Arkansas Annual Rainfall and Climate Data, see below for individual cities 

 Arkansas average annual precipitation map

Arkansas city precipitation totals

City

Avg Annual Precip

Avg Annual Snow

 Avg. # days of Precip Avg # thunderstorm days Avg # hail days Avg # severe thunderstorm watches per year Avg # tornado watches per year # of tornadoes reported in county, 1960-2010
Fort Smith 43.87 6.2 97 59 3 10 15 23
Little Rock 50.93 5.2 105 57 1 9 12 73
Fayetteville 45.00 13.5 104 56 3 10 17 23
Jonesboro 47.50 6.2 97 53 1 10 11 28
  • Arkansas Precipitation Average - 50.78", 17th wettest in the U.S.
    Arkansas Tornado Average - 19.4 per year, 16th most in the U.S.
    Largest reported Tornado in Arkansas from 1950-2011, 4/25/2011 - 2,900 yards / 1.64 miles wide
  • Date with highest number of reported Tornadoes in Arkansas from 1950-2011, January  21st - 52 tornadoes
    Average time of occurrence of reported Tornadoes in Arkansas from 1950-2011 - 3:45 pm
  • Arkansas Annual Lightning Density - 15.2 flashes per square mile - 5th highest in U.S.
  • Record Driest year in Arkansas from 1895-2012 - 1963, avg precipitation 32.35 inches 
  • Record Wettest year in Arkansas from 1895-2012 - 1975, avg precipitation 72.70 inches


Arkansas Precipitation Data 

  • Driest location ranked by lowest annual average precipitation: Omaha, northern Arkansas, 40.40"
  • Wettest location ranked by highest annual average precipitation: Big Fork, western Arkansas, 62.65"
  • Snowiest location ranked by highest annual average snowfall: Gravette northwestern Arkansas, 16.2"
  • State precipitation record for 24 hours - Big Fork, western Arkansas, 12/3/1982, 14.05" 
  • State precipitation record for 1 year - New Hope, southwestern Arkansas, 1957, 98.55" 
  • State snowfall record for 24 hours - Fort Smith, western Arkansas, 1/22/1918, 25.0"
  • State snow record for 1 season - Hardy, northeastern Arkansas, 1917-1918, 61.0"
  • During 2009, Little Rock experienced its wettest year ever by receiving 81.79" of precipitation. Normal
    annual rainfall is 50.93"
  • Arkansas encountered only five tornadoes during the summer of 2005, but on the afternoon November, 27, 2005 
    severe storms produced twenty-four tornadoes in northern and central Arkansas. There were two F3 tornadoes 
    (158-206 mph winds)
  • During the afternoon and evening of January 21, 1999, the state of Arkansas experienced its largest tornado outbreak
    Over 30 tornadoes were reported across the state, the strongest tornadoes rated at F3 on the Fujita Scale. Baseball to
    grapefruit-sized hail was also reported at several locations.
  • Arkansas temperature averages and extremes, precipitation and temperature data for all U.S. states and interesting 
    Top 10 U.S. climate extremes

Data sources: National Climatic Data Center, Severe thunderstorm / tornado watch data period is 1999 - 2008, NOAA Storm Prediction Center, Tornado climate data -
NOAA Storm Prediction Center, State lightning flash density average - 1997-2011, Vaisala

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