Arkansas high wind and dust storms
Every recorded high wind record since 1996 · 73 counties with a record
NOAA's Storm Events Database records 524 high wind and dust records in Arkansas from 1996 through June 30, 2026, about 21 a year since 2000. The deadliest was the January 29, 2008 strong wind: 2 deaths, 2 injuries and $18.8 million in damage in 2025 dollars across 44 records. Arkansas ranks 48th of 52 states and territories by count and 48th of 51 per square mile.
High wind and dust storms in Arkansas, 1996 to 2026
Wind records per year (NOAA Storm Events); 2026 to June 30, 2026.
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $1 million
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- $1 billion or more, or 100 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- Records
- 5241996 to June 30, 2026
- A year since 2000
- 21average
- Deaths
- 1030 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $32Mas filed
- Busiest year
- 201195 records
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026; deaths and damage as filed, damage in 2025 dollars. Search the record at NCEI.
Are high wind and dust records common in Arkansas?
Arkansas averages about 21 high wind and dust records a year since 2000, 48th of 52 states and territories by count. The busiest year on record was 2011 (95). Per 10,000 square miles of land, Arkansas records 101 high wind and dust records since 1996, 48th of 51 states and territories by that measure.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1996, per 10,000 square miles of land area (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer; places under 1,000 square miles not ranked). Damage colours: Storm Events damage, 2025 dollars.
Which counties in Arkansas have the most high wind and dust records?
Per square mile, Craighead County leads Arkansas: 17 days with a high wind record since 1996, 24.0 per 1,000 square miles of land. By raw count, Craighead County has the most wind records (19 since 1996); large counties collect more records simply by covering more ground, so the ranking counts days with a record per unit of area (a storm filed for several forecast zones adds several records but one day).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, days with a record in the county since 1996 per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer); in brackets, the count of records.
When is the windy season in Arkansas?
42% of its high wind and dust records since 1996 fell in December and January. The busiest month is December (146 records).
The values, month by month
Jan 76 · Feb 63 · Mar 89 · Apr 84 · May 14 · Jun 5 · Jul 5 · Aug 4 · Sep 13 · Oct 9 · Nov 16 · Dec 146 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began, since 1996.
What were the deadliest high wind and dust records in Arkansas?
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-01-29 | Strong WindFaulkner County · forecast zone Faulkner One storm episode: 44 records in 44 places; the totals are the episode's. A strong cold front approached from the Plains during the morning of January 29th. The front arrived during the early afternoon hours, and winds shifted to the northwest. Wind speeds of 30 to 40 mph were common, with gusts over 50 mph. Approximately 80,000 power outages occurred. | 36 kt wind | 2 | 2 | $19M |
| 2016-04-10 | Dust StormLawrence County · forecast zone Lawrence Multiple injuries reported due to car accidents on Highway 63 in eastern Lawrence County and in the city of Walnut Ridge. | 1 | 14 | $369K | |
| 2011-10-07 | Strong WindPulaski County · forecast zone Pulaski High pressure to the east of Arkansas and low pressure developing to the west brought gusty winds to Arkansas on the 7th. The gusty winds caused a large tree limb to fall into a picnic area at a pumpkin patch on Craig Rd. near Scott in southeastern Pulaski County. A 44 year-old woman was killed, a man was transported ... | 19 kt wind | 1 | 2 | – |
| 2009-01-17 | Dust StormCraighead County · forecast zone Craighead Dust reduced visibilities to near zero on Highway 226 near Cash. A fatal three car accident occurred as a result. Winds were gusting to 25 knots at the time of the accident. | 1 | 2 | – | |
| 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 | – |
