Arkansas, 1999

Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Arkansas, June 29, 1999

June 29, 1999 · NWS TSA · 10 events in 3 counties and zones

Summary of events for June 29 1999:A cluster of severe thunderstorms moved out of eastern Oklahoma and into westcentral Arkansas on the afternoon of June 29 along a nearly stationary front. These storms produced several severe wind reports and excessive rainfall along the Arkansas River valley.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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
$97,000
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.

What happened

The episode as NWS TSA wrote it up.

Summary of events for June 29 1999:A cluster of severe thunderstorms moved out of eastern Oklahoma and into westcentral Arkansas on the afternoon of June 29 along a nearly stationary front. These storms produced several severe wind reports and excessive rainfall along the Arkansas River valley. The most significant damage occurred in Fort Smith when a short line of storms "bowed" out, producing winds strong enough to cause damage to permanent structures.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Thunderstorm Wind, Sebastian

When
June 29, 2:43 PM CST
Where
Sebastian County, Greenwood
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
35.220, -94.270

Thunderstorm Wind, Sebastian

When
June 29, 2:43 PM CST
Where
Sebastian County, Hackett
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
35.180, -94.420

Thunderstorm Wind, Sebastian

When
June 29, 2:45 PM CST
Where
Sebastian County, Ft Smith to Ft Smith Muni Arpt
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage
$40,000
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
35.380, -94.420

Winds estimated by spotters of 60 miles an hour damaged several roofs, and a trailer was overturned by the winds near the Wal-Mart Supercenter in east Fort Smith. Also, several trees were blown down, and an Air Guard oubuilding at the Fort Smith Regional Airport was destroyed. The coverage of severe winds was fairly small given a peak wind gust at the airport's nearby weather observing equipment of only 35 knots (39 miles an hour).

Thunderstorm Wind, Sebastian

When
June 29, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Sebastian County, Barling
Property damage
$500
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
35.330, -94.300

Several trees were blown down in Barling.

Thunderstorm Wind, Sebastian

When
June 29, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Sebastian County, Barling
Property damage
$500
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
35.330, -94.300

Several trees were blown down in Barling.

Thunderstorm Wind, Franklin

When
June 29, 3:02 PM CST
Where
Franklin County, Charleston
Measured
57 kt (66 mph)
Reported by
GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates
35.300, -94.030

Lightning, Crawford

When
June 29, 3:10 PM CST
Where
Crawford County, Alma
Property damage
$50,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
35.589, -94.243 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A nursing home in Alma caught fire and was destroyed when lightning struck the home. All of the residents were evacuated safely, and none were injured.

Thunderstorm Wind, Crawford

When
June 29, 3:15 PM CST
Where
Crawford County, Mulberry
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
35.500, -94.050

Power lines, a few trees, and numerous 3-4" diameter tree limbs were blown down in Mulberry.

Flash Flood, Crawford

When
June 29, 3:18 PM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where
Crawford County, 4 mi W of Alma
Reported by
AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates
35.589, -94.243 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

US Hwy 64 between Alma and Van Buren was closed for a time by high water. Several streets in Alma were also under water.

Thunderstorm Wind, Franklin

When
June 29, 3:20 PM CST
Where
Franklin County, Altus
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
35.450, -93.770

Numerous power lines and trees were blown down in Altus.

What these are

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.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
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

More

Every storm in Arkansas in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, June 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5701259, 5701260, 5701257, 5701261, 5701262, 5701258, 5701263, 5701189, 5701191, 5701190.