Illinois, 1999

Flash Flooding in Illinois, January 21 to 22, 1999

January 21 to 22, 1999 · NWS PAH · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

In Jackson County, sheriff's deputies used a johnboat to help evacuate a family whose house became surrounded by water. In Williamson County, several roads were closed by high water, including Old Route 13 near Route 148.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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
$270,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
3

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.

In Jackson County, sheriff's deputies used a johnboat to help evacuate a family whose house became surrounded by water. In Williamson County, several roads were closed by high water, including Old Route 13 near Route 148. About a dozen cars were stranded in flood water in the Marion area and had to be pulled out. Many of them ignored barricades set up to divert traffic from flooded areas.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Jackson

When
January 21, 8:00 PM CST to January 22, 3:00 AM CST
Where
Jackson County, Countywide
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
37.785, -89.382 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A series of supercell thunderstorms formed a procession over southwest Illinois throughout the evening hours of January 21. Rainfall amounts of 4 to 7 inches were quite common across Union and Jackson Counties between 6 P.M. and midnight. Anna reported 6.7 inches and Carbondale had 4.00 inches. Numerous roads were flooded. Damage to bridges and vehicles was reported.

Flash Flood, Union

When
January 21, 8:00 PM CST to January 22, 3:00 AM CST
Where
Union County, Countywide
Property damage
$100,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
37.471, -89.255 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Williamson

When
January 21, 8:00 PM CST to January 22, 3:00 AM CST
Where
Williamson County, Countywide
Property damage
$70,000
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
37.730, -88.930 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

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 Illinois in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Illinois, 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5680577, 5680578, 5680579.