Little Rock, Arkansas tornadoes

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36confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Little Rock since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: March 31, 2023, EF3.

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Map

Every tornado path within 10 miles

Tornado paths, 1950 to 2025
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(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5Unrated

Each path is a straight line from where the tornado started to where it ended, which is all most NOAA records hold. Tap a path for its details.

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Recent warnings near Little Rock

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The record

At a glance

Total36within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.5average since 1950
Peak monthApril11 of 36
StrongestF4Mar 1, 1997
Deaths23whole paths, see note
Injuries465whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can run well beyond Little Rock.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

110 Jan: 2Feb: 3Mar: 8Apr: 11May: 4Jun: 0Jul: 1Aug: 0Sep: 1Oct: 2Nov: 0Dec: 4JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

April is the peak month, with 11 of 36 tornadoes.

By time of day

70 12 AM: 2: 2: 03 AM: 0: 0: 06 AM: 0: 0: 09 AM: 0: 0: 212 PM: 0: 1: 23 PM: 7: 5: 16 PM: 4: 2: 69 PM: 1: 0: 112 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 3:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

40 1950: 1: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01960: 1: 1: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 1: 0: 01970: 0: 0: 1: 2: 0: 1: 2: 0: 0: 01980: 1: 0: 4: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01990: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 3: 0: 22000: 1: 2: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 3: 02010: 3: 2: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 12020: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 019501960197019801990200020102020

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones.

By rating

EF0
5
EF1
12
EF2
12
EF3
5
EF4
2

Ratings before February 2007 use the original F scale; the numbers line up with today's EF scale. Unknown means NOAA could not assign a rating.

The record

Notable tornadoes

Deadliest

F4, March 1, 1997

10 deaths, 40 injuries Strongest

F4, March 1, 1997

14 mile path Longest path

39 miles, F3

January 21, 1999, whole path Widest

1,407 yards, F4

March 1, 1997
Every tornado

All 36 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Mar 31, 2023EF334.23 mi800 yd054
May 2, 2019EF11.5 mi200 yd00
Apr 15, 2011EF16.57 mi200 yd00
Apr 15, 2011EF13.94 mi475 yd22
Oct 24, 2010EF00.76 mi50 yd00
Apr 30, 2010EF234.68 mi1,000 yd00
Apr 30, 2010EF217.99 mi550 yd08
Apr 3, 2008EF27.07 mi800 yd00
Apr 3, 2008EF14.81 mi300 yd01
Apr 3, 2008EF22.58 mi500 yd00
Dec 7, 2001F05 mi25 yd00
Feb 24, 2001F214.3 mi200 yd08
May 4, 2000F10.3 mi30 yd00
Jan 21, 1999F215 mi400 yd06
Jan 21, 1999F339 mi417 yd372
Mar 1, 1997F25 mi350 yd00
Mar 1, 1997F411 mi1,407 yd5180
Mar 1, 1997F414 mi1,407 yd1040
Sep 26, 1996F00.1 mi20 yd00
Dec 24, 1982F20.5 mi50 yd00
Dec 23, 1982F19 mi250 yd00
Dec 2, 1982F318 mi233 yd253
Oct 8, 1982F00.1 mi20 yd00
Apr 7, 1980F218.1 mi880 yd05
Apr 11, 1976F12 mi30 yd00
Nearby

Little Rock and its county

Little Rock is in Pulaski County, where NOAA has recorded 101 tornadoes since 1950. A county's record counts every tornado inside its borders, while this page counts every path within 10 miles of the city, so the two overlap without matching.

Nearby cities

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025. City point and population: US Census Bureau, 2024. Each path is a straight line between NOAA's start and end points.