From 2005 through mid 2026, NOAA’s Storm Events Database lists 80 hail reports, 122 thunderstorm wind reports and 14 tornadoes in Jefferson County, Arkansas. 59 of the hail reports were 1 inch or larger, big enough to damage many shingle roofs, and 25 were golf ball size or larger. About 45% of all severe reports fell in March, April and May. At the same time, 67.4% of Pine Bluff homes were built before 1980, compared with 39.6% statewide, so many roofs sit on older decking and flashing.
This report pulls together public data on the weather that damages roofs in Pine Bluff and Jefferson County, and on the age of the homes that take it. We built it because most roofing pages talk about storms in general terms. Homeowners, landlords and buyers in Pine Bluff deserve local numbers. All data comes from public government sources listed at the end, and we will update this page after each storm season.
The numbers at a glance
| Measure | Jefferson County / Pine Bluff | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Hail reports, 2005 to 2026 | 80 (59 at 1 inch or larger) | NOAA Storm Events |
| Golf ball hail (1.75 in) or larger | 25 reports | NOAA Storm Events |
| Largest hail | 4.25 in, near Ferda, 22 January 2012 | NOAA Storm Events |
| Thunderstorm wind reports | 122 | NOAA Storm Events |
| Strongest wind report | About 90 mph (estimated), Fairfield, 29 October 2009 | NOAA Storm Events |
| Tornadoes | 14, strongest EF2 | NOAA Storm Events |
| FEMA overall risk rating | Relatively Moderate (85.2) | FEMA National Risk Index |
| Strong wind risk | Relatively High (2.8 events/yr) | FEMA National Risk Index |
| Ice storm risk | Very High | FEMA National Risk Index |
| Average yearly rain | 50.2 in | Open-Meteo ERA5, 1996 to 2025 |
| Median year homes built, Pine Bluff | 1972 | US Census ACS 2024 |
| Homes built before 1980, Pine Bluff | 67.4% | US Census ACS 2024 |
When storms hit Pine Bluff roofs
Spring is roof damage season in Pine Bluff. March, April and May account for about 45% of all hail, wind and tornado reports in the county, and about 60% of hail reports alone. April is the peak month for both hail and wind. A second, smaller wind peak shows up in July, when summer thunderstorms bring microbursts, the sudden downdrafts that peel back shingles and flatten carports. Winter is not quiet either: January has produced tornadoes, large hail and damaging wind, including the 22 January 2012 outbreak with an EF2 tornado near Sweden and 4.25 inch hail near Ferda.
What this means for homeowners: the best time to have a roof checked is late winter, before storm season, and again after any spring storm with hail or strong wind. Loose flashing and cracked pipe boots that survive a dry winter often fail in the first hard April rain.
Year by year
Severe weather is not steady from year to year. 2011 and 2012 were very active, with 21 and 21 hail, wind and tornado reports. 2020 brought 12 wind reports and no hail. Recent years, from 2023 through 2025, have each included hail and at least one tornado or damaging wind event close to Pine Bluff. A quiet year does not mean the next one will be. Roofs that went through a busy stretch like 2011 and 2012 are now past 14 years old, which is when hidden storm damage often turns into leaks.
Hail: how big and how often
Of 80 hail reports, 59 were 1 inch (quarter size) or larger, which is about where hail starts to bruise and crack asphalt shingles, especially older ones. 25 were 1.75 inches (golf ball) or larger. At that size, shingle damage, dented gutters and cracked skylights are common. FEMA’s National Risk Index rates the county’s hail risk as relatively moderate, with about 4.3 hail events a year across the county.
