Arkansas Environment & Hazard Risk
1 county rated high or very high risk. 40,581 storm events since 1996, #21 among states.
- Expected yearly loss
- $1.77B
- $588 per person
- Storm events since 1996
- 40,581
- Most often thunderstorm wind
- Flood insurance policies
- 8,993
- $218M in claims paid
- Superfund sites
- 17
- 351 toxic release facilities
Risk by county
FEMA National Risk Index rating, highest risk first
| County | Overall risk | Top hazard | Flood policies | Flood claims paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulaski County | High | Ice storm | 1,526 | $30.36M |
| Washington County | Moderate | Ice storm | 525 | $13.66M |
| Craighead County | Moderate | Ice storm | 725 | $7.92M |
| Garland County | Moderate | Ice storm | 573 | $4.3M |
| Mississippi County | Moderate | Drought | 106 | $2.15M |
| Benton County | Moderate | Ice storm | 439 | $9.24M |
| Sebastian County | Moderate | Ice storm | 290 | $18.99M |
| Faulkner County | Moderate | Ice storm | 420 | $7.71M |
| White County | Moderate | Ice storm | 137 | $3.03M |
| Jefferson County | Moderate | Ice storm | 273 | $14.42M |
| Crittenden County | Moderate | Earthquake | 364 | $12.81M |
| Greene County | Low | Earthquake | 320 | $1.05M |
| Pope County | Low | Ice storm | 72 | $970K |
| Saline County | Low | Ice storm | 237 | $7.65M |
| Lonoke County | Low | Ice storm | 180 | $1.33M |
| St. Francis County | Low | Tornado | 81 | $447K |
| Cleburne County | Low | Ice storm | 134 | $1.23M |
| Poinsett County | Low | Earthquake | 63 | $1.75M |
| Baxter County | Low | Ice storm | 77 | $2.85M |
| Clay County | Low | Drought | 112 | $4.14M |
| Crawford County | Low | Ice storm | 105 | $1.57M |
| Miller County | Low | Hail | 148 | $2.72M |
| Independence County | Low | Ice storm | 60 | $2.31M |
| Sharp County | Low | Ice storm | 57 | $3.6M |
| Lawrence County | Low | Ice storm | 84 | $897K |
| Jackson County | Low | Ice storm | 136 | $3.08M |
| Randolph County | Low | Earthquake | 84 | $9.57M |
| Sevier County | Low | Ice storm | 20 | $774K |
| Cross County | Low | Earthquake | 82 | $2.25M |
| Carroll County | Low | Ice storm | 2 | $9,023 |
| Arkansas County | Low | Earthquake | 91 | $1.43M |
| Boone County | Low | Ice storm | 11 | $485K |
| Phillips County | Low | Earthquake | 123 | $3.77M |
| Yell County | Low | Ice storm | 16 | $147K |
| Johnson County | Low | Ice storm | 46 | $34.11K |
| Conway County | Low | Ice storm | 27 | $279K |
| Hot Spring County | Low | Ice storm | 53 | $294K |
| Ashley County | Low | Ice storm | 55 | $825K |
| Union County | Low | Ice storm | 72 | $2.07M |
| Izard County | Low | Ice storm | 47 | $2.41M |
| Hempstead County | Low | Ice storm | 6 | $618K |
| Ouachita County | Low | Ice storm | 50 | $1.52M |
| Fulton County | Low | Ice storm | 13 | $1.66M |
| Van Buren County | Low | Ice storm | 18 | $588K |
| Stone County | Low | Ice storm | 4 | $197K |
| Franklin County | Low | Ice storm | 11 | $716K |
| Howard County | Low | Ice storm | 17 | $162K |
| Logan County | Low | Ice storm | 13 | $78.18K |
| Marion County | Low | Ice storm | 11 | $1.11M |
| Polk County | Low | Ice storm | 11 | $192K |
| Madison County | Low | Ice storm | 5 | $112K |
| Little River County | Low | Ice storm | 4 | $81.5K |
| Chicot County | Low | Drought | 153 | $4.2M |
| Woodruff County | Very Low | Ice storm | 29 | $1.66M |
| Columbia County | Very Low | Ice storm | 5 | $89.57K |
| Prairie County | Very Low | Earthquake | 35 | $2.84M |
| Clark County | Very Low | Lightning | 45 | $891K |
| Lee County | Very Low | Earthquake | 62 | $1.28M |
| Monroe County | Very Low | Earthquake | 104 | $4.36M |
| Drew County | Very Low | Earthquake | 32 | $671K |
| Lafayette County | Very Low | Ice storm | 1 | $102K |
