Arkansas Storm Data & Recent Severe Weather History

Published 2026-07-15 · Updated 2026-07-15

StormAuditor provides in-depth historical weather data for Arkansas, helping you understand past severe weather events like hail, wind, and tornadoes.

Arkansas Storm Data & Recent Major Storm Days

Arkansas, located in a region often referred to as 'Tornado Alley' or 'Dixie Alley,' experiences a wide range of severe weather, including significant hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes. Understanding the history of these events is crucial for homeowners, contractors, and insurance professionals assessing potential property damage. StormAuditor synthesizes vast amounts of historical storm data to provide detailed insights into past severe weather occurrences across the state.

What are "Major Storm Days" in Arkansas?

Major storm days in Arkansas are characterized by widespread severe weather activity, often including multiple reports of large hail (typically 1.00 inch, or quarter-sized, or larger), damaging wind gusts (58 mph or higher), and sometimes tornadoes. These events can affect large areas, leading to significant property damage.

How StormAuditor Measures & Reports Arkansas Storms

StormAuditor utilizes a robust methodology to provide an accurate historical weather picture. Our SAHE-2 (Storm Auditor Hail Estimate v2) system processes radar-derived MESH (Maximum Estimated Size of Hail) swaths, along with human-observed SPC storm reports and NWS severe thunderstorm warnings, to estimate hail sizes at specific property locations. We also employ SAWE-2.9 (Storm Auditor Wind Estimate v2.9), which analyzes station-consistent background wind fields, ASOS/AWOS measured gusts, and NWS LSRs (Local Storm Reports) to develop localized wind speed estimates.

We provide estimates based on the best available data, indicating whether a property was located within a warning polygon or hail swath, or if severe weather occurred nearby. For more details, see our comprehensive guides on /methodology/hail and /methodology/wind.

Recent Notable Storm Days in Arkansas

Based on recent storm reports, Arkansas has experienced various severe weather events. Here are some examples of recent activity, as recorded by storm spotters and summarized in the Storm Prediction Center's reports:

  • July 11, 2026 — TSTM WND DMG in Trumann, 2 E Jonesboro, 2 WNW Madison, 2 W Egypt, Black Rock, Tuckerman, Grays, Bald Knob, Heber Springs, 4 SE Sugar Loaf Recreat, Goshen, and 0.75" HAIL 4 SE Walcott
  • July 9, 2026 — TSTM WND DMG in Delaplaine and 1 SSE Pine Bluff
  • July 8, 2026 — TSTM WND DMG in Eudora, Jennie, and 9 S Hamburg
  • July 7, 2026 — TSTM WND DMG in 3 W Cherry Valley

These examples illustrate the varied nature of severe weather in Arkansas, from damaging thunderstorm winds to hail reports. While 0.75-inch hail (penny-sized) was formerly considered severe, the National Weather Service revised its standard in 2010; hail must now be 1.00 inch (quarter-sized) or larger to meet severe thunderstorm criteria. However, smaller hail can still cause damage, especially to older or softer roofing materials.

How to Research a Date of Loss in Arkansas

When investigating potential property damage due to weather, performing date-of-loss research is a critical first step. StormAuditor tools are designed to streamline this process for any Arkansas address:

1. Start with the Address Lookup: Input your specific Arkansas address into our /address-lookup tool. This will generate a property-level historical weather report showing severe hail, wind, and NOAA warnings that impacted or were near the location.

2. Explore Date-of-Loss Weather Research: If you have a specific date in mind, our /date-of-loss-weather-research hub provides resources for detailed investigation.

3. Review Daily Weather Conditions: For a general overview of weather on a particular day, including peak wind gusts, precipitation, and temperature, use our /weather-on-this-date feature.

Practical Guidance for Arkansas Properties

For property owners, contractors, and insurance adjusters in Arkansas, understanding past storm events is key. Knowing if and when severe hail (e.g., 1.00" quarter-sized or larger) or damaging winds (58 mph+) affected a location provides crucial context for damage assessments. For example, asphalt shingles typically begin to show functional hail damage from 1.00" to 1.25" impacts, while wind uplift can start causing tab creasing and lifting between 55-70 mph gusts.

StormAuditor's reports provide data to inform your decisions, but always remember that a qualified, on-site inspection is essential to determine the exact cause and extent of any property damage.

Limitations

While StormAuditor provides comprehensive historical weather data, it's important to understand the inherent limitations of any weather data platform. Radar-based hail estimates, like MESH, can sometimes under-estimate wet hail or over-estimate in intense reflectivity cores. Similarly, ground-based wind observations from weather stations, although highly accurate, are sparsely spaced and may not capture every localized microburst or isolated high gust between stations. Our reports provide estimates based on the available data; they are not measurements at your specific property and do not indicate that damage definitely occurred. Warning polygons, for instance, define an area and time window where severe weather was possible, but not every point within the polygon experienced the peak conditions. StormAuditor provides weather insights; it does not offer legal, insurance, or engineering advice, nor can it provide causation for damage.

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FAQ

When was the last major hail storm in Arkansas?

Based on recent reports, 0.75-inch hail was reported on July 11, 2026, southeast of Walcott. For quarter-sized (1.00") hail or larger, you would need to consult a specific property report using our /address-lookup.

How do I find storm history for my Arkansas address?

Use StormAuditor's /address-lookup tool. Enter your specific address to generate a detailed historical weather report for that location, including hail estimates, wind gusts, and past warnings.

What size hail is considered severe in Arkansas by the NWS?

The National Weather Service defines severe hail as having a diameter of 1.00 inch (quarter-sized) or larger. However, smaller hail can still cause property damage, especially to certain roofing materials.

Can StormAuditor tell me if my roof was damaged by a storm?

StormAuditor provides detailed historical weather data, including hail size estimates and wind speeds at your location. This data can help inform your understanding of past events, but only a qualified, on-site inspector can determine if your roof sustained damage and its cause.

What kind of wind speeds cause damage to roofs?

Wind gusts of 58 mph or higher are considered severe by the NWS. For roofing, wind uplift on asphalt shingles can cause tab creasing and lifting between 55-70 mph gusts, with widespread blow-off becoming more common above 75-85 mph for older shingles.

Where can I learn more about StormAuditor's data?

Detailed explanations of our methodologies for hail and wind can be found on our /methodology/hail and /methodology/wind pages. A full list of our data sources is at /data-sources.