Fort Smith, AR
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Fort Smith is rated Relatively Moderate for overall natural hazard risk — near the middle compared to other US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Sebastian County, AR. The county's highest-rated hazards are ice storm, heat wave, and tornado.
Storm events near Fort Smith
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Fort Smith's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Fort Smith itself, not the whole county.
County-wide hazard risk
Every other hazard FEMA and NOAA track — including drought — is only scored at the county level. These are Sebastian County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Fort Smith along with the rest of the county, not a Fort Smith-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 90.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Inland Flooding | 86.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 85.1 | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | 96.4 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 94.2 | Relatively High |
| Avalanche | — | Not Applicable |
| Cold Wave | 86.5 | Relatively Moderate |
| Drought | 38.4 | Relatively Low |
| Hail | 65.6 | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | 49.4 | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | 99.3 | Very High |
| Landslide | 58.2 | Very Low |
| Lightning | 93.2 | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | 56 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | — | Not Applicable |
| Winter Weather | 91.9 | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Sebastian County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Sebastian County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Fort Smith, AR at risk of?
Fort Smith is rated Relatively Moderate for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — near the middle compared to other US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Sebastian County, where Fort Smith is located, are ice storm, heat wave, and tornado.
What is Fort Smith's biggest natural hazard risk?
Ice Storm is the highest-rated hazard for Sebastian County, where Fort Smith is located, scoring 99.3 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").
Is Fort Smith a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Fort Smith carries near the middle compared to other US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Moderate" for Sebastian County.
Has Fort Smith had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 52 tornado, 182 hail, 125 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Fort Smith since 2016.