Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Arkansas, January 21 to 22, 1999

Name: Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Arkansas, January 21 to 22, 1999
Start: 1999-01-21T16:05
End: 1999-01-22T06:00
Location: Arkansas

January 21 to 22, 1999 · NWS MEG · 36 events in 12 counties and zones

22 tornado, 6 hail, 4 thunderstorm wind, 3 flash flood, 1 flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 10
Property damage: $9.8 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 36

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 Memphis radar (KNQA), 126 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:07 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

22 tornado, 6 hail, 4 thunderstorm wind, 3 flash flood, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Lawrence

When: January 21, 4:05 PM CST to 4:10 PM CST
Where: Lawrence County, Walnut Ridge
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $10
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.070, -90.950

Tornado, Greene

When: January 21, 4:30 PM CST to 4:35 PM CST
Where: Greene County, Evening Star to 1 mi N of Beech Grove
Rating: F1
Path length: 4 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.170, -90.700

A tornado touched down near Evening Star and continued northeast toward Beech Grove. At least twelve homes were damaged or destroyed. A church was also badly damaged.

Tornado, Cross

When: January 21, 4:33 PM CST to 4:38 PM CST
Where: Cross County, Hickory Ridge
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Property damage: $50
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.400, -91.000

A tornado briefly touched down near Hickory Ridge producing little damage. While the tornado produced little damage, the storm killed hundreds of geese who were killed by the winds and hail accompanying the tornado.

Thunderstorm Wind, Greene

When: January 21, 4:35 PM CST to 4:40 PM CST
Where: Greene County, Light
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates: 36.070, -90.750

One business lost its roof. Several trees were blown down.

Tornado, Clay

When: January 21, 4:45 PM CST to 5:05 PM CST
Where: Clay County, Knobel to 1 mi S of Mc Dougal
Rating: F0
Path length: 12 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 36.320, -90.580

The tornado started east of Knobel and continued northeast. The tornado may have come up and down several times. One home had damage to its roof and porch south of the town of Walnut Grove.

Tornado, Clay

When: January 21, 5:05 PM CST to 5:30 PM CST
Where: Clay County, Knobel to 4 mi SE of Mc Dougal
Rating: F4
Path length: 16 mi
Path width: 400 yd
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 36.280, -90.550

The tornado started southeast of Knobel and tracked northeast. The most serious damage occurred early in the life of the tornado. Two homes were destroyed on County Road 238. Several other homes were damaged. Two trailer trucks were rolled over. As the tornado continued east it gradually diminished in intensity. Several trees and power lines were knocked down along the way.

Hail, Craighead

When: January 21, 5:15 PM CST to 5:20 PM CST
Where: Craighead County, Jonesboro
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $100
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 35.830, -90.700

Tornado, Lee

When: January 21, 5:25 PM CST to 5:30 PM CST
Where: Lee County, Garret
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Property damage: $50
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.800, -91.080

A tornado briefly touched down near Garret Grove producing minimal damage.

Tornado, St. Francis

When: January 21, 5:25 PM CST to 5:30 PM CST
Where: St. Francis County, Goodwin
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Property damage: $100
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 34.930, -91.020

A tornado briefly touched down in Goodwin with some damage reported.

Tornado, St. Francis

When: January 21, 5:30 PM CST to 5:50 PM CST
Where: St. Francis County, Wheatley to 2 mi W of Hawkins
Rating: F2
Path length: 16 mi
Path width: 200 yd
Injuries: 9 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 34.880, -91.100

The tornado moved into the extreme southwest corner of St. Francis county from Monroe county. It touched down several times and then lifted back into the air. The most severe damage occurred in and near Wheatley. Thirteen homes were completely demolished and six other homes sustained structural damage. Further along its path, the tornado hit a farm about 4.5 miles northeast of Wheatley. The farmhouse lost part of its roof. Two or three machine sheds were demolished, several other outbuildings were damaged, grain storage bins were flatted and blown several hundreds of feet away and irrigation equipment suffered extensive damage.

Tornado, Lawrence

When: January 21, 6:00 PM CST to 6:05 PM CST
Where: Lawrence County, 1 mi W of Hoxie
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Property damage: $50
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates: 36.050, -91.000

A tornado briefly touched down just west of Hoxie producing little damage.

Hail, Cross

When: January 21, 6:15 PM CST to 6:20 PM CST
Where: Cross County, Cherry Vly
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $750
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.400, -90.770

Tornado, St. Francis

When: January 21, 6:15 PM CST to 6:20 PM CST
Where: St. Francis County, 1 mi W of Colt
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Property damage: $50
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 35.130, -90.820

A tornado briefly touched down just west of Colt producing minimal damage.

Hail, Poinsett

When: January 21, 6:28 PM CST to 6:35 PM CST
Where: Poinsett County, Tyronza
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $10
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 35.480, -90.370

Tornado, Lawrence

When: January 21, 6:36 PM CST to 6:50 PM CST
Where: Lawrence County, Saffell to 5 mi SW of Clover Bend
Rating: F0
Path length: 8 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 35.870, -91.250

The tornado moved into Lawrence county from Jackson county. Several trees were knocked down by the tornado.

Tornado, Clay

When: January 21, 6:50 PM CST to 6:55 PM CST
Where: Clay County, Palatka to 1 mi E of Palatka
Rating: F1
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 75 yd
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.470, -90.630

The tornado started east of Palatka and travelled northeast. Several homes were damaged in the area.

Hail, Crittenden

When: January 21, 7:00 PM CST to 7:05 PM CST
Where: Crittenden County, Gilmore
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $50
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 35.420, -90.280

Tornado, Lawrence

When: January 21, 7:05 PM CST to 7:10 PM CST
Where: Lawrence County, Walnut Ridge to 1 mi NW of Walnut Ridge
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Property damage: $50
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 36.070, -90.970

A tornado briefly touched down just northwest of Walnut Ridge producing minimal damage.

