Flash Flooding and Flooding in Tennessee, January 22 to 24, 1999

Name: Flash Flooding and Flooding in Tennessee, January 22 to 24, 1999
Start: 1999-01-22T03:25
End: 1999-01-24T06:00
Location: Tennessee

January 22 to 24, 1999 · NWS OHX · 27 events in 20 counties and zones

15 flash flood, 7 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail, 2 flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 17 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: 1
Property damage: $125,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 27

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.

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Event by event

15 flash flood, 7 thunderstorm wind, 3 hail, 2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Benton

When: January 22, 3:25 AM CST to 3:26 AM CST
Where: Benton County, Camden
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 36.050, -88.100

SKYWARN Spotter reported golf ball size hail on Main Street in downtown Camden.

Hail, Decatur

When: January 22, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Decatur County, South Portion
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.470, -88.130

Sheriff's department reported dime size hail in southern Decatur county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Stewart

When: January 22, 4:04 AM CST
Where: Stewart County, Dover
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.480, -87.830

A tree fell on a trailer.

Hail, Houston

When: January 22, 4:05 AM CST to 4:06 AM CST
Where: Houston County, Erin
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.320, -87.700

Ping pong ball sized hail reported.

Thunderstorm Wind, Houston

When: January 22, 4:05 AM CST to 4:06 AM CST
Where: Houston County, Countywide
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.280, -87.770

Numerous trees were blown down around the county.

Flash Flood, Stewart

When: January 22, 10:20 AM CST to January 23, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Stewart County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.501, -87.838 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads were flooded especially in the Bumpus Mills area and Leatherwood.

Flash Flood, Benton

When: January 22, 10:35 AM CST to January 23, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Benton County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.070, -88.068 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several county roads were under water.

Thunderstorm Wind, Coffee

When: January 22, 11:00 AM CST to 11:01 AM CST
Where: Coffee County, Manchester
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 35.480, -86.080

A metal roof from an H&R Block building was lifted and hurled into vehicles in downtown Manchester. There was one injury. The roof was estimated to be 20 feet by 20 feet, was made of aluminum and 2 by 4s.

Thunderstorm Wind, Decatur

When: January 22, 1:21 PM CST
Where: Decatur County, South Portion
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 35.470, -88.130

Trees and power lines were down. Shingles were blown off roofs in southern Decatur county.

Flash Flood, Montgomery

When: January 22, 4:30 PM CST to January 23, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Montgomery County, St Bethlehem
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 36.497, -87.383 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads closed due to high water.

Thunderstorm Wind, Lincoln

When: January 22, 5:40 PM CST
Where: Lincoln County, Flintville
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 35.070, -86.430

Strong thunderstorm winds destroyed one outbuilding.

Thunderstorm Wind, Smith

When: January 22, 6:55 PM CST to 6:56 PM CST
Where: Smith County, Defeated
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 36.320, -85.900

Trees were blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Benton

When: January 22, 7:05 PM CST to 7:10 PM CST
Where: Benton County, Countywide
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 36.120, -88.070

Numerous trees were down. Property damage reported at Holladay and Big Sandy. Some trees fell on homes.

Flash Flood, Marshall

When: January 22, 10:05 PM CST to January 23, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Marshall County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 35.469, -86.765 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous county roads were under water.

Flash Flood, Wilson

When: January 22, 10:28 PM CST to January 23, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Wilson County, Countywide
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 36.155, -86.298 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Scattered secondary roads around the county were closed due to high water. Bridges were blocked off.

Flash Flood, Lincoln

When: January 22, 10:28 PM CST to January 23, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Lincoln County, Countywide
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 35.141, -86.589 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Scattered secondary roads were closed due to high water, and bridges were blocked off.

Flash Flood, Sumner

When: January 22, 10:28 PM CST to January 23, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Sumner County, Countywide
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 36.469, -86.460 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Many small streams were out of their banks around the county. Many roads were flooded. At least 2 cars with people in them had to be rescued. 4.2 inches of rain fell in a 7 hour period ending Sunday morning January 23. People had to be removed form their homes by boats. The Sumner Regional Medical Center in Gallatin had water in the auditorium.

Flash Flood, Putnam

When: January 22, 11:31 PM CST to January 23, 5:30 AM CST
Where: Putnam County, Cookeville
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 36.141, -85.495 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low lying areas were flooded near Cookeville.

Flash Flood, Jackson

When: January 22, 11:31 PM CST to January 23, 5:30 AM CST
Where: Jackson County, Countywide
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 36.359, -85.673 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Many county roads were under high water. The flood waters pushed debris up on many roads.

Flash Flood, Smith

When: January 22, 11:35 PM CST to January 23, 5:30 AM CST
Where: Smith County, Countywide
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 36.251, -85.957 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Many roads were flooded around the county. It would cost $100,000 to repair the county roads.

Flood, Rutherford

When: January 23, 12:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Rutherford forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 35.843, -86.417 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The rain swollen Stones River flooded the Stones River Country Club golf course and also the Old Fort Golf Course which is owned by the city of Murfreesboro. There was no dollar estimate for damages to these golf courses.

Flash Flood, Maury

When: January 23, 12:04 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Maury County, Countywide
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 35.617, -87.077 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Scattered secondary roads were closed, and bridges were blocked off.

Flash Flood, Cheatham

When: January 23, 12:04 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Cheatham County, Countywide
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 36.261, -87.087 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Scattered secondary roads were closed, and bridges were blocked off.

Flash Flood, Lawrence

When: January 23, 12:04 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Lawrence County, Countywide
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 35.217, -87.396 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Scattered secondary roads were closed, and bridges were blocked off.

Flash Flood, Giles

When: January 23, 12:04 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Giles County, Countywide
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 35.202, -87.035 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Many homes, churches, factories, markets, roads and parks were flooded around the county. More than 6 inches of rain fell in a 5 hour period.

Flash Flood, Robertson

When: January 23, 12:30 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where: Robertson County, Countywide
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 36.526, -86.871 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

6 or 7 roads around the county were closed due to high water.

Flood, Williamson

When: January 23, 6:00 AM CST to January 24, 6:00 AM CST
Where: Williamson forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 35.894, -86.899 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Harpeth River Crested at 30.1 feet on January 24. It flooded several homes and businesses in Franklin,TN. 10 homes and 9 businesses reported flood damage. Harpeth Chrysler-Plymouth-Jeep-Eagle car dealership had to move their vehicles to higher ground. There was knee deep water in the showroom.

What these are

Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
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

Every storm in Tennessee in 1999 Every state in 1999 This day in weather history 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 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5685511, 5685513, 5685514, 5685515, 5685516, 5685519, 5685518, 5685609, 5685512, 5685520, 5685517, 5685605, 5685607, 5685521, 5685522, 5685523, 5685600, 5685599, 5685601, 5685606, 5685603, 5685596, 5685597, 5685598, 5685602, 5685608, 5685604.