Clark County, Arkansas

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 05019 · population 21,403 · 866 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 756 records for Clark County, Arkansas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 495 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (260 records). The deadliest single record is the March 1, 1997 tornado: 6 deaths, 100 injuries and $221 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 24 declarations naming the county since 1973, 22 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
756on 495 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
10127 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$270Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
35strongest F4
FEMA declarations
24latest 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 Clark County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 260 since 1957. 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.

Clark County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 260 181 1957-2026 1 2 $3.0M 35 of 75
Hail 192 129 1965-2026 0 0 $995 35 of 75
Floods 137 101 1996-2025 0 2 $8.5M 14 of 75
Winter storms 51 50 1997-2026 0 0 $1.5M 64 of 75
Tornadoes 35 31 1950-2025 6 121 $253M 42 of 75
Drought 22 22 2000-2017 0 0 – 50 of 75
Heat 11 11 1999-2012 1 0 – 53 of 75
Lightning 11 9 1997-2013 2 2 $393K 14 of 75
High wind and dust storms 8 8 1997-2013 0 0 $581K 44 of 75
Hurricanes and tropical storms 8 6 2005-2020 0 0 $3.1M 25 of 75
Wildfires 8 7 2010-2012 0 0 – 11 of 75
Heavy rain 7 6 2006-2022 0 0 – 34 of 75
Extreme cold 3 3 2007-2009 0 0 – 62 of 75
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 3 3 2011-2021 0 0 – 25 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 Clark County had?

NOAA records 35 tornadoes in Clark County from 1950 to 2025, the strongest rated F4, with 6 deaths and 121 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 36 tornadoes whose track touched Clark County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 35: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 6 people.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Clark County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
1997-03-01 14:20, as SPC files itArkadelphiaF427 mi6
1999-03-05 19:16, as SPC files itKirbyF313 mi0
1996-05-27 13:25, as SPC files itOkolonaF326 mi0

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Arkansas.

Every tornado record filed for Clark County (35)
Every tornado recorded in Clark County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2025-05-20 Ozan Point, Clark County EF1 0.5 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
2022-11-04 Copeland Ridge, Clark County EF1 7.7 mi x 200 yd 0 0 –
2014-10-13 Griffithtown, Clark County EF1 3.32 mi x 250 yd 0 0 $187K
2013-05-30 Amity, Clark County EF2 4.08 mi x 300 yd 0 5 $158K
2011-04-25 Amity, Clark County EF1 3.29 mi x 300 yd 0 0 $52K
2011-04-04 Whelen Spgs, Clark County EF1 3.96 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $66K
2004-04-09 Amity, Clark County F1 8.8 mi x 40 yd 0 0 –
2001-11-26 Griffithville, Clark County F1 1.4 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
1999-05-04 Arkadelphia, Clark County F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
1999-03-05 Alpine, Clark County F2 20 mi x 250 yd 0 0 –
1999-03-05 Amity, Clark County F3 13 mi x 400 yd 0 0 $3.5M
1997-03-01 Okolona, Clark County F4 27 mi x 1,056 yd 6 100 $221M
1996-05-27 Okolona, Clark County F3 26 mi x 440 yd 0 0 $3.4M
1988-11-15 Clark County F2 10 mi x 400 yd 0 0 $2.5M step
1988-05-08 Clark County F1 0.2 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $250K step
1988-03-24 Clark County F0 0.2 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $25K step
1986-05-01 Clark County F0 0.2 mi x 200 yd 0 0 –
1984-11-01 Clark County F1 2.5 mi x 50 yd 0 1 $250K step
1983-05-14 Clark County F1 8 mi x 500 yd 0 0 $3K step
1983-04-01 Clark County F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $25K step
1983-04-01 Clark County F1 13 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $25K step
1982-12-23 Clark County F0 0.1 mi x 40 yd 0 0 $250 step
1982-12-02 Clark County F2 19 mi x 220 yd 0 0 $250K step
1982-04-02 Clark County F1 8 mi x 77 yd 0 0 $250K step
1979-05-03 Clark County F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
1979-05-03 Clark County F2 1 mi x 100 yd 0 2 $2.5M step
1973-11-24 Clark County F1 0.3 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $3K step
1971-01-03 Clark County F2 10.3 mi x 200 yd 0 10 $25K step
1965-02-09 Clark County F1 1 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $25K step
1964-04-12 Clark County F1 0.5 mi x 880 yd 0 0 $250K step
1964-04-12 Clark County F1 0.5 mi x 880 yd 0 0 $250K step
1961-03-12 Clark County F1 2 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $25K step
1960-02-09 Clark County F0 2 mi x 250 yd 0 0 $3K step
1954-05-02 Clark County F1 0.5 mi x 40 yd 0 0 –
1950-03-26 Clark County F2 4.1 mi x 150 yd 0 3 $25K 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 Clark County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the October 13, 2014 tornado ($187,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

Hundreds of trees were snapped off or blown down. Several trees landed on one house. Outbuildings were damaged or destroyed.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 539781)
The 12 most recent records kept for Clark County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-02 Thunderstorm WindOkolona, Clark County 52 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-04-25 HailAmity, Clark County 3.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-25 HailBritts, Clark County 2.75 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-25 HailAlpine, Clark County 2.50 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-25 HailDegray, Clark County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-25 HailAmity, Clark County 2.50 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-25 HailAlpine, Clark County 4.50 in hail 0 0 –
2026-03-15 HailGriffithtown, Clark County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-01-25 Winter WeatherClark County · forecast zone Clark 0 0 –
2026-01-23 Winter StormClark County · forecast zone Clark 0 0 –
2025-05-20 TornadoOzan Point, Clark County EF1 0.5 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
2025-05-19 Thunderstorm WindAmity, Clark County 50 kt wind 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

