Baxter County, Arkansas
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 05005 · population 41,603 · 554 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 716 records for Baxter County, Arkansas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 435 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (266 records). The deadliest single record is the May 15, 1968 tornado: 3 deaths and 25 injuries. FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1969, 19 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on January 24, 2026.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 716on 435 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 8115 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $184Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 22strongest EF3
- FEMA declarations
- 21latest 2026
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Baxter County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 266 since 1963. The rank column places the county among Arkansas's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 266 | 158 | 1963-2025 | 1 | 22 | $2.9M | 14 of 75 |
| Hail | 209 | 132 | 1967-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 8 of 75 |
| Winter storms | 111 | 103 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 2 | $74M | 2 of 75 |
| Floods | 38 | 32 | 1999-2022 | 0 | 1 | $12M | 40 of 75 |
| Tornadoes | 22 | 20 | 1964-2024 | 5 | 87 | $93M | 41 of 75 |
| Drought | 15 | 15 | 2000-2017 | 0 | 0 | – | 44 of 75 |
| Heavy rain | 14 | 8 | 2006-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 7 of 75 |
| High wind and dust storms | 9 | 9 | 2007-2025 | 1 | 1 | $477K | 8 of 75 |
| Extreme cold | 7 | 7 | 2007-2015 | 0 | 0 | – | 18 of 75 |
| Heat | 7 | 7 | 2007-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 54 of 75 |
| Lightning | 7 | 7 | 1996-2010 | 0 | 2 | $90K | 8 of 75 |
| Wildfires | 5 | 5 | 2010-2014 | 0 | 0 | $81K | 6 of 75 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 4 | 4 | 2005-2012 | 0 | 0 | $1.7M | 21 of 75 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 1 | 2006-2006 | 0 | 0 | – | 41 of 75 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Baxter County had?
NOAA records 22 tornadoes in Baxter County from 1964 to 2024, the strongest rated EF3, with 5 deaths and 87 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 23 tornadoes whose track touched Baxter County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 22: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 11 people, 5 of them in Baxter County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-03-14 19:34, as SPC files it | BakersfieldCrossed AR, MO | EF3 | 35.52 mi | 3 |
| 1985-11-18 21:12, as SPC files it | Mountain Home | F3 | 34 mi | 3 |
| 1968-05-15 18:30, as SPC files it | Mountain Home | F3 | 7.3 mi | 3 |
| 2024-05-26 02:59, as SPC files it | Gassville | EF3 | 34.6 mi | 1 |
| 2008-02-05 17:02, as SPC files it | Gassville | EF2 | 12.5 mi | 1 |
| 1971-12-14 23:30, as SPC files it | Mountain Home | F3 | 23.6 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Arkansas.
Every tornado record filed for Baxter County (22)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-26 | Arkana, Baxter County | EF2 5.3 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-05-26 | Buffalo, Baxter County | EF3 20.3 mi x 1,760 yd | 1 | 17 | – |
| 2020-03-19 | Whiteville, Baxter County | EF1 2.16 mi x 600 yd | 0 | 0 | $137K |
| 2018-04-13 | Gamaliel, Baxter County | EF1 0.5 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $18K |
| 2008-02-05 | Cotter, Baxter County | EF2 5.28 mi x 880 yd | 1 | 35 | $22M |
| 2005-11-27 | Buford, Baxter County | F1 3.7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-04-24 | Norfork, Baxter County | F1 4.7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-04-20 | Henderson, Baxter County | F1 3 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-04-19 | Gassville, Baxter County | F1 15 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-05-24 | Mountain Home, Baxter County | F0 0.2 mi x 15 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-05-24 | Gassville, Baxter County | F1 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-01-03 | Jordan, Baxter County | F1 1.8 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-06-13 | Henderson, Baxter County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-03-01 | Norfork, Baxter County | F1 5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $46K |
| 1996-03-05 | Midway, Baxter County | F0 0.7 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1985-11-18 | Baxter County | F3 21 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 3 | $25M step |
| 1982-05-28 | Baxter County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1973-05-07 | Baxter County | F2 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1971-12-14 | Baxter County | F3 19.1 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1968-06-24 | Baxter County | F2 10.8 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 2 | $3K step |
| 1968-05-15 | Baxter County | F3 7.3 mi x 200 yd | 3 | 25 | $25K step |
| 1964-06-17 | Baxter County | F1 14.6 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 3 | $3K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Baxter County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 26, 2024 tornado (1 death and 17 injuries).
