, and its tornado history bears the marks of both the spring season and midwinter outbreaks.

Spring has brought the area's violent days. An F4 struck on April 11, 1965, killing 6 people and injuring 200. On March 1, 1997, an F4 carved a 14-mile path that killed 10 and injured 40, and another F4 that same day killed 5 and injured 180. An EF2 on April 25, 2011 tracked 51.32 miles at up to 2,900 yards wide, killing 4 and injuring 16. An EF4 on April 28, 2014 ran 41.1 miles through the area, killing 16, injuring 193, and causing $223,450,000 in property damage, and an EF3 on March 31, 2023 injured 54 along a 34.23-mile path with $90,000,000 in damage.

The cool season demands the same respect here. An F3 on December 2, 1982 killed 2 and injured 53 along an 18-mile track, and tornadoes returned on December 24, 1982, among them an F3 that killed 1. An F3 on January 22, 1999 killed 3 and injured 72 across a 39-mile path.

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

More Cities in Arkansas