Records with deaths or injuries in Clark County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1997-03-01 TornadoOkolona, Clark County The tornado moved out of Nevada County and into Clark County approximately 6.5 miles south of Okolona at 220 pm CST. The tornado continued moving northeastward, causing considerable tree damage and downing a number of power lines. The first fatality occurred along I-30, several miles southwest of Arkadelphia where a ... F4 27 mi x 1,056 yd 6 100 $221M
1997-07-23 LightningGum Spgs, Clark County Three men were working in a landfill when lightning struck where they were standing. One man was killed instantly when he was directly struck. Two other men standing nearby sustained only minor injuries. 1 2 –
1999-08-08 LightningAlpine, Clark County An Alpine man was struck by lightning at the Brushy Creek Campground on DeGray Lake. The man was sitting in a lawn chair under a tree. 1 0 –
1999-07-30 HeatClark County · forecast zone Clark Excessive heat claimed the life of an elderly man at Gurdon. He was found in his mobile home. There was an air conditioner, but it was not running. 1 0 –
1990-07-30 Thunderstorm WindClark County 1 0 –
1971-01-03 TornadoClark County F2 10.3 mi x 200 yd 0 10 $25K step
2013-05-30 TornadoAmity, Clark County This tornado exited Pike County 1.5 miles northeast of Rosboro and entered Clark County 2.3 miles northwest of Amity. In Clark County, the tornado destroyed a mobile home, injuring five people. Four houses had minor damage. A large metal building was badly damaged. Many trees were uprooted or snapped off; one of the ... EF2 4.08 mi x 300 yd 0 5 $158K
1950-03-26 TornadoClark County F2 4.1 mi x 150 yd 0 3 $25K 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.

The costliest records in Clark County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1997-03-01 TornadoOkolona, Clark County F4 27 mi x 1,056 yd 6 100 $221M
1999-03-05 TornadoAmity, Clark County F3 13 mi x 400 yd 0 0 $3.5M
1996-05-27 TornadoOkolona, Clark County F3 26 mi x 440 yd 0 0 $3.4M
2009-12-23 Flash FloodAmity, Clark County 0 0 $1.7M
2009-12-24 FloodAmity, Clark County 0 2 $1.7M
2012-08-30 Tropical DepressionClark County · forecast zone Clark 0 0 $1.3M
2008-09-03 FloodArkadelphia Municipal Arp, Clark County 0 0 $864K
2008-09-02 Tropical DepressionClark County · forecast zone Clark 0 0 $747K

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 $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 3, 1979 (tornado, Clark County); November 15, 1988 (tornado, Clark 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 Clark 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).

Clark County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind2591468865620
Hail0261367592421
Floods––––2506124
Winter storms––––3142212
Tornadoes254115242
Drought––––01210

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 Clark County. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 44 · Feb 49 · Mar 66 · Apr 116 · May 136 · Jun 81 · Jul 90 · Aug 55 · Sep 25 · Oct 25 · Nov 29 · Dec 40 (records).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.

Federal disaster declarations for Clark County

FEMA's register lists 24 declarations that include Clark County: 18 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (11) and flood (3).

Declarations including Clark County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2026-01-24EM-3636Winter StormSevere Winter Storm
2025-05-21DR-4873FloodSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2025-04-05EM-3627Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2020-08-27EM-3541HurricaneHurricane Laura
2020-04-03DR-4518BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3461BiologicalCovid-19
2015-06-26DR-4226Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding
2013-01-29DR-4100Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storm
2011-05-02DR-1975Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Associated Flooding
2010-02-04DR-1872Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
2009-06-16DR-1845Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2008-10-22DR-1804Severe StormTropical Storm Ike
2008-09-18DR-1793HurricaneSevere Storms and Flooding Associated With Hurricane Gustav
2008-03-26DR-1751Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2005-09-02EM-3215HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2004-06-30DR-1528Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
2001-03-13DR-1363Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
2000-12-29DR-1354Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Ice Storm
2000-12-28EM-3159Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Ice Storm
1997-03-02DR-1162Severe StormSevere Storms and Tornadoes
1992-07-24DR-950Severe StormSevere Thunderstorms
1990-05-15DR-865FloodSevere Storms & Flooding
1988-11-23DR-817TornadoSevere Storms & Tornadoes
1973-04-27DR-375FloodSevere 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 Clark County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 137 flood or flash flood records for Clark County from 1996 to 2025, on 101 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Clark County ranks 1874th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

Named storms on Clark County's flood and tropical record
StormBeganRecordsDeaths in the county
Tropical Storm Ike2008-09-1310
Hurricane Gustav2008-09-0230

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $891,000 on 32 claims filed in Clark County; the most in one year was 9 in 2009. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1979: 1 · 1982: 1 · 1989: 1 · 1990: 1 · 2003: 6 · 2008: 2 · 2009: 9 · 2015: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2025: 6; 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 Clark County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Clark County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $10.2 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.

National Risk Index ratings for Clark County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
LightningRelatively High$1.1M65 a year (modeled)
Ice StormRelatively High$746Kabout once a year (modeled)
TornadoRelatively Moderate$1.9Monce in about 2 years (modeled)
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$651K3.5 a year (modeled)
EarthquakeRelatively Low$775Konce in about 360 years (modeled)
HailRelatively Low$497K4.8 a year (modeled)
Heat WaveRelatively Low$652K18 modeled event-days a year
DroughtRelatively Low$99K19 modeled event-days a year

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.

Counties that share a border with Clark County

  1. Clark County 756
  2. Hot Spring County 728
  3. Ouachita County 597
  4. Montgomery County 586
  5. Pike County 546
  6. Nevada County 509
  7. Dallas County 434

Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.

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