Tornado, Clay

When: January 21, 7:25 PM CST to 7:40 PM CST
Where: Clay County, Datto to 4 mi SW of Moark
Rating: F2
Path length: 7 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $8.0 million
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 36.370, -90.670

The tornado developed east of Datto and moved northeast. Several homes were badly damaged. Several hangars were destroyed and some planes were destroyed at the Corning airport.

Flood, Randolph

When: January 21, 8:00 PM CST to 9:30 PM CST
Where: Randolph County, Pocahontas
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 36.342, -91.028 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Some street flooding occurred in Pocahontas due to heavy rains.

Tornado, Craighead

When: January 21, 8:10 PM CST to 8:20 PM CST
Where: Craighead County, Lanieve to 2 mi NE of Lanieve
Rating: F0
Path length: 5 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Property damage: $100
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 35.900, -90.830

The tornado started south of Lanieve and moved northeast. Little damage occurred with this tornado.

Hail, St. Francis

When: January 21, 8:38 PM CST to 8:45 PM CST
Where: St. Francis County, Forrest City
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $100
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.020, -90.770

Tornado, Greene

When: January 21, 8:50 PM CST to 8:55 PM CST
Where: Greene County, Marmaduke
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.180, -90.380

A tornado briefly touched down near Marmaduke knocking a few trees and power lines down.

Tornado, Craighead

When: January 21, 8:55 PM CST to 9:05 PM CST
Where: Craighead County, Egypt to 4 mi N of Egypt
Rating: F0
Path length: 5 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 35.830, -91.000

The tornado started southwest of Egypt and moved northeast into Lawrence county. Two residences were destroyed. An antenna was blown down.

Tornado, Lawrence

When: January 21, 9:05 PM CST to 9:10 PM CST
Where: Lawrence County, Sedgwick to 7 mi SW of Sedgwick
Rating: F0
Path length: 2 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 35.900, -90.950

The tornado that started near Egypt in Craighead county continued to move northeast into Lawrence county. The tornado damaged one home in Lawrence county. A farm shop was destroyed.

Tornado, Craighead

When: January 21, 9:20 PM CST to 9:30 PM CST
Where: Craighead County, Jonesboro to 1 mi N of Jonesboro
Rating: F0
Path length: 3 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Property damage: $100
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 35.850, -90.700

The tornado started just north of Jonesboro and moved northeast. The tornado produced little damage.

Tornado, Craighead

When: January 21, 9:40 PM CST to 9:50 PM CST
Where: Craighead County, Lake View to 4 mi N of Lake View
Rating: F0
Path length: 2.5 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 35.930, -90.500

The tornado started in the northeast corner of Craighead county near the town of Dixie and travelled northeast into Greene county. Several trees were knocked down by the tornado.

Tornado, Greene

When: January 21, 9:50 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Greene County, Schug
Rating: F0
Path length: 3 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 35.970, -90.450

The tornado that started in northeast Craighead county moved into Greene county near the town Schug and continued northeast. a couple of houses suffered structural damage in Schug. Several trees were also knocked down.

Tornado, Mississippi

When: January 21, 9:55 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where: Mississippi County, Wilson
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Property damage: $50
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 35.570, -90.050

A tornado briefly touched down near Wilson producing little damage.

Tornado, Craighead

When: January 21, 10:00 PM CST to 10:10 PM CST
Where: Craighead County, Bay to 2 mi N of Bay
Rating: F0
Path length: 3 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 35.730, -90.600

The tornado started just southwest of Bay and tracked northeast missing the town. Several trees were blown down by the tornado.

Flash Flood, Poinsett

When: January 22, 3:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where: Poinsett County, Countywide
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.574, -90.663 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy rains during the evening hours produced scattered flash flooding across the county. Several roads were flooded during the early morning hours.

Flash Flood, Craighead

When: January 22, 3:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where: Craighead County, Bay
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.831, -90.633 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy rains during the evening hours produced scattered flash flooding in the Bay and Moline areas. Several roads were flooded during the early morning hours.

Flash Flood, Mississippi

When: January 22, 3:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where: Mississippi County, Manila
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 35.764, -90.054 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy rains during the evening hours produced scattered flash flooding across the county. Several roads were flooded during the early morning hours.

Thunderstorm Wind, St. Francis

When: January 22, 3:45 AM CST to 3:50 AM CST
Where: St. Francis County, 1 mi NE of Forrest City
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.030, -90.750

A few large trees were knocked down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Phillips

When: January 22, 4:05 AM CST to 4:10 AM CST
Where: Phillips County, West Helena
Property damage: $35,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 34.550, -90.630

Thirty mobile homes were damaged. An outbuilding was also damaged and a fence was wrapped around a tree. A house under construction had the outer frame blown off. A parked 18-wheeler was blown over.

Thunderstorm Wind, Crittenden

When: January 22, 5:30 AM CST to 5:35 AM CST
Where: Crittenden County, West Memphis
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.150, -90.180

Several large tree limbs were knocked down.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
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.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Arkansas in 1999 Every state in 1999 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Arkansas, 1999 Warnings in Arkansas, January 1999

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5685582, 5685590, 5685591, 5685753, 5685592, 5685593, 5685583, 5685662, 5685663, 5685666, 5685664, 5685584, 5685665, 5685585, 5685747, 5685594, 5685587, 5685667, 5685595, 5685588, 5685671, 5685586, 5685668, 5685669, 5685670, 5685672, 5685673, 5685745, 5685746, 5685674, 5685748, 5685749, 5685752, 5685750, 5685589, 5685751.