| 2015-01-25 | Strong WindFaulkner County · forecast zone Faulkner The body of a 65 year-old male was found near the Pierce Creek access to Lake Conway after the boat he was fishing from capsized from strong winds on the 25th. Observed winds from Little Rock Adam's Field were sustained 20 to 30 mph that afternoon, with gusts of 30 to over 40 mph. | 35 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 2012-04-15 | Strong WindIzard County · forecast zone Izard Two men took a kayak out onto Crown Lake in the city of Horseshoe Bend. The closest observation stations indicated winds were gusting between 25 and 35 mph, and reports indicated 3 foot waves on the lake. The kayak capsized, throwing the men into the lake. One reached shore, but the other man, 25 years old, drowned. ... | 30 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 2010-03-25 | Strong WindGarland County · forecast zone Garland Two people were in a canoe, traveling from an island on Lake Ouachita to the shore near Brady Mountain, when gusty winds and large swells caused the canoe to capsize. One person, a 20 year-old male, swam to shore, but the other person, a 19 year-old male, drowned. Wind gusts at the time were measured at 18 knots at ... | 18 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 1997-05-02 | High WindLee County and Phillips County · forecast zone Phillips A localized non-thunderstorm wind gust produced damage in the towns of Helena and West Helena. A large awning blew on a car killing one person. Three schools were damaged. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down. | 1 | 0 | $46K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths direct and indirect, as filed by the National Weather Service, summed over each storm (one episode, or one named storm filed by several offices). Storm names from the titles of FEMA declarations that name the storm's counties.
The costliest high wind and dust records in Arkansas
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-01-29 | Strong WindFaulkner County · forecast zone Faulkner One storm episode: 44 records in 44 places; the totals are the episode's. | 36 kt wind | 2 | 2 | $19M |
| 2008-09-14 | High WindBenton County · forecast zone Benton One storm episode: 2 records in 2 places; the totals are the episode's. | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $959K |
| 2016-04-10 | Dust StormLawrence County · forecast zone Lawrence | 1 | 14 | $369K | |
| 2006-10-16 | Strong WindChicot County · forecast zone Chicot | 45 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $293K |
| 2010-12-11 | Strong WindPulaski County · forecast zone Pulaski | 40 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $271K |
| 1997-05-02 | High WindLee County and Phillips County · forecast zone Phillips | 1 | 0 | $46K | |
| 2025-03-14 | High WindWashington County · forecast zone Washington | 54 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2025-04-10 | High WindPoinsett County · forecast zone Poinsett | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: property and crop damage as estimated by the National Weather Service, in 2025 dollars.
Are high wind and dust records becoming more frequent in Arkansas?
Arkansas's count per decade against the whole country's, and its share. NOAA recorded every event type only from 1996, so earlier decades are not comparable; the share of the national total is the fairer comparison across decades.
| Decade | Arkansas | United States | Arkansas's share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-99 | 30 | 14,026 | 0.21% |
| 2000s | 166 | 37,254 | 0.45% |
| 2010s | 294 | 41,748 | 0.70% |
| 2020-26 | 34 | 36,300 | 0.09% |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.
The most recent high wind and dust records in Arkansas
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-18 | Strong WindIzard County · forecast zone Izard | 48 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-18 | Strong WindBaxter County · forecast zone Baxter | 48 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-25 | Strong WindMississippi County · forecast zone Mississippi | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-10 | High WindPoinsett County · forecast zone Poinsett | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2025-03-19 | High WindCraighead County · forecast zone Craighead | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-19 | High WindMississippi County · forecast zone Mississippi | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-19 | High WindMississippi County · forecast zone Mississippi | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-19 | High WindCraighead County · forecast zone Craighead | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-15 | High WindMississippi County · forecast zone Mississippi | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-14 | High WindCraighead County · forecast zone Craighead | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-14 | High WindWashington County · forecast zone Washington | 54 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2019-03-09 | Strong WindArkansas County · forecast zone Arkansas | 39 kt wind | 0 | 2 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026; the newest months are revised by NCEI as reports arrive. Search the record at NCEI.
Next
- Craighead County: the county's whole recordThe Arkansas county with the most high wind and dust records per square mile
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