Mississippi, 1998

Flash Flooding and Damaging Wind in Mississippi, January 7, 1998

January 7, 1998 · NWS JAN · 10 events in 8 counties and zones

9 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 9 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$1.4 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
10

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

9 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Lamar

When
January 7, 4:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where
Lamar County, Purvis
Property damage
$250,000
Coordinates
31.206, -89.509 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Many roads throughout the county were under water. Ten homes had major damage and fourteen homes had minor damage.

Flash Flood, Forrest

When
January 7, 4:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where
Forrest County, Hattiesburg
Property damage
$500,000
Coordinates
31.189, -89.258 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Major flooding occurred over much of the county. At least thirteen homes had water in them. Several business were flooded. Numerous roads across the county had to be closed due to flooding. Three bridges were washed out.

Thunderstorm Wind, Forrest

When
January 7, 4:15 AM CST
Where
Forrest County, Hattiesburg
Property damage
$1,000
Coordinates
31.320, -89.320

Several trees were blown down.

Flash Flood, Jones

When
January 7, 5:00 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where
Jones County, Laurel
Property damage
$60,000
Coordinates
31.623, -89.169 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Many small streams across the county were out of their banks. Several roads were under water. Three homes were flooded in Laurel.

Flash Flood, Lauderdale

When
January 7, 5:00 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where
Lauderdale County, Meridian
Coordinates
32.404, -88.662 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads were closed due to flooding across the county.

Flash Flood, Jasper

When
January 7, 5:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Jasper County, Heidelberg
Property damage
$100,000
Coordinates
32.019, -89.119 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several county roads had to be closed due to flooding. Three business were flooded in Heidleberg.

Flash Flood, Clarke

When
January 7, 5:00 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where
Clarke County, Quitman
Coordinates
32.041, -88.689 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ten to twenty roads were under water due to the flooding.

Flash Flood, Lauderdale

When
January 7, 8:00 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where
Lauderdale County, Meridian
Property damage
$500,000
Coordinates
32.404, -88.662 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Two roads county were completely closed due to flooding. Numerous county roads had to be temporarily closed. One house was destroyed by flooding. Seventeen homes, four mobile homes and three business had minor damage. Sixty-seven roads across the county were damaged by the flooding.

Flash Flood, Kemper

When
January 7, 9:00 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where
Kemper County, 4 mi S of Scooba
Coordinates
32.755, -88.641 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood waters covered several roads.

Flash Flood, Neshoba

When
January 7, 9:00 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where
Neshoba County, Philadelphia
Coordinates
32.754, -89.118 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several county roads were flooded.

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Mississippi in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Mississippi, January 1998

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5633627, 5633628, 5633636, 5633629, 5633630, 5633634, 5633635, 5633631, 5633632, 5633633.