Largest hail reports
| Date | Location | Largest stone |
|---|---|---|
| 22 January 2012 | Ferda | 4.25 in |
| 10 March 2018 | Pine Bluff | 3.5 in |
| 25 September 2011 | Altheimer | 2.75 in |
| 22 January 2012 | Hooker | 2.75 in |
| 10 March 2018 | White Hall | 2.75 in |
| 31 March 2015 | Langford | 2.5 in |
| 3 April 2025 | Watson Chapel | 2.5 in |
| 19 April 2015 | Sulphur Springs | 2 in |
One row per date and location. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
The 3 April 2025 storm is the most recent large hail event close to town, with golf ball to tennis ball size hail reported in Pine Bluff, Watson Chapel and Brewster. The 10 March 2018 storm dropped hail up to 3.5 inches in Pine Bluff and 2.75 inches in White Hall. Roofs hit in 2018 that were not fully inspected then are now at the age where bruised shingles start to fail. See hail damage roof repair.
Wind: the most common roof damage
Thunderstorm wind is the most frequent severe weather report in the county, with 122 reports from 2005 to 2026. Most were estimated at 58 to 66 mph, just above the 58 mph threshold for severe wind, which is enough to lift and crease shingles on older roofs. The strongest reports are listed below. NOAA records wind speeds in knots, and we have converted them to miles per hour.
| Date | Location | Gust | What happened |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 October 2009 | Fairfield | 90 mph | Large metal industrial building heavily damaged |
| 20 December 2012 | Eastwood | 81 mph | Carport torn off a house, porch and roof damage |
| 7 June 2021 | Sorrells | 81 mph | Part of a house roof blown off |
| 10 December 2021 | Brewster | 81 mph | Side of a building damaged |
| 21 September 2021 | Leitner | 81 mph | Microburst damage near West 13th Avenue |
| 10 May 2006 | Wabbaseka | 78 mph | Estimated gust |
| 12 January 2024 | Grider Field (Pine Bluff airport) | 74 mph | Measured gust at the airport weather station |
Most gusts are estimated from damage, not measured. The 12 January 2024 gust was measured at the airport weather station. Source: NOAA Storm Events Database.
Several of these events damaged roofs directly: a house roof partly blown off near Sorrells in June 2021, a carport and porch torn off in Eastwood in December 2012, and a microburst near West 13th Avenue in September 2021. On 17 October 2007, wind blew part of the roof off the Dollarway High School gym. FEMA rates the county’s strong wind risk as relatively high, with about 2.8 events a year. See storm damage roof repair.
Tornadoes near Pine Bluff
| Date | Rating | Location | Property damage listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 July 2024 | EF0 | Warbritton | Not listed |
| 8 July 2024 | EF1 | Faith | Not listed |
| 10 May 2023 | EF-Unknown | Henslee Heights | Not listed |
| 3 March 2023 | EF0 | Five Forks | Not listed |
| 27 March 2021 | EF1 | Reydell | Not listed |
| 8 May 2019 | EF1 | Pine Bluff | $200K |
| 13 March 2016 | EF0 | Dolton | $8K |
| 20 December 2013 | EF0 | Redfield | $100K |
| 22 January 2012 | EF2 | Sweden | $750K |
| 22 January 2012 | EF1 | Linwood | $175K |
| 29 October 2009 | EF1 | Brewster | $400K |
| 21 July 2009 | EF0 | Sulphur Springs | $10K |
| 15 November 2005 | F0 | Pine Bluff | Not listed |
| 24 September 2005 | F0 | Reydell | Not listed |
Source: NOAA Storm Events Database. Damage estimates are as listed by NOAA and are often incomplete.
Most tornadoes in the county have been EF0 or EF1, with winds strong enough to strip shingles, break windows and drop trees on roofs. The 8 July 2024 tornadoes near Warbritton and Faith came from the remnants of Hurricane Beryl, a reminder that tropical systems reach this far inland. The 8 May 2019 EF1 in Pine Bluff caused about $200,000 in listed damage.
Rain, ice and heat
Storms are only part of the story. The weather between storms wears roofs down and finds weak spots:
- Rain: About 50.2 inches a year on average from 1996 to 2025, with March through May the wettest months at more than 5 inches each. The record day was 8.73 inches on 3 September 2008 (Gustav). Heavy bursts test flashing, valleys and low-slope porch roofs.
