Illinois, 1999

Flooding in Illinois, February 1 to 17, 1999

February 1 to 17, 1999 · NWS PAH · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

The Ohio River remained well above flood stage into early February. The river crested at Shawneetown in late January, but did not crest from Golconda downriver to Cairo until the first few days of February.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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
$30,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

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 PAH wrote it up.

The Ohio River remained well above flood stage into early February. The river crested at Shawneetown in late January, but did not crest from Golconda downriver to Cairo until the first few days of February. At Golconda, where flood stage is 40 feet, the crest was 45.38 feet. At Brookport, where flood stage is 37 feet, the crest was 46.50 feet. At Grand Chain, where flood stage is 42 feet, the crest was 51.10 feet. Cairo crested at 49.47 feet, nearly 10 feet over flood stage. All points fell below flood stage by mid month. The crests between 5 and 10 feet over flood stage produced minor to moderate flooding. The primary affected areas were agricultural bottomlands. Roads and parks along the river were also affected, including Fort Massac State Park in Metropolis. At Cairo, a stage of 50 feet prompts the closure of the first flood gate.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Alexander

When
February 1, 12:01 AM CST to February 17, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Alexander forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
37.192, -89.338 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Gallatin

When
February 1, 12:01 AM CST to February 17, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Gallatin forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
37.763, -88.230 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Hardin

When
February 1, 12:01 AM CST to February 17, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Hardin forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
37.518, -88.267 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Massac

When
February 1, 12:01 AM CST to February 17, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Massac forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
37.219, -88.708 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Pope

When
February 1, 12:01 AM CST to February 17, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Pope forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
37.413, -88.562 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Pulaski

When
February 1, 12:01 AM CST to February 17, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Pulaski forecast zone
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
37.223, -89.127 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Illinois in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, February 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: 5682842, 5682843, 5682844, 5682845, 5682846, 5682847.