Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Tennessee, January 21 to 22, 1999

Name: Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Tennessee, January 21 to 22, 1999
Start: 1999-01-21T20:40
End: 1999-01-22T15:40
Location: Tennessee

January 21 to 22, 1999 · NWS MEG · 34 events in 12 counties and zones

15 hail, 13 thunderstorm wind, 4 tornado, 2 flash flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $427,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 34

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 radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

15 hail, 13 thunderstorm wind, 4 tornado, 2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Obion

When: January 21, 8:40 PM CST to 8:45 PM CST
Where: Obion County, Union City
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 36.420, -89.050

A commercial building lost part of its roof.

Thunderstorm Wind, Weakley

When: January 21, 9:00 PM CST to 9:05 PM CST
Where: Weakley County, Dresden
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 36.300, -88.720

An outbuilding collapsed due to the thunderstorm winds.

Tornado, Lake

When: January 21, 11:28 PM CST to 11:35 PM CST
Where: Lake County, Tiptonville
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Property damage: $50
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 36.380, -89.480

A tornado briefly touched down near Tiptonville producing little damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fayette

When: January 22, 1:56 AM CST to 2:05 AM CST
Where: Fayette County, La Grange
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 35.050, -89.220

A few trees were blown down.

Hail, Fayette

When: January 22, 2:05 AM CST to 2:10 AM CST
Where: Fayette County, Williston
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $50
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 35.170, -89.380

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: January 22, 2:20 AM CST to 2:25 AM CST
Where: Madison County, Beech Bluff
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 35.600, -88.650

Several trees were knocked down.

Hail, Henderson

When: January 22, 2:40 AM CST to 2:50 AM CST
Where: Henderson County, Blue Goose to Cedar Grove
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 35.700, -88.580

Hail, Madison

When: January 22, 2:58 AM CST to 3:05 AM CST
Where: Madison County, Leighton
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $10
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 35.550, -89.070

Hail, Hardeman

When: January 22, 3:00 AM CST to 3:05 AM CST
Where: Hardeman County, Bolivar
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $100
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 35.270, -89.000

Hail, Madison

When: January 22, 3:04 AM CST to 3:10 AM CST
Where: Madison County, Jackson
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $10
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 35.620, -88.830

Hail, Carroll

When: January 22, 3:15 AM CST to 3:25 AM CST
Where: Carroll County, Westport to Clarksburg
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $750
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.900, -88.330

Hail ranged in size from dimes near Clarksburg to golfballs near Westport.

Hail, Chester

When: January 22, 3:17 AM CST to 3:30 AM CST
Where: Chester County, Henderson to 6 mi of Henderson
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $750
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 35.430, -88.770

Hail ranged in size from pea to golfball.

Thunderstorm Wind, Carroll

When: January 22, 3:25 AM CST to 3:30 AM CST
Where: Carroll County, Buena Vista
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.980, -88.280

Several trees were knocked down.

Hail, Madison

When: January 22, 3:25 AM CST to 3:30 AM CST
Where: Madison County, Pinson
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $100
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 35.480, -88.730

Hail, Fayette

When: January 22, 3:40 AM CST to 3:45 AM CST
Where: Fayette County, Somerville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $10
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates: 35.250, -89.350

Hail, Shelby

When: January 22, 3:45 AM CST to 3:50 AM CST
Where: Shelby County, Memphis
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $50
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 35.130, -90.020

Hail, Henderson

When: January 22, 3:46 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Henderson County, Countywide
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $750
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.630, -88.400

Hail ranged in size from marble to golfball across the county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Henderson

When: January 22, 3:46 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Henderson County, Countywide
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.630, -88.400

Several trees and power lines were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Shelby

When: January 22, 4:20 AM CST
Where: Shelby County, Memphis
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 35.130, -90.020

A large metal building was destroyed.

Tornado, Shelby

When: January 22, 4:25 AM CST to 4:35 AM CST
Where: Shelby County, Cordova to Eads
Rating: F1
Path length: 3.5 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $300,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 35.150, -89.780

The tornado started in the eastern edge of Cordova and tracked northeast. Two homes were destroyed. Several homes, two businesses and one school sustained roof damage. Several outbuildings were also destroyed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: January 22, 4:30 AM CST to 4:35 AM CST
Where: Madison County, 1 mi W of Jackson
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 35.620, -88.850

One mobile home was destroyed.

Hail, Fayette

When: January 22, 6:00 AM CST to 6:05 AM CST
Where: Fayette County, Oakland
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $10
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 35.230, -89.520

Thunderstorm Wind, Shelby

When: January 22, 6:06 AM CST to 6:10 AM CST
Where: Shelby County, Eads
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 35.200, -89.670

One house lost part of its roof.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fayette

When: January 22, 6:20 AM CST to 6:25 AM CST
Where: Fayette County, Oakland
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.230, -89.520

A few trees were knocked down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hardeman

When: January 22, 7:10 AM CST to 7:15 AM CST
Where: Hardeman County, Bolivar
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.270, -89.000

A couple of large trees were knocked down.

Flash Flood, Carroll

When: January 22, 8:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where: Carroll County, Countywide
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 35.973, -88.450 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous roads were flooded across the county as heavy rains fell Thursday night and Friday. Some water reached the yards of a few houses.

Flash Flood, Henderson

When: January 22, 8:00 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where: Henderson County, Countywide
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 35.654, -88.388 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads were flooded across the county after nearly 4 inches of rain fell in a 12 hour period. Some farmland was also flooded.

Hail, Chester

When: January 22, 8:15 AM CST to 8:35 AM CST
Where: Chester County, Montezuma to Henderson
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $110
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 35.400, -88.700

Hail ranged in size from dimes near Henderson to quarters near Montezuma.

Hail, Chester

When: January 22, 8:15 AM CST to 8:35 AM CST
Where: Chester County, Montezuma to Henderson
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $110
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 35.400, -88.700

Hail ranged in size from dimes near Henderson to quarters in Montezuma.

Hail, Henderson

When: January 22, 11:00 AM CST to 11:05 AM CST
Where: Henderson County, Lexington
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $10
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 35.650, -88.400

Tornado, Chester

When: January 22, 11:25 AM CST to 11:30 AM CST
Where: Chester County, Henderson
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Property damage: $100
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.430, -88.670

A tornado briefly touched down near Henderson producing little damage.

Tornado, Hardeman

When: January 22, 12:05 PM CST to 12:10 PM CST
Where: Hardeman County, Pocahontas
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Property damage: $100
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.050, -88.820

A tornado briefly touched down near Pocahontas producing little damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, McNairy

When: January 22, 12:25 PM CST to 12:30 PM CST
Where: McNairy County, Selmer
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 35.180, -88.600

A barn was destroyed and a fence was blown over. Several trees were also knocked down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hardin

When: January 22, 3:35 PM CST to 3:40 PM CST
Where: Hardin County, Saltillo
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 35.380, -88.220

Several trees were knocked down.

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.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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

Every storm in Tennessee in 1999 Every state in 1999 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Tennessee, 1999 Warnings in Tennessee, 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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5684234, 5684235, 5684228, 5685994, 5685993, 5684213, 5684214, 5684215, 5684216, 5684217, 5684218, 5684219, 5684220, 5684229, 5684221, 5684222, 5684223, 5684224, 5684236, 5684341, 5684334, 5684225, 5684335, 5684226, 5684336, 5684339, 5684340, 5684227, 5684337, 5684230, 5684231, 5684232, 5684338, 5684233.