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Fort Smith hail storm history

Sebastian County·NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database·~75-day publication lag

Fort Smith, located in Sebastian County along the Arkansas–Oklahoma border, sits in a geographic corridor that regularly experiences hail damage. The city's position in the Arkansas River valley places it directly in the path of severe thunderstorms tracking northeast from the Southern Plains, making hail events a documented hazard for homeowners and property owners in the region.

Events ≥1" (10yr)
111
Significant ≥1.5" (10yr)
45
Avg per year (10yr)
11.1
Largest recorded
3"
Most recent
Sep 22, 2025
Total records
149
NOAA storm history
events (10 yr)111
≥1.5" significant45
peak year (25)2022
Free inspection estimate

Check if your roof was damaged by recent hail

Type of damage

How urgent?

Hail in Sebastian County peaks from April through June, with secondary risk during March and July. This pattern reflects the collision of warm, moist Gulf air with dry lines advancing from western Oklahoma and Texas—conditions that produce supercell thunderstorms capable of large hail. The river valley terrain channels these storms through the Fort Smith area, concentrating storm activity during the spring and early summer months.

Annual frequency — last 10 years

2025
16
2024
5
2023
20
2022
25
2021
2
2020
12
2019
3
2018
10
2017
12
2016
6
≥2.0" severe≥1.5" significant≥1.0" marginal

When hail hits — monthly pattern

Avg events per month · all years · NOAA data

Jan2
Feb2
Mar27
Apr57
May35
Jun5
Jul3
Aug4
Sep4
Oct9
Nov1
Dec0

All recorded hail events

Of 149 recorded events, 45 (30%) reached 1.5" or larger — the threshold for likely functional damage on standard asphalt shingles.

Sep 22, 20251"quarter
Sep 17, 20250.75"penny
Aug 19, 20250.75"penny
Aug 12, 20250.75"penny
Jun 14, 20251.25"half dollar

Half dollar size hail damaged homes and vehicles.

Quarter size hail was reported in Bonanza.

Ping pong ball size hail damaged homes and vehicles.

May 15, 20251.25"half dollar

Half dollar size hail damaged homes and vehicles.

May 8, 20251.75"golf ball

Golf ball size hail damaged homes, businesses, and vehicles.

Half dollar size hail damaged homes and vehicles.

May 24, 20240.75"penny
May 7, 20240.75"penny
Mar 15, 20241"quarter
Mar 5, 20241"quarter

Half dollar size hail damaged vehicles and homes.

Apr 21, 20230.75"penny
Apr 20, 20230.75"penny

Ping pong ball size hail damaged vehicles and homes.

Oct 16, 20220.75"penny

Hail up to ping pong ball size damaged homes and vehicles.

May 14, 20221.25"half dollar

Hail up to half dollar size damaged vehicles and businesses, and fell for at least 15 minutes.

May 3, 20220.88"penny
May 2, 20221.75"golf ball

Golf ball size hail damaged homes and vehicles.

Quarter to half dollar sized hail was reported at Caulksville and was relayed by the Franklin county…

Mar 7, 20221"quarter
May 7, 20211"quarter

Quarter size hail was reported on the east side of Van Buren.

Apr 29, 20211"quarter

Quarter size hail was reported in Bonanza.

Aug 30, 20201.5"ping pong ball

Ping pong ball size hail damaged vehicles, businesses, and homes.

Aug 29, 20201.75"golf ball

Golf ball sized hail was reported at the intersection of Highways 23 and 71.

Jun 3, 20201"quarter

Quarter size hail was reported near Mansfield.

May 15, 20201"quarter
Apr 22, 20201.75"golf ball

Golfball size hail damaged vehicles and the roofs of homes.

Apr 12, 20201.5"ping pong ball

Ping pong ball size hail damaged vehicles.

Mar 25, 20191.75"golf ball
Mar 24, 20190.75"penny
Jun 24, 20181"quarter
Apr 13, 20181"quarter

Large hail up to golfball size covered the ground several inches deep.

Large hail up to golfball size covered the ground several inches deep.

Nov 6, 20171.5"ping pong ball
May 19, 20170.88"penny
May 11, 20171.25"half dollar
May 3, 20170.75"penny

Report was relayed by Franklin County OEM. Time is based off of radar.

May 25, 20160.88"penny
May 12, 20161"quarter

Tennis ball size hail broke windows, damaged the roofs of homes and businesses, and damaged vehicles…

Mar 24, 20161"quarter
Mar 13, 20160.75"penny
Data source

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information Storm Events Database. Publication lag is approximately 75 days — current-year events may be incomplete.

NOAA Storm Events Database ↗