| Desha County | Very Low | Earthquake | 200 | $3.61M |
| Bradley County | Very Low | Ice storm | 17 | $1.41M |
| Montgomery County | Very Low | Ice storm | 43 | $1.43M |
| Nevada County | Very Low | Ice storm | 5 | $5,209 |
| Lincoln County | Very Low | Drought | 42 | $701K |
| Perry County | Very Low | Ice storm | 29 | $1.13M |
| Searcy County | Very Low | Ice storm | - | - |
| Scott County | Very Low | Ice storm | 9 | $1.02M |
| Pike County | Very Low | Ice storm | 22 | $377K |
| Newton County | Very Low | Lightning | - | $119K |
| Grant County | Very Low | Ice storm | 17 | $145K |
| Dallas County | Very Low | Ice storm | 3 | $7,084 |
| Cleveland County | Very Low | Ice storm | - | $58.3K |
| Calhoun County | Very Low | Ice storm | 4 | $148K |
Costliest hazards
Expected annual loss in Arkansas, all counties combined
- Earthquake$331M/yr · 1 county high
- Tornado$288M/yr · 10 counties high
- Heat wave$145M/yr · 1 county high
- Ice storm$129M/yr · 62 counties high
- Cold wave$76.34M/yr · 1 county high
- Strong wind$55.18M/yr · 10 counties high
- Hail$31.54M/yr · 4 counties high
- Lightning$30.16M/yr · 14 counties high
- Drought$26.82M/yr · 4 counties high
- Wildfire$13.47M/yr
Storm events by type
Since 1996: 378 deaths, $5.66B in property and crop damage
- Thunderstorm Wind12,224 · 30 deaths
- Hail9,255
- Flash Flood3,792 · 68 deaths
- Winter Weather2,176 · 17 deaths
- Flood1,901 · 24 deaths
- Heat1,899 · 33 deaths
- Drought1,849
- Winter Storm1,569 · 10 deaths
- Tornado1,563 · 132 deaths
- Excessive Heat921 · 7 deaths
- Heavy Rain488 · 7 deaths
- Heavy Snow471
Events per year
Most damaging storms
Since 2017, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage
- TornadoEF3, 12.53 mi path, 600 yd wide03/28/2020
Jonesboro, Craighead County
22 injured, $300M damage
What happened
This tornado developed just north of I-555 and west of Caraway Road. The tornado quickly intensified and caused EF2 damage near the intersection of Caraway Rd. and Race St. The tornado weakened slightly, but produced EF2 damage again at the Mall at Turtle Creek. The tornado reached its most intense stage as it approached and moved across the Jonesboro Airport. Several large industrial buildings were severely damaged. As the tornado moved through residential areas northeast of the airport, it caused EF2 to isolated EF3 damage to homes. The tornado began weakening after it crossed Highway 49 northeast of Jonesboro, with the final damage observed to the northeast of Brookland. Peak winds were estimated at 150 mph.
- TornadoEF3, 26.94 mi path, 1,600 yd wide03/31/2023
Mc Manus, Cross County
4 deaths, 26 injured, $150M damage
What happened
NWS meteorologists determined an EF-3 tornado touched down in western Cross County at 431 PM CDT on March 31 on County Road 537, just south of Highway 284. The tornado tracked to the east-northeast towards Wynne, AR where it crossed Highway 284 multiple times. EF-2 damage was observed north of Ellis Chapel and McElroy. Just east northeast of McElroy, significant EF-2 damage to the sewage treatment plant was noted where an 80-yard-long shed with a sturdy roofing structure of metal failed and became lofted. The roofing wadded up and destroyed two cinder block buildings before landing 100 yards away. The tornado strengthened to an EF-3 as it moved into the western section of Wynne, AR. The tornado then ravaged the center of Wynne, including the Wynne High School. Several one and two-family residences in Wynne were partially to completely destroyed. The tornado weakened as it moved away from Wynne and traveled to the north of Parkin, AR where EF-2 damage was observed. The tornado then crossed into Crittenden County. Peak winds in Cross County were estimated at 150 mph.