The Briarcliff Tornado continued in Baxter County from Marion County and moved through a small residential area along the White River, pulling siding and shingles off houses in addition to causing significant tree damage. The tornado continued eastward, further expanding in width, and reached a maximum width of up to 1 mile wide, crossing mostly rural areas and causing significant tree damage, passing across Wild Hog Mountain, and crossing Shipps Ferry Road and Round Rock Trail. As it approached the Arkana and Norfork Village area, the path width contracted slightly, and large swaths of trees were found uprooted and snapped as it crossed the White River briefly once again north of Hwy 341 at Riverside Dr. The tornado continued northeast towards Briarcliff, where mostly tree damage was observed to the west of Highway 5. …
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1181781)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-15 | HailHenderson, Baxter County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-15 | HailHenderson, Baxter County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-15 | HailGassville, Baxter County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-25 | Winter WeatherBaxter County · forecast zone Baxter | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter StormBaxter County · forecast zone Baxter | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-18 | Strong WindBaxter County · forecast zone Baxter | 48 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-28 | Thunderstorm WindWhiteville, Baxter County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-16 | HailMountain Home, Baxter County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-18 | Winter StormBaxter County · forecast zone Baxter | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-09 | Winter StormBaxter County · forecast zone Baxter | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-05 | Winter WeatherBaxter County · forecast zone Baxter | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-05-26 | TornadoArkana, Baxter County | EF2 5.3 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968-05-15 | TornadoBaxter County | F3 7.3 mi x 200 yd | 3 | 25 | $25K step |
| 2008-02-05 | TornadoCotter, Baxter County The tornado moved from Marion County, north-northeast of Rea Valley, into Baxter County, just east-southeast of Cotter. A survey by the Red Cross indicated 21 houses were destroyed, 23 suffered major damage, 35 had minor damage, and 147 others were affected. In addition, 9 mobile homes were destroyed, 12 suffered ... | EF2 5.28 mi x 880 yd | 1 | 35 | $22M |
| 2024-05-26 | TornadoBuffalo, Baxter County The Briarcliff Tornado continued in Baxter County from Marion County and moved through a small residential area along the White River, pulling siding and shingles off houses in addition to causing significant tree damage. The tornado continued eastward, further expanding in width, and reached a maximum width of up to ... | EF3 20.3 mi x 1,760 yd | 1 | 17 | – |
| 2007-04-11 | Strong WindBaxter County · forecast zone Baxter A couple went fishing on Lake Norfork (near Jordan) in a flat-bottom johnboat-type vessel. During the day, they fished in a cove. During the afternoon, while attempting to return to their launching point, they got out into the main channel of the lake where winds were producing swells estimated up to four feet high. ... | 30 kt wind | 1 | 1 | – |
| 2017-06-23 | Thunderstorm WindEllis, Baxter County ONE FATAL, and this is a delayed report. A man was in Lake Norfork when thunderstorm winds overturned his kayak. Emergency personnel tried to revive him...but he eventually died. | 52 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 1999-01-01 | Ice StormBaxter County · forecast zone Baxter A major ice storm developed over northern and central Arkansas during the morning of January 1st and lasted through the evening hours. The icing was found mainly north of Clarksville, Perryville, Little Rock and Hazen. Precipitation began developing over southern and western Arkansas and gradually spread eastward. The ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1986-07-25 | Thunderstorm WindBaxter County | 0 | 8 | – | |
| 1986-07-25 | Thunderstorm WindBaxter County | 0 | 5 | – |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-02-05 | TornadoCotter, Baxter County | EF2 5.28 mi x 880 yd | 1 | 35 | $22M |
| 2008-03-18 | FloodArkana, Baxter County | 0 | 0 | $5.5M | |
| 2013-12-05 | Winter StormBaxter County · forecast zone Baxter | 0 | 0 | $4.4M | |
| 2008-03-18 | Flash FloodThree Brothers, Baxter County | 0 | 0 | $2.1M | |
| 2008-04-10 | Flash FloodEllis, Baxter County | 0 | 0 | $2.1M | |
| 1993-03-30 | Thunderstorm WindMountain Home, Baxter County | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | |
| 2011-04-26 | FloodClarkridge, Baxter County | 0 | 0 | $394K | |
| 2009-05-08 | Thunderstorm WindMountain Home, Baxter County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $206K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: November 18, 1985 (tornado, Baxter County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Baxter County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 3 | 7 | 16 | 47 | 103 | 63 | 27 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 37 | 62 | 70 | 23 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 25 | 45 | 36 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 27 | 9 | 1 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 3 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 1 | 14 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Baxter County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 54 · Feb 53 · Mar 70 · Apr 85 · May 122 · Jun 54 · Jul 90 · Aug 74 · Sep 31 · Oct 23 · Nov 27 · Dec 33 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Baxter County
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Baxter County: 14 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (10) and severe ice storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3636 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025-04-05 | EM-3627 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2024-05-30 | DR-4788 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2020-08-27 | EM-3541 | Hurricane | Hurricane Laura |
| 2020-04-03 | DR-4518 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3461 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017-06-15 | DR-4318 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2011-05-02 | DR-1975 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated Flooding |
| 2009-02-06 | DR-1819 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2009-01-28 | EM-3301 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2008-03-26 | DR-1751 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2008-02-07 | DR-1744 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2005-09-02 | EM-3215 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-05-07 | DR-1516 | Severe Storm | Sever Storms, Flooding and Landslides |
| 2003-01-06 | DR-1450 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Ice Storm |
| 2000-12-29 | DR-1354 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Ice Storm |
| 1997-03-02 | DR-1162 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 1982-12-13 | DR-673 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1976-12-03 | EM-3019 | Drought | Drought |
| 1972-01-27 | DR-321 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1969-02-15 | DR-254 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Baxter County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 38 flood or flash flood records for Baxter County from 1999 to 2022, on 32 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Baxter County ranks 1236th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Ike | 2008-09-13 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.9 million on 115 claims filed in Baxter County; the most in one year was 65 in 2008. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 1 · 1985: 17 · 1988: 1 · 1990: 2 · 1993: 1 · 1997: 1 · 2004: 5 · 2008: 65 · 2009: 1 · 2011: 4 · 2012: 1 · 2015: 4 · 2016: 3 · 2017: 7 · 2021: 1 · 2023: 1; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Baxter County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Baxter County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $21.0 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Storm | Very High | $2.9M | 2 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | $1.7M | 3.4 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $3.9M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $512K | 57 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $139K | 8.8 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.6M | 2.4 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $2.1M | once in about 288 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $15K | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Baxter County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in ArkansasEvery Arkansas tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in ArkansasThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Arkansas recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Baxter CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Baxter County's FEMA declarations (CSV)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis