Miller County
Population 42,357 (2025) 624 sq mi
Miller County has recorded 29 tornadoes since 1950, 37th most of 75 counties in Arkansas; the most recent was on July 8, 2024.
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 195029
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger11
- Wildfire burn scars since 19841
- Major flood years since 19781
At a glance
The record for Miller County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Tropical cyclones within 50 mi
7
8th of 75 in Arkansas
None at hurricane strength since 1851
DetailsAcres burned since 1984
1,358
27th of 75 in Arkansas
1 large fire; the largest was Unnamed, 2004
DetailsStrongest tornado
EF3
April 9, 2009, 9.9 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
TS
Tropical storm (unnamed), 1879, 16.0 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 2.6 years since 1950, one of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
April 9, 2009
EF3, 9.9 mile path
850 yards wide.
Most recent
Monday, July 8, 2024
EF1, 2.1 mile path
2 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| Jul 8, 2024 | EF1 | 2.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 8, 2024 | EF1 | 5.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 2, 2023 | EF1 | 1.8 | 0 | 0 |
| May 16, 2020 | EF1 | 2.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 18, 2013 | EF0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 4, 2011 | EF1 | 2.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 23, 2010 | EF0 | 17.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 23, 2009 | EF1 | 4.8 | 0 | 0 |
| May 2, 2009 | EF1 | 3.5 | 3 | 0 |
| Apr 9, 2009 | EF3 | 9.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 26, 1999 | F1 | 12.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 22, 1999 | F0 | 3.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 21, 1999 | F0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 11, 1998 | F0 | 5.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 11, 1998 | F0 | 2.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 11, 1998 | F0 | 3.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 30, 1996 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 11, 1994 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 1, 1983 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 23, 1982 | F2 | 25.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 17, 1980 | F2 | 0.5 | 3 | 0 |
| Apr 1, 1979 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 26, 1976 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 4, 1974 | F2 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 24, 1973 | F2 | 0.1 | 3 | 0 |
| May 2, 1954 | F1 | 2.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 24, 1953 | F2 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 16, 1952 | F2 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 16, 1952 | F2 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Miller County: 0.
- 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
7 passed within 50 miles since 1851; none at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
August 23, 1879
Unnamed storm, Tropical storm
16.0 miles at closest approach, winds near 49 mph.
Most recent
August 27, 2020
Laura, Tropical storm
51.3 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Laura | 2020 | 51.3 | Tropical storm |
| Ike | 2008 | 42.5 | Tropical storm |
| Betsy | 1965 | 97.5 | Tropical storm |
| Audrey | 1957 | 91.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1947 | 60.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1941 | 13.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1918 | 44.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1891 | 25.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1886 | 39.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1879 | 16.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1865 | 28.3 | Tropical storm |
- 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
1,358 acres burned in 1 large fire since 1984, equal to 0.3% of the land.
Largest
March 22, 2004
Unnamed Fire, 1,357 acres
1,358 acres inside Miller County.
Most recent
March 22, 2004
Unnamed Fire
1,357 acres in total.
Every large fire
| Unnamed | 2004 | 1,358 | 1,357 |
- Large fires mapped by the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity program since 1984: 1,000 acres or more in the West, 500 or more in the East. Prescribed burns are excluded. Acres here are the part of each perimeter inside this place.
Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (USGS and U.S. Forest Service), 1984 to 2026.
Smoke overhead
Smokiest year
2023: 43 days
Heavy smoke on 4 days in 2021, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
14.4 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
6 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 23 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
140 federal flood insurance claims since 1979, with $2.7 million paid.
Most claims in one year
1998: 52 claims
$966,000 paid.
2nd most
2020: 12 claims
$715,000 paid.
3rd most
2009: 8 claims
$87,000 paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 71854 | 128 | $2.6 million |
| 71839 | 8 | $70,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood48
- Flood4
- Heavy Rain1
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
April 2, 1945
Red River at Fulton, 37.40 ft
10.40 feet above the 27.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
June 7, 2015
Red River at Spring Bank Ferry, 44.23 ft
Major flooding.
| Apr 2, 1945 | Red River at Fulton | 37.40 | +10.40 |
| Feb 23, 1938 | Red River at Index | 34.40 | +9.40 |
| May 12, 1990 | Red River at Fulton | 34.30 | +7.30 |
| May 10, 1990 | Red River at Index | 32.30 | +7.30 |
| Jun 7, 2015 | Red River at Spring Bank Ferry | 44.23 | +7.23 |
| Jun 4, 2015 | Red River at Index | 31.41 | +6.41 |
| May 2, 1942 | Red River at Fulton | 33.30 | +6.30 |
| May 25, 1935 | Red River at Index | 31.10 | +6.10 |
| May 1, 1942 | Red River at Index | 30.40 | +5.40 |
| Jun 8, 1957 | Red River at Index | 29.23 | +4.23 |
| Jun 16, 1941 | Red River at Index | 28.30 | +3.30 |
| Apr 1, 1945 | Red River at Index | 28.05 | +3.05 |
| Jun 5, 2015 | Red River at Fulton | 32.12 | +5.12 |
| Jan 31, 1949 | Red River at Fulton | 32.03 | +5.03 |
| Jun 9, 1957 | Red River at Fulton | 31.12 | +4.12 |
| May 1, 1957 | Red River at Fulton | 30.52 | +3.52 |
| Apr 2, 1938 | Red River at Index | 27.55 | +2.55 |
| Feb 21, 1932 | Red River at Index | 27.40 | +2.40 |
| Apr 30, 1957 | Red River at Index | 27.27 | +2.27 |
| May 29, 1957 | Red River at Index | 27.27 | +2.27 |
| Nov 27, 1932 | Red River at Index | 27.00 | +2.00 |
| Nov 6, 1941 | Red River at Index | 26.30 | +1.30 |
| Jun 19, 1951 | Red River at Index | 26.20 | +1.20 |
| Jan 26, 1938 | Red River at Index | 25.95 | +0.95 |
| May 6, 1958 | Red River at Index | 25.78 | +0.78 |
River gauges
| Red River at Fulton | 27.0 | 37.40 ft | 3 |
| Red River at Index | 25.0 | 34.40 ft | 8 |
| Red River at Spring Bank Ferry | 37.0 | 44.23 ft | 1 |
- 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 148 of 1,581 months since 1895 (9%); the longest spell lasted 31 months.
148
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
45
Months in extreme drought
9%
Share of all months, severe or worse
46
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
October 2011
−5.51, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
31 months
December 2010 to June 2013.
Latest month
September 2026
−2.81, moderate drought
Last severe month: May 2026.
- 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
16 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more within 50 miles since 1974; none reached magnitude 4.
0
Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973
10
Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973
0
Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900
0
Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900
Largest within 50 miles
February 15, 1974
Magnitude 3.6
4 km WSW of Gum Springs, Arkansas; 49.7 miles away, 0.6 miles deep.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
January 18, 2025
Magnitude 3.5
0 km WSW of Mooringsport, Louisiana; 23.4 miles away.
- 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
767 events in the National Weather Service record, 537 of them since 1996.
134
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
14
Hail, 2 inches or larger
195
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
44
Winter weather events since 1996
79
Heat events since 1996
7
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
March 31, 2008
4.00 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
June 14, 2023
100 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 8 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Mar 31, 2008Hail$85.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Very large hail fell across the entire city of Texarkana, Arkansas resulting in widespread damage to automobiles, home roofs and windows. The estimated monetary damage amount at the time of this publication was nearly 65 million dollars and according to local emergency management officials...this amount would likely be adjusted upward.|The hail damage was particularily bad in downtown Texarkana, Arkansas. The City Hall's spanish tile roof...some of the hardest material known as far as roofing material was concerned was damaged to destroyed. Many car dealerships inventory was deemed a total loss from the hail. Hail stones not only broke out car windows but went completely through…
- Dec 12, 2000Ice Storm, Miller$40.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
An arctic air mass spilled southward out of the central plains and into the lower Mississippi Valley. This cold, surface air mass was overrun by a warm humid air mass which combined with a strong upper level storm system across west Texas. the result was widespread freezing rain across all of southwest Arkansas. The precipitation was a mixture of freezing rain, sleet and some light snow northwest of a Texarkana to Prescott Arkansas line while further east the precipitation was all freezing rain. Ice accumulations of two to four inches were common. An estimated 235,000 residents lost electrical power due to ice covered power lines snapping or ice covered trees splitting and falling…
- May 22, 2008Thunderstorm Wind$2.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Two severe thunderstorms came together over the south side of the city. One severe storm was moving northeastward from southern Bowie County while the other was moving northwestward through Miller County. Both storms collided in an area just south of downtown Texarkana. As a result of the collision, the storm cores collapsed in an area just east of State Line Avenue over a several block area between 16th and 20th Streets. Numerous large trees were snapped or uprooted onto homes and cars in the Glendale Subdivision. As the survey expanded outward to the north near 24th Street and the Woodlawn Cemetery, trees were noted to have fallen in a north or northeastward direction typical of…
- May 28, 1998Flash Flood$1.1 million
National Weather Service narrative
Excessive rain caused numerous flooding throughout the city. U.S. highway 82 at Arkansas 2378 was washed out. A private dam broke which led to the closure of County Road 290. Numerous homes were flooded. The County Judge declared a local disaster and the Red Cross set up emergency shelters. A total of 10.48 inches of rain fell from the storm which was a record for the date. Records began in 1930.
- Apr 9, 2009Tornado$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
This tornado initially touched down in southwestern Miller County, Arkansas along CR 80...snapping several pine trees about 2 miles south of Ravana. The tornado then moved toward the intersection of CR 31 and CR 32. Here, at its widest and strongest, the tornado uprooted and snapped numerous pine and oak trees, some 2 to 3 feet in diameter. The storm completely destroyed an outbuilding and mobile home, placing roofing material in a tree approximately a half mile away. Mostly EF1 damage was noted elsewhere as the tornado continued moving east-northeast across southern Miller County. Numerous pine and oak trees were either snapped or uprooted, with pieces of roofing material ripped…
- Sep 13, 2008Tropical Storm, Miller$750,000
National Weather Service narrative
The remnants of Tropical Storm Ike resulted in widespread trees and power lines downed throughout all of Miller County, Arkansas. Power outages were widespread as well with numerous residents without power during the height of the storm and days afterward. One tree was downed on a home in the county and a couple of other trees were downed on parked cars. There were no report of injuries.
