Arkansas Shatters 30-Year Record With 128 Straight Days of Zero Severe Weather — Longest Calm Stretch Since 1996 and Still Climbing

ARKANSAS — In a stunning and highly unusual weather milestone, Arkansas is now experiencing its longest streak with zero severe weather reports in at least 30 years, marking an unprecedented 128 consecutive days without a single tornado, damaging wind, or hail report.

According to storm report data dating back to 1996, the current stretch — which began after October 18, 2025 — has officially broken the previous record and continues to grow.

The last recorded severe weather report in Arkansas occurred on October 18, 2025. Since then, not one tornado, severe wind event, or large hail report has been logged statewide.

For a state that typically sees frequent severe weather during fall, winter transitions, and early spring setups, this level of quiet is exceptionally rare.

128 Days and Counting — A Record-Breaking Calm

The new record now stands at:

• 128 consecutive days
• No tornado reports
• No severe wind reports
• No hail reports
• Ongoing streak (still active)

This surpasses the previous modern-era record by 27 days, making it the longest confirmed stretch with zero severe reports since at least 1996.

The streak officially ranks #1 among the top five longest quiet periods recorded in Arkansas over the past three decades.

Top 5 Longest Severe Weather Droughts in Arkansas Since 1996

Based on Storm Prediction Center (SPC) storm report data, the five longest stretches without severe weather in Arkansas are:

1. Oct 19, 2025 – Present: 128 days (Current Record)
2. Nov 15, 2006 – Feb 23, 2007: 101 days
3. Nov 9, 2000 – Feb 7, 2001: 91 days
4. Dec 28, 2014 – Mar 23, 2015: 86 days
5. Sept 24, 2023 – Dec 7, 2023: 75 days

The current stretch not only leads the list — it does so by a significant margin.

Why Is Arkansas So Quiet?

Analysis of past streaks reveals a pattern: 4 of the top 5 longest severe weather droughts occurred during La Niña winters with dry conditions.

Additionally, 3 of the 5 longest stretches align with 2026 analog years, suggesting broader climate-scale patterns may be influencing the suppression of severe weather setups.

The current period is also associated with:

• Weak La Niña transitioning toward El Niño
• Severe drought conditions (D2–D4 levels)
• Limited moisture return from the Gulf
• Fewer strong storm systems tracking through the state

Dry air, stable atmospheric conditions, and limited instability have prevented the formation of classic severe thunderstorm environments.

Rarely This Quiet in Arkansas

Arkansas is no stranger to severe weather. The state typically experiences:

• Multiple tornado events each year
• Frequent severe thunderstorms during transitional seasons
• Damaging wind and hail outbreaks

To go more than four consecutive months without a single severe report is almost unheard of in the modern record.

Even winter months often bring at least isolated severe wind or hail events tied to strong cold fronts. Yet this season, the pattern has remained persistently calm.

Is the Quiet Pattern About to Change?

At this time, forecasters indicate there is no significant severe weather risk on the immediate horizon.

Long-range outlooks show continued limited instability and suppressed storm dynamics across Arkansas in the near term.

However, meteorologists caution that severe weather droughts can end abruptly — particularly as spring approaches and Gulf moisture begins to return northward.

For now, though, Arkansas remains in historically quiet territory.

A Weather Milestone Few Expected

While severe weather is often the headline in Arkansas, this prolonged absence is making history of its own.

The state’s current 128-day streak without a tornado, damaging wind, or hail report stands as the longest in at least 30 years — and counting.

WaldronNews.com will continue monitoring Arkansas weather trends as the state moves closer to spring, when climatology typically favors an uptick in storm activity.