If you live in Arkansas, you’ve probably noticed that severe weather seems to be getting worse. You’re not imagining it. Meteorologists and climate researchers have documented a significant shift in tornado activity across the United States — and Arkansas is now at the center of it.
What Is Dixie Alley?
For decades, “Tornado Alley” referred to the stretch of Great Plains from Texas through Oklahoma and Kansas where tornadoes were most frequent. But long-term data from 1955 through 2024 shows that the zone of highest tornado activity has been shifting eastward — into Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and Missouri.
This new high-risk zone is called “Dixie Alley,” and Arkansas sits nearly at its center.
Why the Shift Is Happening
Climate researchers point to several factors:
- Gulf of Mexico warming: Warmer Gulf waters pump more moisture and energy into storm systems moving through the Mid-South
- Jet stream changes: Shifting jet stream patterns are steering storm systems farther east than in previous decades
- Increased instability: The combination of Gulf moisture and continental air masses creates more volatile conditions over Arkansas and neighboring states
What the Numbers Show
Arkansas has recorded over 2,474 tornadoes since 1950. The state averages about 35 tornadoes per year, with nearly 70% occurring between March and May. But the trend is accelerating — the 2020s have already produced some of the most destructive tornado events in state history:
- March 2023: An EF3 tornado tore a 30-mile path through Little Rock, damaging 2,648 structures
- March 2025: 15 tornadoes hit NE Arkansas in a single outbreak, including two EF4s with an 81-mile track
Every AF&G Service Area Is Affected
This shift doesn’t just affect Arkansas. All of AF&G’s service areas sit within the expanded tornado risk zone:
- Mississippi (Ridgeland/Jackson) — highest tornado frequency per area in our service region
- Oklahoma (Tulsa) — traditional Tornado Alley, still very active
- Alabama — Dixie Alley’s eastern flank, hit by the historic 2011 Super Outbreak
- Missouri (Springfield, Kansas City) — the 2011 Joplin EF5 killed 158 people just 70 miles from Springfield
- Tennessee (Memphis) — increasing tornado frequency as activity shifts eastward
- Louisiana (Shreveport) — Gulf moisture-fueled storms regularly produce tornadoes
What This Means for Your Property
If you own property in Arkansas or the Mid-South, tornado preparedness isn’t optional — it’s essential. Your fencing is one of the first things to suffer during severe wind events. Here’s what you can do:
- Inspect your fence before storm season (March) — look for loose posts, rusted connections, leaning sections
- Know your insurance coverage — fence damage is typically covered under “other structures” in homeowners policies
- Save AF&G’s emergency number: (501) 771-9929 — we provide emergency fence repair, temporary fencing, and insurance documentation after storms
- Document your fence now — take “before” photos of your fence in good condition for insurance comparison
Be prepared before the next tornado. Save our number: (501) 771-9929. AF&G provides emergency storm response fencing across Arkansas and the entire Mid-South. Learn more about our emergency services.