Summary of events for June 30 1999:Major flash flooding resulted across northwest Arkansas when a line of thunderstorms, containing torrential rainfall and associated with a nocturnal MCS, moved slowly southeastward across northwest Arkansas on the morning of June 30. 39".
Every event with a place to put it; 8 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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 episode as NWS TSA wrote it up.
Summary of events for June 30 1999:Major flash flooding resulted across northwest Arkansas when a line of thunderstorms, containing torrential rainfall and associated with a nocturnal MCS, moved slowly southeastward across northwest Arkansas on the morning of June 30. Major flash flooding was reported in several locations, most notably in the Fort Smith area and western Benton County.The following are rainfall amounts measured at major airports across the region: NW Arkansas Regional Airport (Highfill)...3.20", Fort Smith Regional Airport...2.62", and Drake Field (Fayetteville)...2.39". This came on top of an already-wet spring and measurable rainfall in the two days preceding this event.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 flash flood, 2 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.
Lightning caused a fire that heavily damaged a duplex in Johnson.
Several roads in western Benton County were flooded, including AR Hwy 43 near Maysville, AR Hwy 12 east of Gentry, and AR Hwy 59 near Sleepy Hollow. AR Hwy 264 was flooded, blocking access to the NW Arkansas Regional Airport.In Maysville, Beaty Creek overflowed its banks, drowing at least 50,000 2-week old chickens at one chicken farm. Nearby along AR Hwy 43 two houses were flooded as well as several vehicles parked nearby. The water in one of the houses was apparently so high that the refrigerator was floating. Several propane tanks floating down the creek became lodged under the Hwy 43 bridge. The Maysville Baptist Church was also lightly flooded. Near Decatur and Gentry, the bridge across the rain-swollen Flint Creek was completely submerged. There was also flood damage to Wagon Wheel Road and Butler Road.
In Springdale, US Hwy 71B was flooded. High water forced the closing of Gutensohn Road just north of Sunset Avenue and bridges at Silent Grove and Shady Grove Roads. In Fayetteville, creeks overflowed into several neighborhoods, including the low-lying Willow Springs subdivision in west Fayetteville, where several homes sustained several thousand dollars in flood damage. The area near 18th Street and Beechwood Avenue, which connects to AR Hwy 16, was also flooded. Garland Avenue, which becomes AR Hwy 112, was flooded in places. The corner of AR Hwy 16 and AR Hwy 265 also flooded.Damage to roads throughout Washington County was estimated at $400,000. Initial assessments showed damage to 50 miles of county roads with four bridges destroyed, impassable or needing significant repairs. Among the worst hit was a low-water bridge over the War Eagle River on Washington County Road 526, also known as Gar Hole Road, which collapsed after being undermined by raging flood waters. Other bridges damaged include a bridge on County Road 872 near the Harmon community, a low-water bridge on County Road 203 and a small bridge on County Road 2002 near the Black Oak community.
A bridge on a county road was washed out near Japton.
Lightning caused fires at two separate homes in Fayetteville between 9:00 and 9:40 AM CDT.
There was major street flooding in Fort Smith. Several homes on Briarcliff Drive were flooded with up to four feet of water. None of the homes were in a designated flood plain. The Red Cross assessed major damage to five homes and minor damage to six homes. A woman had to be rescued from the top of her car when the car stalled in high water on South 28th Street near I-540.
A subdivision around Rickey Circle on the east side of Van Buren saw considerable flooding, causing some residents to abandon their homes. Employees at Van Buren's Industrial Park had to leave work late in the morning by boat. Firefighters helped evacuate two residences on Flat Rock Circle. In all, firefighters responded to nine flood-related calls and assisted stranded motorists in two of those incidents. Police rescued a woman and her infant child who were stranded by flood waters on Northview Drive. Several downtown Van Buren businesses were flooded with several inches of water. Portions of US Hwys 64 and 71 between Van Buren and Alma were closed by flooding for a time. AR Hwy 59 in Van Buren was also closed for a time. A portion of Rudy Road had to closed briefly when the road was covered by 8 feet of water from the flooding Frog Bayou. Flash floods also hit portions of Orrick Road east of Alma. Otherwise, there was lots of street flooding in Van Buren. Damage to county roads was at least $50,000.
There was lots of street flooding in Ozark. Several streets were impassable. Several homes and businesses were affected by the flooding.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Arkansas in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Arkansas, June 1999
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: 5700134, 5700074, 5700129, 5700130, 5700186, 5700133, 5700131, 5700132.