Heat in Missouri, July 18 to 31, 1999

Name: Heat in Missouri, July 18 to 31, 1999
Start: 1999-07-18T00:00
End: 1999-07-31T23:59
Location: Missouri

July 18 to 31, 1999 · NWS EAX · 38 events in 37 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 38 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 22
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 38

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 EAX wrote it up.

Northwest Missouri suffered through two weeks of oppressive heat and humidity in late July as temperatures topped the 90 degree mark for 14 consecutive days. Dew points in the lower to middle 70s pushed afternoon heat indices above 100 degrees each day. The heat wave was most intense from July 23rd through the 30th, as temperatures reached the upper 90s or topped 100 degrees for 8 consecutive days, with afternoon heat indices between 110 and 115 degrees. Kansas City's downtown airport recorded 7 straight 100 degree days, peaking at 106 on July 29. Adding to the deadly effects of the heat was the lack of nighttime cooling, especially in the urban areas. Overnight temperatures in downtown Kansas City did not drop below 78 degrees for a 13-day period, and nighttime heat indices remained in the 80s. The heat wave claimed a total of 22 lives in northwest Missouri. Most of the victims were elderly, and 16 of the fatalities occurred in the urban core of Kansas City. The other heat-related deaths occurred outside Kansas City in Jackson County (one death), and in Cass (2 deaths), Bates (1), Buchanan (1), and Harrison (1) Counties.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

38 heat. Local standard time, as filed.

Heat, Buchanan

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Buchanan forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL
Coordinates: 39.660, -94.806 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Harrison

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Harrison forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL
Coordinates: 40.355, -93.992 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Cass

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Cass forecast zone
Deaths: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL
Coordinates: 38.647, -94.355 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Jackson

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Jackson forecast zone
Deaths: 17 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL
Coordinates: 39.009, -94.346 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Bates

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 11:59 PM CST
Where: Bates forecast zone
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 38.257, -94.340 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Adair

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Adair forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 40.191, -92.601 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Andrew

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Andrew forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 39.984, -94.802 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Atchison

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Atchison forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 40.431, -95.428 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Caldwell

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Caldwell forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 39.656, -93.983 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Carroll

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Carroll forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 39.427, -93.505 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Chariton

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Chariton forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 39.515, -92.963 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Clay

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Clay forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 39.311, -94.421 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Clinton

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Clinton forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 39.602, -94.405 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Cooper

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Cooper forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 38.844, -92.810 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Daviess

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Daviess forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 39.961, -93.985 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, De Kalb

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: De Kalb forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 39.893, -94.405 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Gentry

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Gentry forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 40.212, -94.410 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Grundy

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Grundy forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 40.114, -93.565 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Harrison

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Harrison forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 40.355, -93.992 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Henry

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Henry forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 38.385, -93.793 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Holt

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Holt forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 40.094, -95.215 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Howard

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Howard forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 39.143, -92.696 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Johnson

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Johnson forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 38.744, -93.806 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Lafayette

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Lafayette forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 39.066, -93.785 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Linn

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Linn forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 39.870, -93.107 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Livingston

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Livingston forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 39.782, -93.548 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Macon

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Macon forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 39.831, -92.565 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Mercer

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Mercer forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 40.422, -93.569 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Nodaway

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Nodaway forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 40.361, -94.883 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Pettis

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Pettis forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 38.728, -93.285 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Platte

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Platte forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 39.381, -94.774 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Putnam

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Putnam forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 40.479, -93.016 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Randolph

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Randolph forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 39.440, -92.497 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Ray

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Ray forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 39.352, -93.990 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Saline

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Saline forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 39.137, -93.202 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Schuyler

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Schuyler forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 40.470, -92.521 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Sullivan

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Sullivan forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 40.211, -93.111 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heat, Worth

When: July 18, 12:00 AM CST to July 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Worth forecast zone
Reported by: OFFICIAL NWS OBS.
Coordinates: 40.479, -94.422 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Heat, Buchanan	1999-07-30	74	Male	Outside/Open Areas	Direct
Heat, Harrison	1999-07-31	73	Male	Permanent Home	Direct
Heat, Cass	1999-07-26	37	Male	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct
Heat, Cass	1999-07-29	54	Male	Permanent Home	Direct
Heat, Jackson	1999-07-21	40	Male	Permanent Home	Direct
Heat, Jackson	1999-07-27	56	Male	Permanent Home	Direct
Heat, Jackson	1999-07-27	75	Male	Permanent Home	Direct
Heat, Jackson	1999-07-28	81	Male	Permanent Home	Direct
Heat, Jackson	1999-07-28	79	Female	Permanent Home	Direct
Heat, Jackson	1999-07-29	71	Male	Permanent Home	Direct
Heat, Jackson	1999-07-29	79	Female	Permanent Home	Direct
Heat, Jackson	1999-07-29	75	Female	Permanent Home	Direct
Heat, Jackson	1999-07-30	75	Male	Permanent Home	Direct
Heat, Jackson	1999-07-30	82	Female	Permanent Home	Direct
Heat, Jackson	1999-07-30	74	Female	Permanent Home	Direct
Heat, Jackson	1999-07-31	72	Female	Permanent Home	Direct
Heat, Jackson	1999-07-31	70	Female	Permanent Home	Direct
Heat, Jackson	1999-07-31	69	Male	Permanent Home	Direct
Heat, Jackson	1999-07-31	83	Male	Permanent Home	Direct
Heat, Jackson	1999-07-31	81	Male	Permanent Home	Direct
Heat, Jackson	1999-07-31	78	Male	Permanent Home	Direct
Heat, Bates	1999-07-26	62	Male	Permanent Home	Direct

What these are

Heat: Heat below excessive heat criteria that still caused deaths, injuries or significant impacts.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Missouri in 1999 Every state in 1999 This day in weather history Warnings in Missouri, July 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 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5706655, 5706656, 5706657, 5706658, 5706659, 5706660, 5706661, 5706662, 5706663, 5706664, 5706665, 5706666, 5706667, 5706668, 5706669, 5706670, 5706753, 5706754, 5706755, 5706756, 5706757, 5706758, 5706759, 5706760, 5706761, 5706762, 5706763, 5706764, 5706765, 5706766, 5706767, 5706768, 5706769, 5706770, 5706771, 5706772, 5706773, 5706774.