Craighead County, Arkansas
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1955 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
54
Tornado reports
195
Hail reports
93
Floods since 1996
897
All events
46
Deaths
$351.1M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Craighead County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 54 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated
Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
The tornado moved into Craighead county and intensified as it crossed I-555, snapping utility poles along Highway 463 and derailing a train on Main Street just southeast of Bay, AR. The tornado snapped additional wooden utility poles along Highway 158 east of Bay and gained stren…
The tornado produced its first damage north of Bay, damaging storage and outbuildings. The tornado gradually strengthened and destroyed a farm tractor storage building along Highway 135 northwest of Lake City. The tornado possibly weakened slightly as it crossed the St. Francis R…
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 reach…
Tornado F3 Tornado
Tornado F3 Tornado
Straight line winds produced widespread wind damage across Craighead County. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down. Some trees fell onto vehicles, homes and across roads producing damage. One tree fell onto a home in Jonesboro killing the occupant. Shingles were also b…
Heat index readings ranged between 110 and 115 degrees during the afternoon and early evening hours.
Heavy rain produced flash flooding across Northern Craighead County in Eastern Arkansas. County roads 785, 791 and 792 along with Highway 49 were flooded. A sport utility vehicle was pulling into a flooded driveway off county road 785, which had a bridge over a creek, and was swe…
Heavy rain produced flash flooding in northern parts of Jonesboro in Eastern Arkansas. A boy was swept into a drainage ditch near Burke Avenue and Vine Street and was killed. Several homes were flooded along Burke Avenue and North Patrick Street.
A half inch to an inch of ice fell across Craighead County. Widespread power outages occurred. Three shelters were opened. Roads impassable.
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.
Arctic air moved into the Midsouth during the day on December 15th, 2008. Temperatures dropped into lower 20s by the evening hours. Highs on the 16th did not reach above the upper 20s. One person died after he fell on the way to his vehicle during the late evening hours. He went …
Street flooding reported in west Jonesboro with 6 to 8 inches of water covering roadways at the intersection of Matthews and Madison roads. Several roadways across town have been closed by Law Enforcement. Stranded cars in flood water have also been reported. One child was swept …
Heat Heat
The daytime hours maximum heat index was within the triple digits (108F) combined with limited cooling at night with an overnight low in the mid to upper 70s.
Heat Heat
The daytime hours maximum heat index was within the triple digits (103) combined with limited cooling at night with an overnight low in the mid to upper 70s.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Car was stuck in water at gas station in Caraway.
Heat Heat
Maximum heat index measured of 106F.
Hail Hail
Drought Drought
D3 Extreme Drought improved to D2 Severe Drought across the county.
Drought Drought
D4 Exceptional Drought persisted through the month of May.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Power lines downed and a tranformer exploded near Samantha avenue and E Highland Drive.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
ASOS station KJBR measured a gust of 64 mph.
Drought Drought
D4 conditions persisted in western portions of the county while D3 conditions persisted elsewhere for the entire month.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A measured wind gust of 68 mph occurred at the Lawson Road and Culberhouse Street intersection on the south side of Jonesboro.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Straight line winds tore shingles off a roof on Edgemont Circle, and a carport was destroyed on Reno Street in Jonesboro.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Straight line winds knocked down a tree, a utility pole, and caused outbuilding damage on Rogers Chapel Road. A tree was uprooted, and an outbuilding was damaged on CR 910. Some shingles were ripped off a house on CR 910.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Downed trees on Mt. Carmel Drive, off of Southwest Drive.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Drought Drought
D3 Extreme Drought Conditions worsened to D4 Exceptional Drought across the county by the end of the month.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Minimum wind chill of 4F reported.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Minimum wind chill of 0F recorded.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Minimum wind chill value of 0F recorded.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Minimum wind chill of -6F reported.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Minimum wind chill of -1F reported.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Lowest wind chill observation of -10F.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snow and sleet accumulations of 6 to 8 inches.
Drought Drought
Craighead county suffered D2 Severe Drought conditions in early January before worsening to D3 Extreme Drought conditions by the end of the month.
Drought Drought
Severe Drought (D2) Conditions improved to Moderate (D1) Drought Conditions in early October in Craighead County.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) Drought conditions were introduced early on in September. Improving conditions were observed due to beneficial rainfall and D2 conditions were removed at the end of the month.
Heat Heat
Maximum heat index of 108 degrees.
Heat Heat
Maximum heat index of 107 degrees.
Heat Heat
Maximum heat index of 109 degrees.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 26 | 0 |
| 2025 | 52 | 5 |
| 2024 | 30 | 0 |
| 2023 | 27 | 0 |
| 2022 | 49 | 3 |
| 2021 | 26 | 4 |
| 2020 | 29 | 5 |
| 2019 | 40 | 0 |
| 2018 | 34 | 1 |
| 2017 | 44 | 1 |
| 2016 | 16 | 0 |
| 2015 | 20 | 0 |
| 2014 | 11 | 0 |
| 2013 | 12 | 1 |
| 2012 | 22 | 0 |
| 2011 | 32 | 4 |
| 2010 | 29 | 1 |
| 2009 | 34 | 0 |
| 2008 | 50 | 0 |
| 2007 | 18 | 2 |
| 2006 | 14 | 0 |
| 2005 | 9 | 0 |
| 2004 | 11 | 0 |
| 2003 | 21 | 1 |
| 2002 | 17 | 0 |
| 2001 | 13 | 0 |
| 2000 | 16 | 1 |
| 1999 | 17 | 7 |
| 1998 | 8 | 0 |
| 1997 | 15 | 2 |
| 1996 | 8 | 0 |
| 1995 | 11 | 1 |
| 1994 | 13 | 1 |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 | 5 | 0 |
| 1991 | 2 | 0 |
| 1990 | 4 | 0 |
| 1989 | 4 | 0 |
| 1988 | 2 | 0 |
| 1987 | 6 | 0 |
| 1986 | 3 | 0 |
| 1985 | 2 | 0 |
| 1984 | 9 | 1 |
| 1983 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 | 7 | 3 |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 8 | 3 |
| 1977 | 7 | 1 |
| 1976 | 6 | 1 |
| 1975 | 2 | 0 |
| 1974 | 4 | 0 |
| 1973 | 5 | 1 |
| 1972 | 2 | 1 |
| 1971 | 4 | 0 |
| 1970 | 7 | 0 |
| 1969 | 4 | 0 |
| 1968 | 4 | 1 |
| 1966 | 3 | 0 |
| 1965 | 2 | 0 |
| 1964 | 2 | 0 |
| 1962 | 5 | 0 |
| 1961 | 2 | 0 |
| 1960 | 2 | 0 |
| 1957 | 3 | 1 |
| 1955 | 3 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Craighead County, measured to its path.
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