- TornadoEF3, 25.73 mi path, 800 yd wide03/31/2023
Martindale, Pulaski County
1 death, 54 injured, $85.71M damage
What happened
This tornado started just southwest of the Colonel |Glenn and Marsh Road intersection in Martindale, west of Marsh road, |uprooting trees and ripping a portion of a roof off an outbuilding. |The tornado then continued northeast across a forested area, |uprooting several more trees before crossing into a neighborhood off |Capitol Hill Boulevard near Hartford and Denver Streets. More |trees were uprooted as it moved northeast towards Kanis Road. ||The tornado rapidly intensified as it passed northeast over Chenal |Parkway, severely damaging several apartment buildings off of Napa |Valley Drive. The most severe residential damage occurred at these |apartments, and along and west of North Shackleford Road along |Jamestown Drive and Cobble Hill Road. Most exterior walls had |collapsed on several homes, leaving just some interior walls |standing.||The tornado then crossed Interstate 430 near the North Rodney Parham Road |interchange, damaging a shopping center and a Kroger. Between Interstate 430 |and Cantrell Road, many homes and apartments were severely damage, |with roofs ripped off and hundreds of trees uprooted. The tornado |crossed Cantrell Road near Foxtrot Road, damaging more...
- TornadoEF2, 7.4 mi path, 3,000 yd wide05/26/2024
Bentonville Muni Arp, Benton County
$80M damage
What happened
This tornado developed along SE Walton Blvd, west of SE Dodson Road. It quickly widened as it crossed I-49 moving to the southeast. The tornado continued to widen as it turned east, then east-northeast, crossing S Dixieland Road and Highway 94 at over 1.5 miles wide. It moved northeast after crossing N Arkansas Street, and dissipated in the hilly terrain east of Grambling Road. Nearly 600 homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed by this tornado, and thousands of trees were snapped or uprooted. Many power poles were snapped. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 115 to 125 mph.
- Winter Weather11/14/2018
Pulaski
4 deaths, 2 injured
What happened
The observer reported 0.8 inches of snow in the last 24 hours ending at 7 am on 11/15/18 3 miles north of North Little Rock. There were 4 deaths and 2 injuries due to auto accidents on slick roads.
- TornadoEF2, 12.1 mi path, 2,000 yd wide05/26/2024
Eros, Marion County
3 deaths
What happened
The Boone-Marion County tornado continued into Marion County from Boone County, paralleling just south of US Highway 62, near Pyatt.|Marion County EM reported three fatalities from this tornado.|Extensive tree damage was observed across several county roads,|and a few mobile homes were tossed and destroyed on Marion County|Road 4010. After crossing Marion County Road 4010, the tornado|path width increased to its widest point, and likely maintained a|maximum path width of around 2000 yards for a few miles, via|satellite imagery, as it moved through the Crooked Creek Valley.|Extensive tree damage was observed along and around Crooked|Creek, and moderate damage to the second level of a tin home was|found as well. The tornado kept moving northeast, snapping most|trees in its path as it crossed Crooked Creek multiple times and|eventually, Marion County Road 4006, where it moved over the Snow|Access Campground Area. The tornado then crossed US Highway|62 again near the small municipality of Snow, causing minor to|moderate damage to a few homes around the area. As the tornado|crossed US Highway 62, the path width began to decrease, and it|began moving more eastward. Mainly tree damage...
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Storms whose track crossed the state, newest first
- Hurricane Francine (2024)09/09/2024 · Landfall: LA · 972 mbCategory 2104 mph peak
- Hurricane Beryl (2024)06/28/2024 · Landfall: TX · 932 mbCategory 5167 mph peak
- Hurricane Laura (2020)08/20/2020 · Landfall: LA · 937 mbCategory 4150 mph peak
- Tropical Storm Cristobal (2020)06/02/2020 · Landfall: LA · 982 mbTropical storm58 mph peak
- Hurricane Barry (2019)07/10/2019 · Landfall: LA · 993 mbCategory 175 mph peak
- Tropical Storm Gordon (2018)09/03/2018 · Landfall: FL, MS · 996 mbTropical storm69 mph peak
- Hurricane Harvey (2017)08/16/2017 · Landfall: TX, LA · 937 mbCategory 4132 mph peak
- Tropical Storm Cindy (2017)06/20/2017 · Landfall: LA · 991 mbTropical storm58 mph peak
- Tropical Storm Bill (2015)06/16/2015 · Landfall: TX · 997 mbTropical storm58 mph peak
- Hurricane Isaac (2012)08/20/2012 · Landfall: LA · 965 mbCategory 181 mph peak
Flood insurance
National Flood Insurance Program policies and claims
8,993 homes in Arkansas have flood insurance, about 0.8% of residential buildings. In high-risk flood zones, 6,825 of 40,426 homes (17%) are insured.