- Feb 16, 2021Winter Storm, Miller$469,000
National Weather Service narrative
On the heels of the first winter storm and historically cold temperatures observed earlier in the week across all of the Southern Plains and much of the Lower Mississippi Valley, a second significant winter storm developed across much of these areas from February 16th-18th, with areas of heavy snow falling across much of Southwest Arkansas. Strong forcing and moisture associated with the next upper level trough to move atop the extensive arctic air mass in place resulted in heavier snowfall totals ranging from seven to in excess of twelve inches falling across Miller, Lafayette, Hempstead, Nevada, Columbia, and Union Counties. ||The following are snowfall totals that were recorded…
- Apr 9, 2008Flash Flood$250,000
National Weather Service narrative
Emergency manager reported many roads and underpasses covered with water across the city. A few buildings ware being evacuated due to flood waters. In all...23 roads were closed due to flash flooding across the county.
- Oct 13, 2009Flash Flood$200,000
National Weather Service narrative
High water near two feet was reportedly across Hwy. 71 just north of Ida inside the Miller County Arkansas line but south of the Hwy 549/71 interchange south of Doddgridge. Hwy. 71 south of Hwy. 549 and north of Ida has been closed. Up to 30 additional County Roads were damaged from flood waters.
- Jan 7, 2010Cold/Wind Chill, Miller$200,000
National Weather Service narrative
Bitterly cold temperatures swept into the region during the evening hours of January 7th with a hard freeze being observed nearly through the morning hours of January 10th. During this period of time...overnight and early morning low temperatures were well into the teens with daytime high temperatures struggling to make it to the freezing mark. The cold temperatures froze water pipes of many homes throughout the county. Some city and county water lines burst as well resulting in many residents either without water for a short period of time or with reduced water pressure. Southwest Arkansas had not experienced temperatures this cold since 1996 and the prolonged cold snap had not…
- 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 Texarkana Webb Field, 3.7 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1892.
- All-time high
- 117°FAug 10, 1936
- All-time low
- −9°FFeb 13, 1899
- Warmest night
- 84°F2 times, most recently Aug 4, 2011
- Coldest day
- 15°FJan 10, 1962
- Wettest day
- 10.48 inMay 28, 1998
- Snowiest day
- 9.0 inJan 30, 1982
- Hottest year
- 1921mean 69.0°F
- Coldest year
- 1905mean 61.5°F
- Wettest year
- 200978.08 in
- Driest year
- 189622.48 in
- Snowiest season
- 13.4 in1965-66
Median first snow
January 11
Earliest: December 13, 1958
Median last snow
February 6
Latest: March 21, 1968
29 of 60 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Texarkana Webb Field (USW00013977), 380 ft elevation, 3.7 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1892 to October 26, 2026; 99.8% 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
21 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Winter Storm, January 24, 2026.
| Jan 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3636-AR |
| May 21, 2025 | Flood | DR-4873-AR |
| Apr 5, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3627-AR |
| Aug 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3541-AR |
| Apr 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4518-AR |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3461-AR |
| Jun 26, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4226-AR |
| Feb 4, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1872-AR |
| Jun 16, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1845-AR |
| Apr 27, 2009 | Tornado | DR-1834-AR |
| Oct 22, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1804-AR |
| Mar 26, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1751-AR |
| Sep 2, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3215-AR |
| Mar 13, 2001 | Severe Storm | DR-1363-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 |
| May 15, 1990 | Flood | DR-865-AR |
| Dec 13, 1982 | Severe Storm | DR-673-AR |
| Jan 27, 1972 | Flood | DR-321-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 Miller County stands among 75 counties in Arkansas and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 29 | 37 / 75 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 1 | 61 / 75 |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 7 | 8 / 75 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 0 | — |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 1,358 | 27 / 75 |
| Flood insurance claims | 140 | 20 / 75 |
| Flood insurance paid | $2.7 million | 22 / 75 |
| Disaster declarations | 21 | 54 / 75 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 53 | 47 / 75 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 282 | 31 / 75 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 44 | 58 / 75 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $133 million | 13 / 75 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 12 | 15 / 75 |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 148 | 5 / 75 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 14.4 | 71 / 75 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 0 | — |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 0 | — |
Neighbouring counties
| Bossier Parish LA | 76 | 9 |
| Bowie County TX | 58 | 6 |
| Caddo Parish LA | 111 | 12 |
| Cass County TX | 72 | 9 |
| Hempstead County | 33 | 7 |
| Lafayette County | 18 | 6 |
| Little River County | 23 | 5 |
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 USW00013977.
- 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.