FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) · NOAA Storm Events · EPA AirData
What could go wrong, by the numbers
FEMA's model puts the average yearly loss from natural hazards in the four NWA counties at $249.6M. In Benton County the biggest piece is inland flooding ($49.7M of $91.9M a year). These are modeled averages for whole areas, not a forecast for any property.
Risk by county
expected yearly loss to buildings, people and crops
| County | Expected loss a year | Risk rating | Top three hazards (expected loss a year) | Social vulnerability | Community resilience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington 245,782 people · $45.9B in buildings | $129.6M | Relatively Moderate score 92.3 | Heat wave $47.2M · Inland flooding $42.2M · Tornado $13.6M | Relatively Low | Relatively Low |
| Benton 284,135 people · $52.3B in buildings | $91.9M | Relatively Moderate score 88.7 | Inland flooding $49.7M · Ice storm $11.4M · Heat wave $7.1M | Very Low | Relatively Moderate |
| Carroll 28,225 people · $7.2B in buildings | $16.4M | Relatively Low score 64.6 | Inland flooding $7.3M · Tornado $2.7M · Cold wave $1.8M | Very High | Very Low |
| Madison 16,496 people · $4.0B in buildings | $11.7M | Relatively Low score 45.1 | Inland flooding $6.0M · Tornado $1.8M · Heat wave $1.1M | Relatively High | Relatively Low |
Ratings compare each county with every U.S. county. Social vulnerability and community resilience are FEMA's inputs, not our judgment.
FEMA National Risk Index · as of Oct 20, 2026 · collected Oct 21, 2026
Severe weather since 2010
NOAA Storm Events · full years through 2025
2024 was the costliest year on file, with $112.1M in reported property damage.
Costliest kinds of weather, last ten years
| Type | Events | Property damage |
|---|---|---|
| Tornado | 57 | $120.2M |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 310 | $22.7M |
| Hail | 346 | $4.8M |
| Flash Flood | 128 | $360,000 |
| Winter Storm | 53 | $225,000 |
| High Wind | 4 | $25,000 |
| Ice Storm | 4 | $25,000 |
| Drought | 73 | $0 |
Costliest single events on file
| Date | Type | Where | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-26 | Tornado | Bentonville Muni Arp, Benton | $80.0M |
| 2024-05-26 | Thunderstorm Wind | Bella Vista, Benton | $20.0M |
| 2022-03-30 | Tornado | Johnson, Washington | $20.0M |
| 2024-05-26 | Tornado | Cherokee City, Benton | $6.0M |
| 2019-10-20 | Tornado | Siloam Spgs, Benton | $6.0M |
| 2024-05-26 | Tornado | Cherokee City, Benton | $2.0M |
| 2013-08-08 | Flash Flood | Bentonville, Benton | $2.0M |
| 2010-12-31 | Tornado | Cincinnati, Washington | $1.5M |
| 2025-05-19 | Tornado | (Fyv)Fayetteville Ar, Washington | $1.0M |
| 2013-08-08 | Flash Flood | Gateway, Benton | $1.0M |
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database · as of Oct 20, 2026 · collected Oct 21, 2026
Air quality
Washington County · EPA
2025: 304 good days, 61 moderate, 0 unhealthy for sensitive groups, 0 unhealthy. Median AQI 40; ozone was the main pollutant on 294 days.
U.S. EPA, AirData annual AQI by county · as of Oct 20, 2026 · collected Oct 21, 2026
Flood-map changes
FEMA letters of map revision
| Effective | County | FEMA case |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-28 | Benton | 25-06-0861P |
| 2026-07-06 | Benton | 24-06-1558P |
| 2026-05-18 | Benton | 25-06-0818P |
| 2026-05-18 | Benton | 25-06-2464P |
| 2026-04-20 | Benton | 24-06-1265P |
| 2026-03-30 | Benton | 24-06-1583P |
| 2025-11-17 | Washington | 24-06-2439P |
| 2025-08-25 | Benton | 24-06-1386P |
A letter of map revision changes the official flood map for a site, usually after new grading or a drainage project. Look up the letter by case number at FEMA's Map Service Center (msc.fema.gov). Older revisions drop off once a new countywide map is issued.
Earthquakes
12 on record
Northwest Arkansas is seismically quiet: the largest quake on record here was magnitude 2.6. Most recent: 2025-09-17, magnitude 2.0 near 6 km S of Green Forest, Arkansas.