- Mid-spring storms$29.47M · 1,076 claims
- Late spring severe storms$25.63M · 575 claims
- Central U.S. April Flooding$11.71M · 220 claims
- Flooding$7.13M · 823 claims
- March storm$6.57M · 228 claims
- Early winter storms$5.93M · 217 claims
Drinking water
658 community water systems serve about 3,068,335 people
Since 2021, 165 systems reported 801 health-based violations. 139 systems had a violation of any kind still open at last report. These had the most:
- Leisure Hills Mobile Home ParkServes 113 · Groundwater · Local government39 health violations+18 monitoring or reporting
- Hosanna Heights WaterServes 52 · Groundwater · Local government36 health violations+140 monitoring or reporting
- Pickens WaterworksServes 49 · Groundwater · Local government31 health violations+62 monitoring or reporting
- Delight WaterworksServes 1,577 · Purchased surface water · Local government29 health violations+20 monitoring or reporting
- Clarendon WaterworksServes 1,320 · Groundwater · Local government29 health violations+17 monitoring or reporting
- Antoine WaterworksServes 563 · Groundwater · Local government29 health violations+23 monitoring or reporting
- Compton WaterworksServes 1,038 · Purchased surface water · Local government24 health violations+13 monitoring or reporting
- Danville WaterworksServes 2,810 · Surface water · Local government23 health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
Select a county above to see every system that serves it.
Climate in the largest cities
1991-2020 normals from the nearest NOAA weather station
| City | July high | Jan low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | 92°F | 31°F | 50.4 in | 3.8 in |
| Fayetteville | 89°F | 27°F | 46.3 in | - |
| Fort Smith | 94°F | 30°F | 47.3 in | 2.9 in |
| Jonesboro | 91°F | 31°F | 48.5 in | - |
| Rogers | 89°F | 24°F | 47.3 in | 9.5 in |
| Conway | 92°F | 27°F | 51.2 in | 2.3 in |
| Pine Bluff | 92°F | 33°F | 53.6 in | 2.5 in |
| Hot Springs | 93°F | 32°F | 58.0 in | 1.1 in |
Pollution sites
17 Superfund sites and 351 toxic release facilities
Superfund sites
- Arkwood, Inc.Final NPL Site, Omaha
- Cedar Chemical CorporationFinal NPL Site, West Helena
- Macmillan Ring Free OilFinal NPL Site, Norphlet
- Mid-South Wood ProductsFinal NPL Site, Mena
- Mountain Pine Pressure TreatingFinal NPL Site, Plainview
- Old Midland ProductsFinal NPL Site, Ola/Birta
- Ouachita Nevada Wood TreaterFinal NPL Site, Reader
- Popile, Inc.Final NPL Site, El Dorado
Largest toxic releases
- Elemental Environmental Solutions LLC39.8 million lbs, Arkadelphia
- Clean Harbors El Dorado LLC4.4 million lbs, El Dorado
- Suzano Packaging3.1 million lbs, Pine Bluff
- Domtar A.w. LLC Ashdown Mill2.5 million lbs, Ashdown
- Viskase Cos Inc1.9 million lbs, Osceola
- Tyson Poultry Inc.1.7 million lbs, Clarksville
- US Vanadium LLC1.6 million lbs, Hot Springs
- Green Bay Packaging Inc. Arkansas Kraft Div1.3 million lbs, Morrilton
Facilities in Arkansas reported 76.0 million lbs of toxic releases in 2024, 14.5 million lbs of it into the air.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the biggest natural hazard in Arkansas?
- By expected annual loss, earthquake costs the most in Arkansas ($331M a year), according to FEMA's National Risk Index.
- How many storms hit Arkansas each year?
- NOAA recorded 40,581 storm events in Arkansas since 1996, about 1,309 a year. The most common type is thunderstorm wind.
- How many homes in Arkansas have flood insurance?
- 8,993 residential flood insurance policies are in force in Arkansas. Since 1978 the National Flood Insurance Program has paid $218M on 10,065 claims here.
- How many Superfund sites are in Arkansas?
- Arkansas has 17 Superfund sites on or deleted from EPA's National Priorities List.
Source: FEMA, NOAA, EPA · Last updated 08/01/2026 · Storm counts include events in forecast zones that touch each county. This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.