Arkansas, 1999

Flash Flood and Damaging Wind in Arkansas, May 21, 1999

May 21, 1999 · NWS TSA · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

Summary of events for May 21 1999:A line of thunderstorms moved out of eastern Oklahoma and into northwest Arkansas during the early morning of May 21. This line of storms was responsible for producing strong winds in Fayetteville.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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
$500
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

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 May 21 1999:A line of thunderstorms moved out of eastern Oklahoma and into northwest Arkansas during the early morning of May 21. This line of storms was responsible for producing strong winds in Fayetteville. Later in the morning, the line became stationary in Sebastian County, causing localized flooding there.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

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

Thunderstorm Wind, Washington

When
May 21, 4:30 AM CST
Where
Washington County, Fayetteville
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage
$500
Reported by
UNKNOWN
Coordinates
36.070, -94.170

Numerous large tree branches were blown down in Fayetteville.

Flash Flood, Sebastian

When
May 21, 7:30 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Sebastian County, Ft Smith
Reported by
UNKNOWN
Coordinates
35.199, -94.274 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

There was street flooding in Fort Smith and Greenwood.

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.
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, May 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: 5700273, 5700324.