Faulkner County
Population 133,979 (2025) 647 sq mi
Faulkner County has recorded 60 tornadoes since 1950, 5th most of 75 counties in Arkansas; the most recent was on April 20, 2025.
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths since 195060
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger6
- Major flood years since 19783
At a glance
The record for Faulkner County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Tropical cyclones within 50 mi
4
31st of 75 in Arkansas
None at hurricane strength since 1851
DetailsStrongest tornado
EF4
April 27, 2014, 41.1 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
TS
Tropical storm (unnamed), 1923, 42.0 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 1.3 years since 1950, 13 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
April 27, 2014
EF4, 41.1 mile path
1,320 yards wide; 16 killed along the whole path.
Most recent
Sunday, April 20, 2025
EF1, 14.2 mile path
Within the past year.
Every recorded tornado
| Apr 20, 2025 | EF1 | 14.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 11, 2022 | EF1 | 7.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 1, 2020 | EF0 | 3.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 2, 2019 | EF0 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 |
| May 2, 2019 | EF0 | 3.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 22, 2018 | EF1 | 2.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 24, 2017 | EF2 | 2.1 | 6 | 0 |
| Apr 27, 2014 | EF4 | 41.1 | 193 | 16 |
| Apr 26, 2011 | EF1 | 12.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 25, 2011 | EF1 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 25, 2011 | EF2 | 51.3 | 16 | 4 |
| Jul 21, 2009 | EF0 | 1.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 21, 2009 | EF0 | 0.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 5, 2008 | EF1 | 5.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 27, 2005 | F0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 27, 2005 | F1 | 7.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 27, 2005 | F2 | 2.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 24, 2005 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 16, 2003 | F1 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 16, 2003 | F1 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 16, 2003 | F1 | 7.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 4, 2003 | F3 | 34.9 | 5 | 0 |
| May 4, 2003 | F1 | 1.8 | 0 | 0 |
| May 4, 2003 | F2 | 14.5 | 1 | 0 |
| Dec 18, 2002 | F1 | 9.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 18, 2002 | F3 | 9.8 | 13 | 1 |
| May 30, 2001 | F1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 20, 2001 | F1 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 26, 2000 | F1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 13, 2000 | F0 | 2.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 21, 1999 | F1 | 16.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 21, 1999 | F2 | 8.0 | 7 | 0 |
| Nov 15, 1988 | F3 | 29.0 | 10 | 1 |
| Dec 24, 1982 | F3 | 16.5 | 7 | 1 |
| Dec 23, 1982 | F2 | 16.0 | 7 | 0 |
| Dec 2, 1982 | F3 | 32.0 | 7 | 0 |
| Dec 2, 1982 | F3 | 24.0 | 3 | 0 |
| Apr 2, 1982 | F3 | 3.5 | 37 | 2 |
| Apr 7, 1980 | F2 | 37.5 | 15 | 0 |
| Apr 11, 1979 | F2 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 22, 1975 | F2 | 13.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 24, 1973 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 6, 1970 | F2 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 30, 1970 | F2 | 4.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 6, 1969 | F2 | 9.4 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 1968 | F2 | 13.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 28, 1967 | F1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 10, 1965 | F4 | 4.7 | 200 | 6 |
| Feb 14, 1962 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 5, 1961 | F1 | 2.5 | 3 | 0 |
| Mar 12, 1961 | F2 | 34.2 | 12 | 0 |
| May 6, 1960 | F3 | 26.7 | 30 | 1 |
| May 5, 1960 | F2 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 14, 1960 | F1 | 6.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 14, 1959 | F3 | 18.0 | 3 | 1 |
| Jun 13, 1957 | F2 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 13, 1957 | F2 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 13, 1957 | F3 | 17.5 | 18 | 1 |
| Jan 28, 1956 | F3 | 23.0 | 12 | 0 |
| Mar 21, 1952 | F2 | 0.1 | 6 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Faulkner County: 27.
- Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.
Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
4 passed within 50 miles since 1851; none at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
October 16, 1923
Unnamed storm, Tropical storm
42.0 miles at closest approach, winds near 52 mph.
Most recent
September 14, 2008
Ike, Tropical storm
54.5 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
- Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.
National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.
Wildfire and smoke
No large wildfire has been mapped here since satellite mapping began in 1984.
Smoke overhead
Smokiest year
2023: 58 days
Heavy smoke on 9 days in 2021, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
18.2 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
10 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 34 so far in 2026.
- A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Floods and flood insurance
321 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $7.7 million paid.
Most claims in one year
2011: 93 claims
$1.5 million paid.
2nd most
2019: 65 claims
$3.3 million paid.
3rd most
2009: 27 claims
$317,000 paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 72106 | 144 | $3.6 million |
| 72032 | 104 | $2.7 million |
| 72034 | 36 | $699,000 |
| 72058 | 23 | $405,000 |
| 72173 | 11 | $163,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood85
- Flood20
- Heavy Rain15
1 death recorded in flood events since 1996.
