Tornadoes in Craighead County
The Storm Prediction Center records 62 tornadoes whose paths touched Craighead County, Arkansas between 1952 and 2025. They killed 48 people and injured 804. The busiest month is April, with 17 tornadoes. The strongest was an F4 on 15 May 1968. The most recent was on 16 May 2025.
- 62tornadoes
- 48deaths
- 804injuries
- 877per 10,000 sq mi of land
A tornado that crossed several counties counts in each one, so county counts add up to more than the state's.
How strong were the tornadoes in Craighead County?
| Rating | Tornadoes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| F0 / EF0 | 24 | 39% |
| F1 / EF1 | 16 | 26% |
| F2 / EF2 | 10 | 16% |
| F3 / EF3 | 9 | 15% |
| F4 / EF4 | 3 | 5% |
| F5 / EF5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown rating | 0 | 0% |
Craighead County tornadoes over time
The 2020s only run to 2025, so that bar is for a shorter period. The record starts in 1950.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 5 |
| 1960s | 2 |
| 1970s | 7 |
| 1980s | 4 |
| 1990s | 12 |
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 9 |
| 2020s | 18 |
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 7 |
| Feb | 1 |
| Mar | 11 |
| Apr | 17 |
| May | 9 |
| Jun | 0 |
| Jul | 2 |
| Aug | 6 |
| Sep | 1 |
| Oct | 1 |
| Nov | 0 |
| Dec | 7 |
Records for Craighead County
- Deadliest and Strongest: Jonesboro, Arkansas tornado15 May 1968, F4, 35 deaths, 364 injuries, 20.9 miles long
- Longest path: Arkansas tornado20 March 1955, F2, 1 injury, 89.4 miles long
- Most recent: Arkansas tornado16 May 2025, EF1, 7.1 miles long
Notable tornadoes in Craighead County
- Jonesboro, Arkansas tornado15 May 1968, F4, 35 deaths, 364 injuries, 20.9 miles long
- Bay, Arkansas tornado10 December 2021, EF4, 8 deaths, 14 injuries, 81.2 miles long
- Jonesboro, Arkansas tornado26 May 1973, F4, 3 deaths, 289 injuries, 54.8 miles long
- Trumann, Arkansas tornado21 March 1952, F3, 1 death, 57 injuries, 39.7 miles long
Many of these tornadoes killed or injured people. The numbers are the official record's, and they may be revised.