- Ice: FEMA rates ice storm risk as very high for the county. A January 2025 ice storm brought about a third of an inch of freezing rain, and FEMA declared a disaster for a severe winter storm in January 2026. Ice snaps limbs onto roofs and backs water up at the eaves.
- Heat: About 23 days a year reach 95 degrees or higher. Heat dries out shingles, sealants and the rubber on pipe boots, which is why boots often fail years before the shingles around them.
- Humidity: Average relative humidity of about 69% slows drying after a leak and raises the risk of mold and attic condensation.
See roof vent and pipe boot repair and roof flashing repair.
Federal disaster declarations
OpenFEMA lists recent federal declarations that include Jefferson County for severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in April 2025, severe winter storms in 2023 and January 2026, severe storms with straight-line winds in 2020, and flooding in 2019. A declaration can open assistance programs for eligible homeowners, so it is worth checking FEMA’s site after a major storm.
Pine Bluff homes: older than most
The median home in Pine Bluff was built in 1972. About 67.4% of homes were built before 1980, compared with 39.6% across Arkansas. Countywide, the median year built is 1978. Most of these homes are on their second or third roof, and many reroofs left the old flashing, pipe boots and drip edge in place. That is why we find so many leaks at those parts rather than in the shingles.
| Housing measure | Pine Bluff | Jefferson County |
|---|---|---|
| Median year built | 1972 | 1978 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 51.6% | 61.8% |
| Mobile homes | 4.4% | 12.5% |
| Vacant housing units | 25.5% | 21.7% |
| Residents 65 or older | 16.7% | 18.6% |
| Median home value | $89,400 | $113,400 |
Source: US Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year estimates.
A few things stand out. About half of Pine Bluff homes are rented, so many roof leaks are a landlord’s responsibility under Arkansas’s 2021 habitability law. One in eight homes in the county is a mobile home, and those roofs need resealing and recoating more often. And with a quarter of housing units vacant, empty homes with unrepaired storm damage can deteriorate fast. See landlord roof leak repair and mobile home roof leak repair.
What this means for your roof
- Check before spring. Have pipe boots, flashing and valleys looked at in February or early March.
- Check after every hail or wind storm. Look at gutters, vents and the yard from the ground, and take dated photos.
- Know your roof’s age. On a home built around 1972, the roof, flashing and boots may all be different ages.
- Fix small leaks early. With about 12 days a year of 1 inch or more of rain, a small leak gets a lot of chances to grow.
- Keep records. Dated photos and the storm date from NOAA help with insurance claims.
If your roof is leaking now, see emergency roof leak repair or roof leak detection. If it is near the end of its life, Arkansas’s FORTIFIED roof grants may help with a stronger replacement. See FORTIFIED roof grants in Arkansas and roof replacement.
Help for homeowners
Several programs can help qualifying Pine Bluff homeowners with roof repairs. The City of Pine Bluff has offered emergency rehab help for low-income, owner-occupied homes inside city limits, with roof leaks among the qualifying problems. USDA Section 504 home repair loans and grants help very low-income homeowners in eligible rural areas, with grants for those 62 and older. Communities Unlimited runs a HUD-funded Healthy Homes program in Jefferson County. Program rules, amounts and funding change, so contact each program directly to confirm.
Methods and sources
- Storms: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, all events for Jefferson County, Arkansas, January 2005 through June 2026. We counted hail, thunderstorm wind and tornado reports. Wind speeds were converted from knots to mph (1 knot = 1.151 mph). Most gusts are estimates based on damage.
- Risk ratings: FEMA National Risk Index, county level.
- Climate: Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis archive, 1996 to 2025, for a point in central Pine Bluff.
- Housing: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 5-year estimates, for the city of Pine Bluff and Jefferson County.
- Disasters: OpenFEMA disaster declarations.
Storm reports depend on people seeing and reporting damage, so rural events are likely undercounted. This data may be reused with credit to Roof Leak Repair Pros and a link to this page. Last updated 27 September 2026.