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.
River crests
Most severe crest
June 4, 2019
Arkansas River at Toad Suck Lock and Dam, 285.40 ft
10.40 feet above the 275.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
June 4, 2019
Arkansas River at Toad Suck Lock and Dam, 285.40 ft
Major flooding.
River gauges
| Arkansas River at Toad Suck Lock and Dam | 275.0 | 285.40 ft | 5 |
- Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.
NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Drought
In severe drought or worse for 103 of 1,581 months since 1895 (7%); the longest spell lasted 21 months.
103
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
25
Months in extreme drought
7%
Share of all months, severe or worse
15
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
November 1954
−5.47, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
21 months
September 1953 to May 1955.
Latest month
September 2026
−4.07, extreme drought
- The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.
NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.
Earthquakes
7 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles since 1900; the largest was magnitude 4.7 in 2011.
258
Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973
93
Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973
7
Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900
0
Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900
Largest within 50 miles
February 27, 2011
Magnitude 4.7
4 km NE of Greenbrier, Arkansas; inside the county, 2.0 miles deep.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
June 4, 2014
Magnitude 3.8
3 km ESE of Fairfield Bay, Arkansas; 16.8 miles away.
Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
| Feb 27, 2011 | 4.7 | Inside |
| Feb 18, 2011 | 4.1 | Inside |
| Oct 11, 2010 | 4.1 | Inside |
| May 4, 2001 | 4.3 | Inside |
| Feb 28, 1982 | 4.1 | 11.2 |
| Jan 20, 1982 | 4.2 | Inside |
| Jan 1, 1969 | 4.3 | 5.1 |
- Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the county boundary (or inside the county).
- Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).
USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Severe weather and other events
951 events in the National Weather Service record, 775 of them since 1996.
148
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
16
Hail, 2 inches or larger
278
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
72
Winter weather events since 1996
9
Heat events since 1996
7
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
June 21, 1990
4.50 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
June 7, 1994
100 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 13 | 1 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Apr 27, 2014Tornado$210 million
National Weather Service narrative
This tornado exited Pulaski County 1.6 miles northeast of Roland, while crossing the Arkansas River, and entered Faulkner County 0.6 mile southwest of Palarm. The tornado reached its maximum intensity of EF4 in Faulkner County. It tracked through the River Plantation subdivision and White City, then struck Mayflower, where residences and businesses were destroyed. The tornado then moved across Interstate 40 at Mayflower, throwing cars, trucks, and road construction equipment off the freeway. Traffic along the interstate was backed up for weeks following the tornado as motorists slowed to view the damage. Next, the tornado crossed a part of Lake Conway and moved across part of Camp…
- Apr 25, 2011Tornado$52.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
This tornado exited Pulaski County north-northwest of Morgan and re-entered Faulkner County east-southeast of Mayflower. In Faulkner County, it first moved through the northwest part of Camp Joseph T. Robinson, a National Guard facility. Thousands of trees were blown down in the area of Arkansas Highway 89 and Clinton Rd. In addition, numerous power lines were blown down and some homes and outbuildings were damaged. Similar damage occurred as the tornado continued moving to the northeast. At the Black Oak Ranch Estates mobile home park, numerous mobile homes were destroyed and four people were killed. Two of the victims, a 63 year-old man and a 55 year-old man, were in separate…
- Jan 26, 2009Ice Storm, Faulkner$10.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
One-quarter inch of ice was reported at Woolly Hollow State Park at 7:00 AM. Two vehicles lost control on Arkansas Highway 365 near Mayflower and became partially submerged in Lake Conway.
- Dec 25, 2012Winter Storm, Faulkner$7.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Reports included 11 inches of snow at Mayflower and 10 inches at Conway.
- May 1, 2011Flood$4.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Many roads around Lake Conway were closed due to flooding, including a portion of Arkansas Highway 89.
- Jun 12, 2009Thunderstorm Wind$1.5 million
National Weather Service narrative
A couple of structures had portions of their roofs blown off, shingles were blown off several dozen residences, hundreds of large trees were blown down, tin roofs were blown off barns and outbuildings, and a couple of old farm buildings were blown down. Several houses were damaged by falling trees. The trailer of a parked tractor-trailer was overturned. Power lines were blown down.
- Dec 24, 2009Flood$1.3 million
National Weather Service narrative
Flash flooding which developed early on the morning of the 24th became widespread areal flooding later in the morning and continued into the morning of the 25th. Arkansas Highway 85 was closed by flooding. Palarm Creek washed away part of Saltillo Rd. Roads that were under water included Wilson Bottoms Rd., Springfield Rd., Mallet Town Rd., Shaw Bridge Rd., Ridge Dr., Bayou Rd., Beryl Rd., and Otto Rd. The driver of a tank truck had to be rescued from high water on Wilson Bottoms Rd. In Conway, Trey Lane and Centennial Soccer Park flooded, causing the cancellation of the Holiday Festival of Lights.
