Polk County, Arkansas
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1950 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
37
Tornado reports
211
Hail reports
69
Floods since 1996
678
All events
4
Deaths
$199.4M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Polk County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 37 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.
A tornado began to the west-southwest of Mena, then tracked through the northwest side of Mena. According to the Polk County Judge, 165 houses were destroyed, 701 houses had major damage, and more than 11,000 trees were blown down. The Polk County Courthouse, county jail, Mena Ci…
An F2 tornado touched down in Polk County and traveled approximately 20 miles before it lifted. Even though the tornado was not on the ground continuously, it still managed to cause extensive damage to several towns along its path. The tornado initially touched down approximately…
Heavy freezing rain created ice storm conditions in Polk County, downing trees and power lines (utility company and Arkansas Forestry Commission). Some sleet and snow fell as well. Half an inch of ice accrued on trees and power lines at Mena (cooperative observer).
Widespread flash flooding occurred in Polk County. U.S. 71 was closed from Mena to the Scott County line. Arkansas 8 and Arkansas 370 were flooded in the eastern part of the county. A landslide closed Arkansas 88 a few miles west of Mena. A number of county roads were impassable;…
The sheriff's office reported that 1/4 inch of ice had accumulated by 6:00 AM on the 27th.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Numerous trees were blown down across a large area of Polk County due to severe winds via the Polk County emergency manager.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree was blown down onto Highway 270 in the town of Eagleton.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
High water covered multiple roads and parking lots within Queen Wilhelmina State Park.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Water completely covered the road at several locations along Highway 71 in Hatfield.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
High water flowed across the road in multiple locations in the town of Cove as water overwhelmed both ditches and small creeks.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A chicken house near Grannis sustained significant wind damage.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Chicken coops were damaged due to strong thunderstorm winds.
Hail Hail
Half-dollar sized hail fell in the town of Mena via mPING.
Hail Hail
Ping-pong ball sized hail fell in the community of Mena, report via mPING.
Hail Hail
Ping-pong ball sized hail fell in the town of Mena, report via mPING.
Hail Hail
Tennis-ball sized hail fell near the town of Acorn, report via mPING.
Hail Hail
Quarter-sized hail fell near the community of Ink, report via mPING.
Hail Hail
Golf-ball sized hail fell in the town of Hatfield.
Hail Hail
Ping-pong ball sized hail fell in the community of Rocky, report via mPING.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
A 24 hour rainfall total of 3.40 inches was measured at Mena.
Hail Hail
A report via mPING of quarter-sized hail that fell in Mena.
Hail Hail
A report via mPING of quarter-sized hail near Ink.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
The CoCorahs site at Mena received a measured amount of 4.20 inches of total rainfall within the previous 24 hour period.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
The Mena Co-Op observer measured 4.42 inches of total rainfall in a 24 hour period ending at 7:45 AM CST.
Hail Hail
The report was received via mPING.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Flash flooding was observed in multiple areas across the county, including water over multiple roadways.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Rainfall was measured at 3.20 in Mena.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Multiple reports, via emergency manager and the public, of water over Arkansas Highway 8 in several spots between Lake Wilhelmina and just west of the city of Mena.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
This brief tornado developed along a strong rear flank downdraft surge that swept across areas immediately southeast of Wickes. Several chicken houses sustained varying degrees of damage, from roof panels stripped off most structures, to walls collapsed on at least one structure.…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple trees and powerlines were blown down in Wickes.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple trees and powerlines blown down in Cherry Hill.
Hail Hail
A trained spotter reported quarter size hail on the south side of Mena.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees and large limbs were down in and near Mena. The time was estimated from radar.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
A report was received of 4.07 inches of rain fell since 8 pm CST, and of that, 1.66 inches fell from 11pm through 12 am CST, at Board Camp Creek near Nunley.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
This report corrects the source from the previous report from the Mena Intermountain Municipal Airport. The AWOS reported 3.63 inches of rain fell since 855 pm CST and of that, 1.36 inches fell in 20 minutes from 1035 to 1055 pm CST.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree fell on a mobile home.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree was blown down on U.S. Hwy. 71 north of Mena.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Queen Wilhelmina State Park received 4.0 inches of measured snow.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
The Forest Service reported 2.50 inches of sleet at Queen Wilhelmina State Park.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
The public reported 0.50 inches of freezing rain at Ouachita Township.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
An estimated 2.0 inches of sleet accumulated at Queen Wilhelmina State Park. An estimated 0.13 of an inch of ice accruals, due to freezing rain, occurred at Big Fork via the COOP observer.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snow was measured to a depth of 1.0 inch at Mena.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Street flooding was reported in the city of Mena.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees were reported down on county roads around Mena.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
A COOP observer measured 2.7 near Mena at 34.48N, -93.98W.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
A COOP observer measured 7.5 inches of snow in Mena at 34.49N, -93.97W.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
A COOP Observer measured 0.5 of snow at 34.47N, -93.96W.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Park staff at Queen Wilhelmina State Park estimated 3.0 inches of snow.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 0 |
| 2024 | 3 | 0 |
| 2023 | 6 | 0 |
| 2022 | 14 | 1 |
| 2021 | 7 | 0 |
| 2020 | 32 | 0 |
| 2019 | 15 | 0 |
| 2018 | 13 | 0 |
| 2017 | 4 | 0 |
| 2016 | 17 | 0 |
| 2015 | 19 | 0 |
| 2014 | 30 | 1 |
| 2013 | 31 | 3 |
| 2012 | 29 | 0 |
| 2011 | 56 | 3 |
| 2010 | 20 | 0 |
| 2009 | 24 | 2 |
| 2008 | 34 | 3 |
| 2007 | 18 | 0 |
| 2006 | 25 | 1 |
| 2005 | 14 | 1 |
| 2004 | 22 | 2 |
| 2003 | 14 | 1 |
| 2002 | 7 | 0 |
| 2001 | 22 | 0 |
| 2000 | 14 | 0 |
| 1999 | 24 | 3 |
| 1998 | 29 | 4 |
| 1997 | 9 | 0 |
| 1996 | 17 | 0 |
| 1995 | 16 | 0 |
| 1994 | 6 | 0 |
| 1993 | 8 | 1 |
| 1992 | 6 | 0 |
| 1991 | 4 | 2 |
| 1990 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 | 3 | 0 |
| 1988 | 5 | 0 |
| 1986 | 1 | 0 |
| 1985 | 2 | 0 |
| 1984 | 7 | 0 |
| 1983 | 3 | 0 |
| 1982 | 4 | 1 |
| 1981 | 5 | 1 |
| 1979 | 1 | 1 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 | 4 | 1 |
| 1975 | 2 | 1 |
| 1973 | 2 | 0 |
| 1971 | 4 | 1 |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 |
| 1961 | 2 | 1 |
| 1959 | 1 | 0 |
| 1957 | 2 | 0 |
| 1952 | 1 | 1 |
| 1950 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Polk County, measured to its path.
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