- Apr 26, 2011Flood$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
From the 24th through the 27th, the arrival of a slow-moving cold front and several low pressure areas aloft triggered several rounds of thunderstorms. Tornadoes, severe storms, and flash flooding resulted. Widespread areal flooding followed the flash flooding. Some of this flooding was due to heavy rain, while some of it was caused by water from rivers, creeks, and bayous backing up onto the land. On the evening of the 25th, devastating tornadoes affected several areas in central Arkansas. More than 140,000 electric customers in Arkansas lost power. Heavy rains during this period were the beginning of the Great Flood of 2011 in Arkansas. Much of the flooding lasted well into May,…
- Aug 30, 2012Tropical Depression, Faulkner$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Although Isaac was a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, it had weakened to a tropical depression by the time it reached Arkansas. Isaac passed through western Arkansas on the evening of the 30th and during the day on the 31st. Positions from the National Hurricane Center and the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center: August 30th at 10 PM (CDT) 95 miles south-southwest of Little Rock, August 31st at 4 AM 95 miles west of Little Rock, August 31st at 10 AM 25 miles northeast of Fort Smith, and August 31st at 4 PM 40 miles east of Joplin, Missouri. Although Isaac had exited Arkansas by the end of the month, some effects, including bands of thunderstorms spiraling in toward its center,…
- Jun 1, 2019Flood$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rain and upstream reservoir releases led to flooding on the Arkansas River at Toad Suck. The record crest was 285.40 feet on 6/04/19.
- Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.
Weather records
From Conway, 4.8 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1893.
- All-time high
- 115°F2 times, most recently Jul 13, 1954
- All-time low
- −15°FFeb 13, 1899
- Warmest night
- 87°F2 times, most recently Aug 16, 1923
- Coldest day
- 10°F2 times, most recently Jan 21, 1985
- Wettest day
- 6.44 inJul 21, 1936
- Snowiest day
- 12.5 inFeb 19, 1921
- Hottest year
- 1938mean 65.2°F
- Coldest year
- 1912mean 58.2°F
- Wettest year
- 197373.58 in
- Driest year
- 194330.93 in
- Snowiest season
- 29.5 in1917-18
Median first snow
January 4
Earliest: November 2, 1951
Median last snow
February 11
Latest: March 31, 1924
18 of 121 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Conway (USC00031596), 312 ft elevation, 4.8 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1893 to October 27, 2026; 96.1% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.
NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.
Federal disaster declarations
28 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Winter Storm, January 24, 2026.
| Jan 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3636-AR |
| Apr 5, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3627-AR |
| Nov 14, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4748-AR |
| Aug 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541-AR |
| Apr 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4518-AR |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3461-AR |
| Jun 8, 2019 | Flood | DR-4441-AR |
| May 30, 2019 | Flood | EM-3414-AR |
| Jun 15, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4318-AR |
| Feb 5, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4254-AR |
| Apr 29, 2014 | Severe Storm | DR-4174-AR |
| May 2, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1975-AR |
| Jan 28, 2009 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3301-AR |
| Mar 26, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1751-AR |
| Sep 2, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3215-AR |
| Jun 6, 2003 | Severe Storm | DR-1472-AR |
| Dec 29, 2000 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1354-AR |
| Dec 28, 2000 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3159-AR |
| Jan 23, 1999 | Severe Storm | DR-1266-AR |
| Apr 14, 1997 | Flood | DR-1176-AR |
| May 15, 1990 | Flood | DR-865-AR |
| Nov 23, 1988 | Tornado | DR-817-AR |
| Dec 13, 1982 | Severe Storm | DR-673-AR |
| Apr 23, 1982 | Tornado | EM-3085-AR |
| Apr 16, 1980 | Tornado | DR-617-AR |
| Dec 3, 1976 | Drought | EM-3019-AR |
| Feb 15, 1969 | Flood | DR-254-AR |
| May 29, 1968 | Tornado | DR-239-AR |
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.
How this compares
Where Faulkner County stands among 75 counties in Arkansas and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 60 | 5 / 75 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 13 | 1 / 75 |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 4 | 31 / 75 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 0 | — |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 0 | — |
| Flood insurance claims | 321 | 9 / 75 |
| Flood insurance paid | $7.7 million | 9 / 75 |
| Disaster declarations | 28 | 13 / 75 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 120 | 14 / 75 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 504 | 9 / 75 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 72 | 21 / 75 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $296 million | 3 / 75 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 5 | 30 / 75 |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 103 | 20 / 75 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 18.2 | 32 / 75 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 7 | 18 / 75 |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 258 | 1 / 75 |
Neighbouring counties
| Cleburne County | 30 | 4 |
| Conway County | 42 | 3 |
| Lonoke County | 85 | 4 |
| Perry County | 19 | 3 |
| Pulaski County | 101 | 4 |
| Van Buren County | 35 | 3 |
| White County | 81 | 3 |
Sources and vintage
Every number on this page comes from these public records.
- Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
- Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
- Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
- Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
- Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
- Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USC00031596.
- River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
- Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.
Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.